Page 28 - TAIWAN TOBACCO CONTROL ANNUAL REPORT 2019

4. Monitoring and research: Since 2007, the survey platforms were established for smoking behaviors among cadets in military institutions and training centers. Regular smoking behavior surveys were carried out for mandatory military soldiers and volunteer military soldiers. Mandatory military soldiers and students in military academies assessed with the "Armed Forces Personnel Health Survey Form" while volunteer military soldiers were assessed with the "Health Behavior" electronic questionnaire survey in the Armed Forces Health Data Management System. According to the survey on the smoking rate of soldiers under mandatory military service, the smoking rate of soldiers and officers of the recruit training centers was 31.6% in 2013 and decreased to 29.4% in 2018. The smoking rate of retired soldiers and officers dropped from 30.1% in 2014 to 22.5% in 2018, which clearly indicates a trend of decreasing smoking rates. (Fig. 1-1) Fig. 1-1 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Smoking rate of national soldiers Soldiers and officers of the recruit training center Retired soldiers and officers 44.18 39.36 40.08 39.5 31.15 2011 2012 39.1 38.7 30.8 2012 2013 31.6 30.1 2013 2014 31.0 31.24 30.49 23.31 2016 2017 28.71 22.54 2017 2018 29.36 2018 Year 25.36 20.01 26 2009 2010 2010 2011 2014 2015 2015 2016 Smoke-free Community Unique and creative smoke-free community projects were formulated using five key action areas of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion as the project framework. The HPA sought local opinion leaders to establish relevant community pacts and establish a localized support environment and train community volunteers to formulate health promotion strategies and methods as well as to adjust service directives and approaches. A community consensus and empowerment concepts were thus built from the bottom up in counties and cities in northern, central, southern, and eastern Taiwan. Consultation was provided to betel nut stores or convenience stores selling tobacco products within a 1 km radius from junior-high and elementary schools on the prohibition of selling tobacco products to under-aged individuals in order to create healthy communities. Parade events or tours on controlling tobacco, alcohol, and betel nuts consumption were held to raise awareness of issues related to tobacco and alcohol hazards. Health educational and promotional programs for "Smoke-free Families" were organized to promote the signing of "Smoke-free Family" agreements and ensure that smoke-free concepts are deeply rooted in the minds of citizens. HPA has a firm grasp of community resources and public health status to integrate resources, establish promotion organizations, and implement strategies that conform to the five action principles for health promotion. Smoking rate (%)