2000-12-31-世界卫生组织-2001_GYTS_Fact_Sheet_British_Virgin_Islands_1页_37kb

British Virgin Islands (Ages 13-15) Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) Summary

Core Content

The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) conducted in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) in 2001 provides a comprehensive overview of tobacco use and related factors among students aged 13-15. The survey was implemented using a two-stage cluster sampling method, ensuring a representative sample of the target population. A total of 368 students participated, with an overall response rate of 64.2%.

The survey covers key areas such as prevalence of tobacco use, knowledge and attitudes, exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS), media and advertising, and school curriculum. These areas are essential components for developing a comprehensive tobacco control program.

Main Findings

Tobacco Use Prevalence

• 21.9% of students had ever smoked cigarettes.
• 10.5% of students currently use any tobacco product (boys: 11.3%, girls: 10.1%).
• 3.5% of students currently smoke cigarettes (boys: 4.1%, girls: 2.8%).
• 8.2% of students currently use other tobacco products (boys: 8.3%, girls: 8.4%).
• 9.9% of never smokers are likely to initiate smoking in the next year.

Knowledge and Attitudes

• 33.3% of students think boys who smoke have more friends.
• 14.2% of students think girls who smoke have more friends.
• 4.3% of students think boys who smoke look more attractive.
• 4.1% of students think girls who smoke look more attractive.

Exposure to Secondhand Smoke (SHS)

• 10.4% of students live in homes where others smoke in their presence.
• 43.3% of students are exposed to smoke in places outside their home.
• 13.4% of students have at least one parent who smokes.
• 3.6% of students have most or all friends who smoke.
• 61.7% of students believe that smoke from others is harmful to them.
• 79.5% of students think smoking should be banned from public places.

Media and Advertising

• 84.2% of students saw anti-smoking media messages in the past 30 days.
• 49.0% of students saw pro-cigarette ads on billboards in the past 30 days.
• 55.0% of students saw pro-cigarette ads in newspapers or magazines in the past 30 days.
• 9.8% of students have an object with a cigarette brand logo.
• 6.5% of students were offered free cigarettes by a tobacco company representative.

School Curriculum

• 46.5% of students had been taught about the dangers of smoking in class during the past year.
• 35.6% of students had discussed reasons why people their age smoke in class during the past year.
• 43.5% of students had been taught about the effects of tobacco use in class during the past year.

Key Insights

• Tobacco use is relatively common among adolescents in the BVI, with nearly 1 in 10 currently using any tobacco product.
• Cigarette smoking is less prevalent than other tobacco use, but still significant among boys.
• Secondhand smoke exposure is a concern, with over 40% of students exposed outside their homes and 10.4% living in homes where others smoke.
• Public perception of smoking is largely negative, with 79.5% believing it should be banned in public places.
• Media plays a significant role in shaping attitudes, with students exposed to both anti-smoking and pro-cigarette messages.
• School education on tobacco use is present but not universal, with a majority of students having received some level of instruction on the risks and effects of smoking.

Conclusion

The GYTS data highlights the need for targeted tobacco control interventions in the BVI, particularly among adolescents. Efforts should focus on reducing SHS exposure, limiting youth access to tobacco products, educating students about the risks of smoking, and countering the influence of pro-tobacco media. Strengthening school-based education programs and increasing anti-smoking messaging could help reduce initiation rates and promote healthier behaviors among youth.