Caribbean Adolescent Health Survey: Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica

Abstract

This report on adolescent health in the Caribbean is based on a sample of some 8,096 adolescents from Antigua, Dominica, Grenada and Jamaica. Most of the samples came from primary and secondary schools, however, in Dominica, 162 young people were in post-secondary schools at the time of the survey, and approximately 30 teens in Antigua were out of school. The findings showed that the majority of in-school youth in the countries surveyed were doing well. They were not involved in vandalism and theft, fighting with weapons, cigarette and drug use, and they were not members of a gang. However, several issues for concern were identified including: 1) the high level of physical and sexual abuse; 2) alcohol use in older teens, especially males; 3) the early onset of physical activity, lack of contraceptive use in those who were sexually active, and the number of sexual partners; 4) the adolescents’ worry about getting pregnant and contracting AIDS; 5) the high percentage of youth indicating that they could not discuss their problems and concerns with either parent; 6) the high percentage of youth not remembering or never having had a physical exam; and 7) the high percentage of youth experiencing learning difficulties and extreme anger.