Youth tobacco use and key tobacco control indicators in Georgian youth

Abstract

The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) is a global standard for systematically monitoring youth tobacco use and tracking key tobacco control indicators. GYTS in Georgia was conducted in 2017 by National Center for Disease Control and Public Health in 13 to 15 years old students. The overall response rate was 78.7%. 15.4% of students (20.6% boys, 9.6% girls) currently used any tobacco products. 12.6% (16.9% boys, 7.6% girls) currently smoked tobacco; 8.4% (12.3% boys, 4.4% of girls) currently smoked cigarettes; 4.4% (5.0% boys, 3.2% girls) currently used smokeless tobacco. 13.2% (17.3% boys, 7.7% girls) currently used electronic cigarettes. More than 6 in 10 current sm,okers tried to stop smoking in the past 12 months. 43.2% of students were exposed to tobacco smoke at home and 58.6% inside enclosed public places. 3.7% of current cigarette smokers bought cigarettes from a store, shop, street vendor, or kiosk. Among current cigarette smokers who tried to buy cigarettes, 49.4% were not prevented from buying them because of their age. More than 6 in 10 students noticed anti-tobacco messages in the media; almost 5 in 10 noticed tobacco advertisements or promotions when visiting points of sale; more than 1 in 10 students had something with a tobacco brand logo on it. 79.4% definitely thought other people’s tobacco smoking is harmful to them and 83.9% favored prohibiting smoking inside enclosed public places. In order to increase access to effective and comprehensive educational and public awareness programs on health risks including the addictive characteristics of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke and about the benefits of the cessation of tobacco use and tobacco-free lifestyles guideline for teachers have been elaborated and printed; training selected teachers is in process. Funding: WHO-Euro WHO-FCTC Secretariat