Problem gambling among secondary school adolescents in Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Adolescent problem gambling is a common behavioural issue and could be associated with internet addiction. Objectives: To determine the pattern of problem gambling and factors that predict gambling among adolescents that attendedsecondary schools in southeast Nigeria. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study design. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select 796 secondary schooladolescents from eight secondary schools in Enugu State, Nigeria. Results: The highest proportion of the respondents, 38.3% had problem gambling with negative consequences. There was aweak positive correlation between gambling severity index and internet addiction. (n=796, r=0.254, p<0.001). There is a veryweak negative correlation between gambling severity index and age in years. (n=796, r= -0.034, p=0.331).The male respondents were 1.5 times more likely to have problem gambling when compared with the females, (AOR=1.5;(95%CI: 1.1-2.0). The respondents who have internet addiction were 3.5 times more likely to have problem gambling whencompared with those who do not have an internet addiction, (AOR=3.5; 95%CI: 2.6-4.8). Conclusion: The prevalence of gambling among adolescents is high. Adolescents who had problem gambling also had internetaddiction. The male respondents were more likely to have problem gambling than their female folk. Keywords: Problem gambling; secondary school; adolescents; internet addiction; gambling severity index.