The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: To monitor prevalence of tobacco use among teacher and assess attitudes, knowledge and behavior.

Methods: The Global School Personnel Survey (GSPS) is a school-based survey of teachers in schools. A one-stage cluster sample design was used to produce a representative data for central region of Nepal. A census was done of all school personnel within each selected school. Janak Memorial Services Center conducted GSPS in 2001 during GYTS in Nepal as supported by CDC and WHO. The data and respective percentage were determined at 95% confidence interval.

Results: The study revealed 25.3% teachers (male: 32.3% and female: 5.2%) found current cigarettes smokers and 9.7% found daily cigarettes smokers. 25.5% teachers were current users and 12.4% found daily users of other tobacco products. 30.7% teachers used any type of tobacco product and 19.9% teachers used both cigarette smoking and other tobacco products. Similarly, 96.9% teacher agreed second hand smoke is harmful, 92.2% agreed teachers are less likely to encourage student to stop using tobacco, 90.9% agreed school should have a policy prohibiting tobacco use among student, and 86.7% agreed tobacco products advertising should completely be banned. 28.5% teachers who smoked have access to teaching and learning materials about tobacco use and prevent its use among youth and 68.8% teacher taught students during that school year long-term health consequence of tobacco use. In conclusion, it is urgently needed school and community based advocacy and tobacco control intervention to build a capacity for a tobacco free school and community in Nepal.