This report describes results from the first Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS)
conducted in Trinidad and Tobago by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education from 19-30,
April 2007.
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, a twin island democratic republic, is the most southerly of the
Caribbean islands. It has a total area of 5,128 km2 of which Trinidad covers 4,828 km2 and Tobago
300 km2.: The country is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society. The population based on the 2000
census is of 1,262,366 of which 95.72 % are located in Trinidad; 50.2 % are males; an estimated
70.6% of the population is between 15-64 years old, 8.1 % are over 65 years, and 21.4 % below 14
years.
Since 2003, Ministries of Health and Education around the world have been using the GSHS to
periodically monitor the prevalence of important health risk behaviours and protective factors
among students. To date over 40 countries have completed the GSHS
Purpose
The purpose of the GSHS is to provide accurate data on health behaviours and protective factors)
among students to:
• Help countries develop priorities, establish programmes, and advocate for resources for school
health and youth health programmes and policies;
• Establish trends in the prevalence of health behaviours and protective factors by country for use
in evaluation of school health and youth health promotion; and
• Allow countries, international agencies, and others to make comparisons across countries and
within countries regarding the prevalence of health behaviours and protective factors
Prior to this Global School-based Student Health Survey, the Adolescent Youth Survey (1989) and
the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (2000 ) and (2007) were conducted. However, no comprehensive
study of the health behaviours and practices of students in the age group 13-15 years have been
done.