Effect of living conditions on genital mutilation practices among adolescent girls in West Africa: A pooled analysis from demographic and health surveys.

Despite commitments and interventions, Female Genital Mutilations (FGM) practice persists in West African countries. This research analyzes the effect of living conditions on FGM practice. Data were sourced from thirty-four demographic and health surveys conducted between 1995 and 2020 in 12 countries. The study sample consisted of 69,971 adolescent girls aged 15-19 years. Meta-regression analysis and binary logistic regression analyses showed the effect and relative contribution of study covariates on the phenomenon. The overall average prevalence of FGM is 40.7%, with a mixed effect of living conditions on FGM practice. The factors associated with FGM practice are, in order of importance, religion, level of education, ethnicity and place of residence. All factors have a direct effect on the studied phenomenon, and the level of education acts as an inhibiter of the effect of living conditions. The study suggests the need to strengthen the involvement of religious, traditional and community leaders in the definition and implementation of actions to combat FGM, as well as girl's education, especially by maintaining them in school till completion of at least secondary school.

[Factors associated with psychoactive substance use among Beninese adolescents]. / Facteurs associés à l’'usage de substances psychoactives chez les adolescents au Bénin.

INTRODUCTION: Psychoactive substances use among adolescents is a serious public health problem, as it exposes them to risks and health hazards and can ultimately lead to dependence. The present study investigated the prevalence and factors associated with substance use in the Kpomassè Ouidah Tori-Bossito health area in Benin. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from 1st May to 15 July 2014 in 451 adolescents aged 10 to 19 years selected by the cluster sampling technique. Data were collected using a questionnaire about the adolescents' individual, family and socio-environmental factors. Associated factors were investigated by backward stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: Alcohol was the substance most commonly abused with a prevalence of 30.1%, followed by tobacco, with a prevalence of 21.7% and finally cannabis, cocaine or amphetamine with a prevalence of 13.9%. More than one in ten teenagers (16.6%) consumed two or three substances. Factors associated with alcohol misuse were male gender, the area of urban residence, being married, depression, search for pleasure, conflictual family relationships and having neighbours who drink alcohol. Significant risk factors for smoking were male gender, having a single parent or being an orphan, poor parental involvement in the child's education, smoking friends and neighbours. Cannabis, cocaine and amphetamine use was mostly associated with an urban residential environment, depression, conflictual family relationships and poor parental involvement in the child's education, drug use by the parents and illicit drug use by friends. CONCLUSION: These results show that psychoactive substance use is a public health problem in the Tori-Bossito Kpomassè Ouidah health area. Communication interventions for behaviour change, advocacy, and a better public understanding of the legislation on psychoactive substances should be conducted.