Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS)

The Bloomberg Global Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use has allocated significant resources to measure adult tobacco use through GATS in the 15 Bloomberg focus countries. In February 2007, GATS was launched as a new component of the Global Tobacco Surveillance System which comprises the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), the Global School Personnel Survey (GSPS) and the Global Health Professions Students Surveys (GHPSS).

GATS is a household standard global adult tobacco survey that consistently tracks prevalence (cigarette smoking and other tobacco use) exposure to risk, second-hand smoke, cessation, risk perceptions, knowledge and attitudes, exposure to media and price as well as taxation issues. It is implemented through close coordination and partnership among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, CDC and WHO.

Out of six countries of the first phase of GATS implementation, three countries –Bangladesh, India and Thailand are from the Region. Indonesia is a second phase country. GATS Country Engagement Missions have taken place in all four countries. The national implementing agencies and the GATS National Technical Advisory Committees have also been designated to carry out the survey. An Orientation Workshop for GATS implementing agencies was organized in April 2008. Pretest of GATS has been completed in all the three first phase countries. As per the set timeline, GATS is expected to be completed in these countries by the first quarter of 2009 and data will be released thereafter.