The GYTS will be conducted in schools by collecting data from students aged 13 to 15 through a questionnaire that includes questions about the attitudes, behaviours and students’ knowledge on tobacco consumption, exposure to use, and their exposure to its marketing and advertising.
The survey aims to strengthen the capacity of countries to design, implement and evaluate their tobacco control programmes.
The results of the survey are expected to support the efforts of the MoPH to develop comprehensive programmes and policies to combat tobacco consumption, as well as to contribute to the preparation of school health programmes, which include prevention and reduction of tobacco consumption among students.
Sheikha Dr Al Anoud bint Mohamed al-Thani, director, health promotion and non-communicable diseases at MoPH, said the results of the survey are a key element in decision-making and intervention, based on a clear vision in tobacco control.
She added that the survey contributes to the assessment of the prevalence of tobacco use and smoking in all its forms, the rates of exposure to secondhand smoking, as well as measuring the knowledge and effectiveness of the media in raising awareness on the harmful effects of tobacco use.
It also contributes to assessing key measures taken to combat tobacco in Qatar, and compare it with international experiences in this area, as well as to evaluate the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in the country, she added.
Dr Khuloud al-Mutaw’a, head, non-communicable diseases department at MoPH and head of the survey team, explained that the survey will cover more than 2,300 students from 25 schools in the country.
She added that participation in the survey is voluntary to obtain accurate information on tobacco consumption, and called for active participation to achieve full participation rate of schools and selected students.
