2007-12-31-世界卫生组织-2008_GATS_Country_Report_Turkey_116页_2mb

Global Adult Tobacco Survey Turkey Report Summary

Core Content

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Turkey Report provides comprehensive data on tobacco use and control measures in Turkey, conducted in 2008 as part of a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The survey aimed to generate internationally comparable data on tobacco use and control, using a standardized methodology. It was implemented by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) and supported by the Ministry of Health and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Main Points

• Tobacco as a Leading Health Issue: Tobacco use is the world's leading cause of preventable death and disease, responsible for over 5 million deaths annually, expected to rise to 8 million by 2030. In Turkey, over 100,000 people die each year from smoking, with projections rising to 240,000 by 2030.

• Survey Implementation: The GATS was conducted in November 2008 as a nationally representative household survey of adults aged 15 years and older. The sample size was 11,200 households, with a response rate of 93.7% for households and 97.0% for individuals. It was one of the first countries to complete GATS data collection.

• Tobacco Use in Turkey:

  • 31.2% of adults (approximately 16 million) are current smokers.
  • Men (47.9%) are more likely to smoke than women (15.2%).
  • Daily smokers account for 11.6% of women and 43.8% of men.
  • 92.6% of men and 98.0% of women smoke manufactured cigarettes.
  • Water pipe smoking is an emerging trend, especially among young adults, with the highest prevalence among men aged 15-24.

• Smoking Cessation:

  • 26.5% of ever daily smokers have quit.
  • 44.8% of current and former smokers made a quit attempt in the past year.
  • Only 15.8% of those who attempted to quit were successful.
  • 53.0% of current smokers expressed interest in quitting, but only 10.0% planned to quit in the next month.

• Exposure to Secondhand Smoke (SHS):

  • 38.5% of adults working indoors reported exposure to SHS.
  • 57.7% of men and 52.3% of women were exposed to SHS in restaurants.
  • 31.6% of non-smokers were exposed to SHS at work.
  • 59.7% of adults live in homes where smoking is allowed, with 20 million non-smokers exposed to SHS in such homes.

• Tobacco Economics:

  • 92.5% of cigarette buyers made their most recent purchase in a shop.
  • On average, 86.7 Turkish Lira was spent on cigarettes in the past month, with an average of 31.3 cigarettes purchased.
  • Smokers spend a significant portion of their income on tobacco, suggesting the need for increased taxation to reduce consumption.

• Advertising and Promotion:

  • 88.8% of adults noticed anti-smoking messages in the past 30 days, with the highest exposure on television (85.5%).
  • 95.1% of current smokers noticed health warnings on cigarette packages.
  • 13.3% of adults still noticed some form of pro-tobacco marketing, primarily advertising (7.1%), followed by promotions (5.3%) and sports sponsorship (3.3%).

• Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions:

  • 95.5% of adults believe that breathing other people's smoke causes serious illness.
  • 97.2% of adults believe smoking causes serious illness.
  • 98.0% of adults believe smoking causes lung cancer, 95.5% believe it causes heart attacks, and 83.7% believe it causes stroke.

Key Information

• Survey Objectives: To collect standardized data on tobacco use and control measures for adults aged 15 years and older, enabling international comparisons and policy tracking.

• Methodology:

  • A three-stage stratified systematic cluster sample was used.
  • The survey included 11,200 households and 9,030 individuals.
  • The data was released in April 2009.

• Policy Context:

  • Turkey ratified the WHO FCTC in 2004.
  • The MPOWER policy package is emphasized as a key strategy for tobacco control, including monitoring, protection from SHS, quitting support, warnings, bans on advertising, and increased taxation.
  • Turkey has implemented strong tobacco control policies, including bans on advertising and smoking in public places.

• Public Health Impact:

  • The report serves as a baseline for monitoring tobacco control efforts.
  • It highlights the need for continued enforcement of tobacco control measures.
  • It underscores the importance of intersectoral collaboration and cultural considerations in effective tobacco control.

Recommendations

• Enforce existing tobacco control laws, especially at the local level.
• Increase taxes on tobacco products to reduce consumption.
• Expand public awareness campaigns to further reduce smoking rates and support cessation efforts.
• Continue monitoring tobacco use and SHS exposure to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.

Conclusion

The GATS Turkey Report is a critical tool for understanding the scale and impact of tobacco use in the country. It provides essential data to inform public health policy and highlights the need for sustained efforts to combat the tobacco epidemic, particularly in light of the global and regional health targets. Turkey's leadership in tobacco control, including strong legislation and public awareness, positions it as a model for other countries in the WHO European Region.