The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) is the global standard for systematically monitoring adult tobacco use (smoking and smokeless) and tracking key tobacco control indicators. GATS is a nationally representative survey, using a consistent and standard protocol across countries, including India. GATS enhances countries' capacity to design, implement and evaluate tobacco control programs. It will also assist India to fulfill their obligations under the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and components of the WHO MPOWER technical package to generate comparable data within and across countries. GATS uses a global standardized methodology. It includes information on respondents' background characteristics, tobacco use (smoking and smokeless), cessation, second-hand smoke, economics, media, and knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards tobacco use. In India, GATS was conducted in 2009-2010 as a household survey of persons 15 years of age and older by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), under the coordination of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). A multi-stage, geographically clustered sample design was used to produce nationally representative data. One individual was randomly chosen from each selected household to participate in the survey. The sample design in India provides national and six regional estimates by residence (urban and rural) and gender, as well as state estimates by gender. Survey information was collected using handheld devices. The estimates were based on 69,296 completed interviews of males and females in India with an overall response rate of 91.8%. The survey results will be discussed in detail by the questionnaire topics and various tobacco control indicators.

Keywords: Global adult tobacco survey; India; IIPS; MoHFW

Biography: Dr. Sulabha Parasuraman is Professor and Head of the Department of Population Policies & Programmes of the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, and the focal point for the Global Adult Tobacco Survey in India.