Suicidal behaviours and their correlates in school-going Lebanese adolescents: findings from a national survey

Risk-stratified analysis of sex risk behaviors and correlates among school-going adolescents in Argentina: insights from a national survey

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to address a critical gap in understanding adolescent sexual health risks in Argentina, a country that has undergone substantial socio-economic changes that made significant strides in education and healthcare.

METHODS

A secondary data analysis of the 2018 Argentina Global School-based Student Health Survey was performed. In this study, 23,262 sexually active adolescents were categorized into four risk groups based on the predicted granular risk: number of sexual partners and condom use in their last sexual encounter.

RESULTS

Males and older adolescents were more prone to high-risk sexual behaviors. Additionally, key psychosocial factors such as loneliness, anxiety, experiences of violence, and school absenteeism were significantly associated with high-risk sexual behaviors. Early alcohol use and recent experiences of hunger were also identified as strong predictors of heightened sexual risk behaviors. Conversely, positive parental engagement and awareness exhibited protective factors.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the necessity for policy interventions that focus on mental health support, parental involvement, and awareness of adolescent issues and activities.

Marijuana use and its correlates among school-going Jamaican adolescents: a finding from a national survey

Introduction

The recent data indicate almost a fifth of Jamaican adolescents used marijuana in the past 30 days. To ensure the optimal allocation of resources, a country-specific understanding of factors associated with marijuana use among adolescents is essential. Therefore, this study aimed to address this gap among adolescents aged 13-17 years in Jamaica.

Methods

We analyzed data from the recent Jamaica Global School-Based Student Health Survey conducted in 2017. The sample consists of school-going Jamaican adolescents of 7th-12th grades. The prevalence of recent marijuana use was assessed and compared across different demographics, substance use, and risk behaviors using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results

Older adolescents and men had a higher likelihood of recent marijuana use. Psychosocial risks, such as loneliness, frequent worry, suicidal ideation, physical attacks, and school absenteeism, were associated with higher marijuana usage. Parental smoking increased the odds, whereas strong parental support and awareness decreased it. Other substance uses, especially amphetamine and tobacco products, had strong associations with marijuana use. Early initiation of substances was associated with a higher risk of marijuana use. Sexually active adolescents, especially those initiated before the age of 14 years, had higher rates of marijuana use.

Conclusion

The intricate link between harmful and supportive psychosomatic and risk behaviors with recent marijuana use highlights the importance of holistic interventions and policies focusing on emotional health, parental guidance, substance education, and sexual activity implications.