Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS)

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) developed the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) to track tobacco use among young people across countries using a common methodology and core questionnaire. The GYTS surveillance system is intended to enhance the capacity of countries to design, implement, and evaluate tobacco control and prevention programs. Funding for the GYTS has been provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Canadian Public Health Association, National Cancer Institute, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization-Tobacco Free Initiative. (read more about GYTS)

WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia has collaborated with CDC Atlanta and worked closely with member countries to implement GYTS in SEAR countries. At the very beginning of the process in 1998, Sri Lanka participated in the development of the GYTS “core” questionnaire including countries from other regions and with TFI/WHO and OSH/CDC to develop the GYTS in Geneva. Since than SEAR countries have actively participated in the GYTS process and conducted studies in their countries. Training workshops on implementation and analysis of the GYTS were held in the region under this WHO-CDC partnership.

In March 2001, GYTS training workshop was held in Jaipur, India, for the SEARO-WHO region for research coordinators in the region. In December 9–13, 2002, a GYTS data analysis and training workshop was held for the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia. In February 23-28, 2004, a further GYTS analysis workshop was held in Bangkok, Thailand for the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia.  The most recent Regional workshop on Tobacco Surveillance- Linking Data to Action was held in Kathmandu, Nepal on the 25-29th of February.

GYTS questionnaire

Regional Strategy for Utilization of Global Youth Tobacco Survey Data

TFI Homepage