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 China. GATS enhances countries' capacity to design, implement and evaluate tobacco control programs. It will also assist China 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 China, GATS was conducted in 2010 as a household survey of persons 15 years of age and older by China CDC. 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. Survey information was collected using handheld devices. The sample design in China will provide nationally representative estimates for urban-rural areas stratified by gender. The household response rate was 97.5%, the response rate for individuals was 98.5% and the overall response rate was 96.0%. There were a total of 13,354 completed interviews. The survey results will be discussed in detail by the questionnaire topics and various tobacco control indicators.

Keywords: Global adult tobacco survey; China; China CDC

Biography: Dr. Gonghuan Yang is the Deputy Director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control & Prevention and is the Principal Investigator for the Global Adult Tobacco Survey in China.