10.09.2023 | Global | TQS, TQS-Youth

Strengthening Tobacco Surveillance: Dynamic Partnership Between SESRIC, CDC, and the CDC Foundation

In April 2014, Tobacco Questions for Surveys (TQS) was presented at the Fourth Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Statistical Commission, where the participating OIC countries affirmed their commitment to pursue integration of TQS into their ongoing surveys to monitor key tobacco control indicators among adults. Nearly 10 years later, the partnership between SESRIC, CDC, and the CDC Foundation is celebrating surpassing 100 countries integrating TQS.

23.08.2023 | Eastern Mediterranean Region | GYTS

Building on the COVID-19 response momentum: Targeted anti-tobacco media messages to confront the alarming tobacco consumption in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

In response to high tobacco use rates in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, the United Against Tobacco and COVID (UATC) initiative was launched in 2022 to create a strategic media campaign in four countries: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and Palestinian Territories that called attention to the harms of smoking and encouraged quitting tobacco.

07.03.2022 | Romania | GATS

The Importance of Including Questions on the Use of Electronic Cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Products in Tobacco Surveys

Romania implemented the first round of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) in 2011 and then the second round in 2018. GATS Romania 2018 was conducted by the National Institute of Public Health and TOTEM Communication under the coordination of Romanian Ministry of Health and World Health Organization (WHO) Romania office, and WHO Regional Office for Europe. To prepare for GATS, the Romanian implementing agencies attended a GATS orientation workshop in Atlanta, Georgia, USA during 23-27 April 2018. The workshop was hosted and facilitated by the GATS collaborating organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CDC Foundation, RTI International, and WHO. During the workshop, the Romanian team presented and their GATS proposal, including the questionnaire and sample design that would be used to collect information on tobacco use and key tobacco control measures.

03.11.2021 | Global | GATS, GYTS

Addressing global tobacco control through research partnerships utilizing Global Tobacco Surveillance System (GTSS) data

Tobacco use or exposure is a major global threat that kills eight million people annually, including one million non-smokers from second-hand smoke. The Global Tobacco Surveillance System (GTSS) collects country-specific data to enhance country capacity to design, deploy and evaluate tobacco control interventions. To strengthen research partnerships and build capacity for such evaluations, the CDC Foundation, through funding from the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, released a Request for Interest (RFI) on May 27, 2021.

31.05.2021 | Global | GATS

Cessation Success Stories: Highlights from GTSS Academy

Globally, tobacco use causes 8 million deaths annually. While nearly 780 million people say they want to quit worldwide, only 30% of individuals have access to the tools and resources to help overcome their addiction. This year, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World No Tobacco Day theme is focused on “Commit to Quit” which promotes and offers various initiatives and digital solutions to support quitting tobacco use.

31.05.2020 | Region of the Americas | GYTS

A World No Tobacco Day Celebration in a Pandemic Scenario

This year, World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) occurs amidst an unprecedented global crisis caused by COVID-19, which is demanding intense collaboration from governments, health systems and the entire population. There is evidence demonstrating that smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19. As such, there is no better time for tobacco smokers to quit and for countries to strengthen their tobacco control laws.

16.02.2018 | India | GATS

Recent Survey Results Show India Improved in Several Tobacco Control Measures Since 2009

With a population of over 1.3 billion, India is the second-most populous country in the world. According to recently released findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), currently 266.8 million adults in India use tobacco.

16.02.2018 | Global | GYTS

Tracking the Global Tobacco Epidemic Among Youth

Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide—with nearly 6 million deaths caused by tobacco use every year. Cigarette smoking is the most common form of tobacco use in a majority of countries, and most adult smokers start smoking before the age of 18.

16.02.2018 | Global | TQS

Promoting Sustainable and Integrated Noncommunicable Disease Surveillance

Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable death in the world and a risk factor for four major noncommunicable diseases (NCDs): cancer; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; and chronic respiratory diseases.

16.02.2018 | Australia | GATS

Community-Based Surveys Are Informing Local Smoking Campaigns for Indigenous Australians

Australia is a global leader in tobacco control with a comprehensive strategy that includes advertising restrictions, tax excise and mass media campaigns initiated from the late 1980s.

16.02.2018 | Global | GYTS

Global Youth Tobacco Surveillance: An Example of Data Dissemination in the Region of the Americas

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide. Tobacco use causes an estimated 7 million deaths annually, including about 890,000 deaths from secondhand smoke exposure.

16.02.2018 | Global | TQS

Sustainably Monitoring Tobacco Use Through the Tobacco Questions for Surveys Global Initiative

The TQS Global Initiative aims to include partnerships with international surveillance systems, research organizations (e.g. statistical agencies) and countries (e.g. ministries of health) that all share the same interest in incorporating and promoting TQS.

09.11.2017 | Ethiopia | GATS

Action Is Needed to Keep Smoking Rates Low in Ethiopia

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the world, resulting in about 7 million deaths annually. While tobacco use in sub-Saharan Africa has stayed relatively low, consumption is rising as tobacco companies seek new markets for their products and grow their consumer base.

24.05.2017 | African Region | GATS; GYTS

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Provides Technical Assistance to Enhance Research and Scientific Capacity for Tobacco Control in the World Health Organization Africa Region

Tobacco use is the number one cause of preventable death and disability in the world, with approximately 6 million deaths each year due to tobacco-related illnesses.

24.05.2017 | Tanzania |

Fighting the Tobacco Epidemic in Tanzania: The Story of a Field Epidemiologist

Along the coast of the Indian Ocean, lies Dar es Salaam—one of the busiest cities in Africa and the commercial hub of Tanzania.

27.05.2016 | Philippines | GATS

World No Tobacco Day 2016—Tobacco Surveillance in Barangay Looc, Province of Zambales, Philippines; Reflections on the Global Tobacco Control Branch’s Worldwide Impact

I recently traveled to the Philippines to conduct a pretest training for the Philippine Ministry of Health and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The training included five days in the classroom and two days of fieldwork.