2014-12-31-世界卫生组织-2015_GYTS_Country_Report_Thailand_100页_1mb

Summary of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey in Thailand, 2015

Core Content

The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) 2015 in Thailand provides a comprehensive overview of tobacco use and related factors among students aged 13–15 years. It is part of a global initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to monitor and evaluate tobacco control measures. The survey was conducted using a two-stage cluster sampling method to ensure a nationally representative sample of students in grades 7, 8, and 9.

The report highlights that tobacco use remains a significant public health issue in Thailand, particularly among youth. Despite policy efforts, the prevalence of tobacco use among students has not declined significantly, and there are concerns about the increasing use of new tobacco products like electronic cigarettes and shisha. The survey also reveals that students are still exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) in various settings, including schools, and that tobacco marketing and promotion are still prevalent, especially in media and retail environments.

Main Findings

Tobacco Use

• 15% of students (13–15 years) used tobacco, with 21.8% of boys and 8.1% of girls being current smokers.
• Cigarette use was 11.3% overall, with 17.2% of boys and 5.2% of girls.
• 3.3% of students used electronic cigarettes, marking the first time this was recorded in the GYTS.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure

• 33.8% of students were exposed to SHS at home.
• 47.9% were exposed at school.
• 38.6% were exposed in enclosed public places.

Access and Availability

• 67.4% of current smokers could easily buy cigarettes from stores.
• 44% of underage smokers were not declined cigarettes when purchasing, indicating weak enforcement of age restrictions.

Anti-Tobacco Messages and Marketing

• 72.6% of students had seen tobacco use in media (TV, videos, movies).
• 30.9% had seen tobacco advertising at points of sale.
• Only 29.3% of students who wanted to quit had received help, showing a gap in cessation services.

Key Policy Context

Thailand has been a leader in tobacco control in the WHO South-East Asia Region, having ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2004 and implemented two comprehensive tobacco control laws in 1992:

• Tobacco Products Control Act
• Non-Smokers' Health Protection Act

These laws include measures such as:

• Banning tobacco sales to minors under 18 years.
• Prohibiting cigarette vending machines.
• Restricting all forms of tobacco advertising and promotion.
• Requiring pictorial health warnings and textual warnings on cigarette packages.
• Enforcing smoke-free policies in public places, including schools.

Despite these measures, the survey shows that tobacco control laws are not fully enforced, particularly in school environments, where 47.9% of students are exposed to SHS. The import of shisha, e-shisha, and e-cigarettes was also banned in 2014, but these products are still being used by youth.

Recommendations

• Pass a new tobacco bill to increase the minimum age for purchasing tobacco, ban single cigarette sales, and expand the definition of tobacco use to include emerging products.
• Strengthen school-based tobacco control interventions and ensure 100% smoke-free policies are fully implemented.
• Enforce tobacco advertising bans across all media to denormalize tobacco use among youth.
• Continue anti-tobacco campaigns in the media to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco and support cessation services.

Conclusion

The GYTS 2015 highlights the persistent challenge of youth tobacco use in Thailand, despite existing policies and legal frameworks. The high prevalence of cigarette use, increased use of new tobacco products, and continued exposure to SHS in schools and public places suggest the need for more robust enforcement of tobacco control measures and targeted interventions to reduce initiation and use among youth. The findings also emphasize the importance of continuing surveillance and policy development to align with global health goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030.

Key Information

• Survey Period: 2015
• Target Group: Students aged 13–15 years
• Sampling Method: Two-stage cluster sampling
• Response Rate: 86.1%
• Key Tobacco Products: Cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, shisha
• Tobacco Control Laws: Implemented since 1992
• MPOWER Measures: Monitoring, protection, offering help, warning, enforcing bans, raising taxes
• WHO FCTC Ratification: 2004
• National Strategic Plan: 2010–2014 and 2016–2020
• Main Findings: High youth tobacco use, limited cessation support, weak enforcement of age restrictions, exposure to SHS in schools, and tobacco marketing in media.

Contributors and Editors

• Prepared by: Bureau of Tobacco Control, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
• Editors:
  • Dr Pantip Chotbenjamaporn
  • Dr Siriwan Pitayarangsarit
  • Dr Renu Madanlal Garg
• Reviewers:
  • Dr Nithat Sirichotiratana
  • Dr Suppawan Manosoontorn
  • Dr Krishna Palipudi
  • Linda Anton
  • Mr Naveen Agarwal

Acknowledgements

• Technical and financial support from WHO and CDC
• Collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Interior, and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration
• Gratitude to teachers and students who participated
• Thanks to the advisory and working groups, including experts from the Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Center and Mahidol University.