2001-12-31-世界卫生组织-2002_GYTS_Country_report_United_Arab_Emirates_32页_251kb

Global Youth Tobacco Survey in the UAE: 2002 Summary

This report from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) examines the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of youth in the United Arab Emirates regarding tobacco use. The survey highlights that tobacco is a major public health concern, with alarmingly high youth smoking rates and significant gaps in understanding and preventive measures.

The method involved a school-based cross-sectional survey of 4178 students aged 13-15, using a standardized questionnaire adapted from GYTS guidelines. Key findings included:

• Tobacco Use: 14.3% of boys and 2.9% of girls smoked cigarettes; one in four ever-smokers started before age 10. Total tobacco use prevalence was 21.9%.
• Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS): Nearly half of participants (26.3%) were exposed to ETS at home, and two-thirds (70.3%) in public places. Youth often lack awareness of its dangers.
• Knowledge and Attitudes: Despite high ETS exposure, understanding of health risks varies. Many youth mistakenly believe smoking improves appearance and popularity, though over 80% view it as harmful overall.
• Media and Advertising: Over 70% of students were exposed to tobacco ads; one-third of current smokers reported being offered free cigarettes, violating youth protection norms.
• Access and Availability: Most current smokers (48.4%) bought cigarettes from stores with little age restriction, making access easy.

Discussion: The survey shows that while quitting desire is high, inadequate school education and weak enforcement in policies like smoking bans in public spaces exacerbate the issue. The data underscores that tobacco control must address initiation at a young age.

Recommendations: Urgent interventions include strengthening tobacco advertising bans, limiting public smoking, implementing targeted school curricula, increasing tobacco cessation programs, and enforcing age restrictions to curtail youth access. Regular monitoring is advised for ongoing surveillance.