<div dir="ltr"><b>Executive Summary</b><div><b><br></b><div> The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), a component of the Global Tobacco
Surveillance System (GTSS), is a global standard for systematically monitoring youth
tobacco use (smoking and smokeless) and tracking key tobacco control indicators.</div><div><br></div><div>GYTS is a nationally representative school-based survey of students in grades
associated with age 13–15 years and is designed to produce cross-sectional estimates
for each country. GYTS uses a standard core questionnaire, sample design, and data
collection protocol. It assists countries in fulfilling their obligations under the World
Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to
generate comparable data within and across countries. WHO has developed MPOWER,
a package of selected demand reduction measures contained in the WHO FCTC.</div><div><br></div><div>GYTS uses a global standardized methodology that includes a two-stage sample
design with schools selected proportional to enrollment size. The classrooms within
selected schools are chosen randomly and all students in selected classes are invited
to participate in the survey. The survey uses a standard global core questionnaire with
a set of optional questions that permits adaptation to meet the needs of the country
on tobacco use and key tobacco control indicators. The questionnaire consists of the
following topics: tobacco use (smoking and smokeless), cessation, secondhand smoke
(SHS), pro- and anti-tobacco media and advertising, access and availability to obtain
tobacco products, and knowledge and attitudes regarding tobacco. The questionnaire s self-administered; using scannable, paper-based bubble sheets, and anonymous to
ensure confidentiality. </div><div><br></div><div>In Timor-Leste, GYTS was conducted by the Ministry of Health in 2013. A total of
2052 eligible students in grades 8–11 completed the survey, of which 1908 were aged
13–15 years. The overall response rate of all students surveyed was 92.8%.</div><div><br></div><div> The findings of this survey indicates that about half (42.4%) overall, and nearly
seven in ten (65.5%) of boys, and two in ten (23.9%) of girls currently used any tobacco
products. Nearly seven in ten students were exposed to tobacco smoke at home (66.0%)
and inside enclosed public places (69.9%). Nearly eight (82.7%) in ten of current
cigarette smokers obtained cigarettes by buying them from a store, shop, street vendor,
or kiosk; and among current cigarette smokers who bought cigarettes, 46.7% were not
prevented from buying them despite their being minors. Nearly one third (31.7%) of
current cigarette smokers bought cigarettes in a pack, while over two fifths (44.8%)
bought them as individual sticks. Nearly four (79%) in five students noticed tobacco
advertisements or promotions at points of sale, and the same proportion of students
saw anyone using tobacco on television, videos, or movies (88.6%). </div><div><br></div><div>Based on these findings, officials from the ministries of health and education,
directors of primary and secondary schools, district health focal points, and district
focal points of NCD made the following recommendations:
(1) to formulate national tobacco control legislation soonest banning smoking
in public places and complete ban on tobacco advertisements;
(2) to establish comprehensive NCD/tobacco control policy under health
promotion activities and national-level anti-tobacco campaign in schools
of Timor-Leste;
(3) to sensitize teachers not to use tobacco in schools or in community places,
as they are role models for students;
(4) to train teachers on tobacco control and tobacco cessation;
(5) to prepare IEC materials targeted to youth and disseminate throughout the
country;
(6) to increase taxation on tobacco import, so that tobacco products are not
affordable to youth;
(7) to ban tobacco sale to and by minors; and
(8) to take crop substitution initiatives for local tobacco control.</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/164337/1/9789290224778.pdf">http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/164337/1/9789290224778.pdf</a><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><font color="#3d85c6"><br></font></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><font color="#3d85c6"><br></font></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><font color="#3d85c6">Dr Bu V.E. Wilson<br>Principal Consultant</font><br style="color:rgb(51,51,255)"><font color="#3d85c6">Hau Meni & Associates</font></font></div><div dir="ltr"><font color="#3d85c6" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">Postal Address: 5/15 Essex Street, Fremantle, WA 6160, Australia</font></div><div dir="ltr"><font color="#3d85c6" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">Courier Address: The Gardens Residence, Bebonuk, Dili, Timor-Leste<br></font><div><div><br></div><div><font color="#f6b26b" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif">T: Timor-Leste </font><font color="#3366ff" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms',sans-serif">+670 7814 1774 (work)/+670 7718 7743(home)</font></div><div><span style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><font color="#f6b26b">T: Australia</font><font color="#ff6666"> </font><font color="#3366ff">+61 (0) 407 087 086</font></font></span><div><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><font color="#f6b26b">E: <font color="#f6b26b"><a href="mailto:buvewilson@gmail.com" target="_blank">buvewilson@gmail.com</a>/<a href="mailto:bu@haumeni.com" target="_blank">bu@haumeni.com</a></font></font></font><font color="#f6b26b"><span><span style="background-color:rgb(255,102,102)"></span></span><div style="display:inline"></div><div style="display:inline"></div></font></div></div></div><div><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><font color="#f6b26b">S: hau.meni</font></font></div><div><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><font color="#f6b26b"><img src="https://haumeni.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/sigimg0-1.jpeg" width="96" height="58"><br></font></font></div><div><br></div><div><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><font color="#f6b26b"><br></font></font></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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