Publications

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) Atlas presents tobacco data from 22 countries in a visual formatting, using GATS data. The GATS is part of the Global Tobacco Surveillance System (GTSS), the largest global public health surveillance system ever developed and maintained. It is the ongoing, systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, and is essential to the tracking of the epidemic, and the planning, implementation and evaluation of tobacco control measures.

This Atlas highlights the findings from the GATS and reflects the impact of selected demand-reduction measures of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). It describes the range of tobacco products, and represents statistics on tobacco use, second-hand smoke exposure, cessation, warnings about the dangers of tobacco, bans on advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and tobacco taxes. Progress and opportunities for further actions in the 22 GATS countries are also emphasized.

The Atlas serves as a resource for public health professionals, researchers, decision makers, and advocates in their efforts to advance tobacco control. It aims to generate inquiry by not only providing a portrait of each country’s progress, but also enabling rigorous global and regional comparisons to be made.

In the African Region, five countries have so far implemented the GATS and released their data, namely Nigeria in July 2013, Uganda in July 2014, Kenya in November 2014, Cameroon in February 2015, and Senegal in October 2015. Accurate data from these countries are available and being used to monitor the implementation of the WHO FCTC and to advocate for the introduction of new laws and regulations that are compliant with the Convention.