Adolescent Problem Gambling in Rural Ghana: Prevalence and Gender Differentiation

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Adolescent Problem Gambling in Rural Ghana: Prevalence and Gender Differentiation Samuel Kofi Odame1   · Emmanuel Nii‑Boye Quarshie2,3   · Mabel Oti‑Boadi3   · Johnny Andoh‑Arthur3   · Kwaku Oppong Asante3  Accepted: 30 October 2020 © The Author(s) 2020

Abstract Problem gambling among young people is now a public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the behaviour remains understudied, particularly, among rural-dwelling young people in countries within the subregion. We aimed to estimate the 12 months prevalence of problem gambling and to describe  the overall and gender differences and commonalities in personal factors and social adversities associated with problem gambling among adolescents in rural Ghana. We conducted a cross-sectional survey involving a random sample of 1101 in-school adolescents aged 10–19  years in a rural district in Eastern Ghana; we used the DSM-IV-Multiple Response-Juvenile (DSM-IV-MR-J) questionnaire to assess problem gambling during the previous 12  months. Personal lifestyle and psychosocial variables were assessed using adopted items from the 2012 WHO–Global School-based Student Health Survey. Overall, three in 10 adolescents (3 in 10 females; 4 in 10 males) in rural Ghana reported problem gambling in the previous 12 months. Female adolescents who experienced problem gambling were more likely to report family-related social adversities, while adolescent male problem gambling was associated with schoolrelated factors and interpersonal factors outside the family context. Regardless of gender, sexual abuse victimisation was associated with three times increase in the odds of experiencing problem gambling. Relative to the prevalence of gambling among adolescents in urban contexts in other countries within sub-Saharan Africa, the estimates of problem gambling among in-school rural adolescents in Ghana are higher. Although further studies are needed to understand the nuances of the behaviour, the evidence of this study underscores the need for general and targeted health promotion, intervention and prevention efforts to mitigate the family, school, and interpersonal social adversities associated with adolescent problem gambling in rural Ghana. Keywords  Adolescents · Gambling · Ghana · Problem gambling · Rural adolescents

Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (https​://doi.org/10.1007/s1089​ 9-020-09987​-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Emmanuel Nii‑Boye Quarshie [email protected]; [email protected] Extended author information available on the last page of the article

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Journal of Gambling Studies

Abbreviations DSM-IV-MR-J Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Fourth Edition Adapted for Juveniles DUREL Duke University Religion Index JHS Junior High School WHO World Health Organization

Introduction Gambling among young people has become an important public health concern (Derevensky et al. 2011; Messerlian et al. 2005). Problem gambling among young p