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Gender gap in nonmedical use of anxiolytics among high school adolescents: Tunisia, 2021

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2023

S. Rejaibi ,
A. Silini ,
M. Zid ,
R. Mallekh ,
I. Ben Slema ,
N. Zoghlami ,
M. Zribi ,
S. Ben Youssef ,
N. Ben Salah  and
H. Aounallah-Skhiri
S. Rejaibi
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Medical Faculty of Medicine, Tunis El Manar University Nutrition Surveillance and Epidemiology department, SURVEN Research Laboratory
A. Silini*
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Nutrition Surveillance and Epidemiology department, SURVEN Research Laboratory
M. Zid
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health
R. Mallekh
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health
I. Ben Slema
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health
N. Zoghlami
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health
M. Zribi
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health
S. Ben Youssef
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health
N. Ben Salah
Affiliation:
Medical Faculty of Medicine, Tunis El Manar University Intensive Care Unit department, Center for Urgent Medical Assistance, Tunis, Tunisia
H. Aounallah-Skhiri
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Medical Faculty of Medicine, Tunis El Manar University Nutrition Surveillance and Epidemiology department, SURVEN Research Laboratory
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Non-Medical Use of Anxiolytics (NMUA) and sedatives is a focus of scientific interest worldwide. In Tunisia, no national epidemiological data related to this issue, are published.

Objectives

We aimed to determine the prevalence of NMUA in Tunisian adolescents and assess specificities from a gender scope.

Methods

Data from the 2021-Mediterranean school Survey on Alcohol and other Drugs (MedSPAD) were used. Based on random sampling method (three-stage stratification), high school teenagers in first and second year of secondary education, were enrolled. Data were collected using a self-administered standardized questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, and specific questions related to NMUA (among adolescents and close environment), perceived accessibility and initiation age. We studied weighted prevalence estimates of NMUA at least once in a lifetime, presented with 95% Confidence Interval (CI). Epi data software was used for data entry and statistical analysis was performed with STATA software.

Results

The survey included 6.201 adolescents with a mean age of 16.8 years and sex ratio F/M equal to 1.5. Only half of surveyed adolescents, perceived accessibility to NMUA as “impossible” and almost 20% had at least one family member or friend using a nonmedical prescription of anxiolytics. The overall prevalence of NMUA was (8.4%; 95% CI [7.6-9.2]), significantly higher among girls (9.8% Vs 6.1%, p-value<10-4). Initiation age was over 13 years for almost 70% of consumers.

Conclusions

Our study highlighted high prevalence of NMUA, mainly among girls. Although COVID mental health impact might have a role in explaining our findings; however, decisions makers should be aware of non-medically prescribed anxiolytics accessibility especially among this vulnerable population. Audit prescription monitoring programs should be reinforced, and multisectoral collaboration should be reinforced to promote adolescents mental well being and avoid falling into addiction trap.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared

Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 66 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 31st European Congress of Psychiatry , March 2023 , pp. S530
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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