P45 Smoking and drinking behaviour of bissau-guinean adolescents aged 15–16 compared to european peers. (18th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gunnlaugsson, G; Baldé, A; Jandi, Z; Boiro, H; Butiam Có, JR; Einarsdóttir, J
• Is Part Of: BMJ paediatrics open. Volume 3(2019)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A21
• Page End: A22
• Publication Date: 2019-11-18
• Subjects: Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2019-RCPCH-SAHM.49
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-9772

Abstract

Abstract : Aims: With the Sustainable Development Goals 2016-2030 increased attention is given to adolescents' health and well-being, and the multiple challenges they face related to their health and wellbeing with trajectories of importance for their later adult health. A recent trend within childhood and youth studies acknowledges commonalities of lived experiences of young people in middle- and low-income countries, where the majority of them lives, vis-à-vis high-income countries. In sub-Saharan Africa adolescents comprise 23% of the population compared to 12% in high-income countries. Here we describe and analyse the prevalence of smoking and use of alcohol by Bissau-Guinean adolescents aged 15-16 and compare to peers European cities. Methods: Survey with locally adapted and pilot tested Planet Youth questionnaire was conducted in June 2017 in 16 secondary schools in the capital Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. It targeted adolescents aged 15-16 years in randomly selected classes with information that is comparable with data from eight European cities in 2015-2016. Results: In Bissau, 871 adolescents aged 15-16 participated (52% girls and 46% boys) compared to 6, 534 peers in eight European cities (49% girls and 51% boys). In total, 2.2% of the Bissau-Guineans reported daily smoking (boys=3.9%; girls=0.7%) compared to 11.3% of their European peers (boys=13.2%; girls=9, 4%). About 1/3 of the Bissau Guineans had life-time experience of drinking alcohol compared to about 2/3 of the European ones, with no difference among boys and girls; 10, 6% of Bissau-Guineans reported having been drunk during the last 30 days compared to 14% of the Europeans, the prevalence being slightly higher among boys compared to girls. Conclusions: Bissau-Guinean adolescents aged 15-16 report less smoking and drinking than European peers. Against a background of intensive marketing of alcohol and tobacco in Guinea-Bissau, it is urgent to initiate health promotional activities in secondary schools in Bissau to inform and educate adolescents and teachers on the detrimental effect of such behaviours on their long-term health and wellbeing.