Survey of the risk behaviors and mental health of adolescents in Gabon risky behaviors and vulnerability of adolescent Africans

Abstract

Adolescence shapes adulthood and is a time of vulnerability. This study explores risk behaviors among African adolescents from Gabon. This study was done in 2021 and followed the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS) guidelines. Six core modules (alcohol, tobacco, and drug use, sexual behaviors, mental health, and safety) were included. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather data. The data were analyzed using Prism version 6 GraphPad software. This study includes 1009 adolescents aged 10–19 years (62% females and 38% males). 30.8% are under 16 years old. 41.3% have low to medium self-esteem. The prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis use is 37%, 7.4%, and 4.3%, respectively. 15.4% of under 16 years are alcohol drinkers. 38% are sexually active (6% of them have had sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)). Alcohol increases by 6.1 (p < 0.0001) the odds of being sexually active. The age of the first sexual intercourse is 15.3 ± 1.9 years. Sexually active adolescents have, on average, 3.2 ± 2.2 sex partners. Also, 38% of sexually active adolescents experienced coerced sex. 11.3% of sexually active girls had an abortion, and 17.4% of them had kids. 19.4% have experienced sex under substance influence. Less than half of adolescents consistently use condoms. The odds of unprotected sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs is 10.7 (p < 0.001). These results suggest Gabonese adolescents have a relatively high rate of alcohol use, risky sexual behaviors, sexual coercion, low to medium self-esteem, and vulnerability.” Djoba Siawaya al. analyse questionnaire data obtained from African adolescents who live in Gabon who were asked questions about their behavior. Relatively high proportions have low to medium self-esteem, use alcohol and have experienced sexual coercion or participate in risky sexual behaviors. Adolescence is a phase of development in which a person’s identity is shaped. The behavioral choices adolescents make can have a major impact on the rest of their lives. Adolescents often have sex and use alcohol, drugs, and tobacco for the first time. We used data obtained from questionnaires given to adolescents in Gabon that asked about their behavior and lifestyle to better whether they were vulnerable and undertook behaviors that could negatively impact their health. A high proportion was found to use alcohol and have sex without using condoms. Many had also experienced sexual coercion. These results highlight the areas that need to be focused on to improve the health of adolescents, for example, to reinforce restrictions on underage alcohol and tobacco access and reduce sexual behaviors that lead to unplanned pregnancies or the acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases.