The 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV anxiety disorders among Nigerian secondary school adolescents aged 13-18 years

Aims: To estimate the 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV-specific anxiety disorders among Nigerian secondary school adolescents aged 13-18 years. Method: A representative sample of adolescents (n = 1090) from senior secondary schools in a semi-urban town in Nigeria was assessed for the 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV-specific anxiety. Results: The 12-month prevalence for all anxiety disorders was 15.0% (females = 19.6%; males = 11.4%). There were significant gender differences in the prevalence for all anxiety disorders (P < 0.001; OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.35-2.65) and social anxiety disorder (P = 0.035; OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.03-3.19) and significant age difference in the prevalence of separation anxiety disorder (P = 0.045; OR 2.43, 95% CI 0.99-5.96). Conclusion: The prevalence of anxiety disorders in Nigerian secondary school adolescents was comparable to the rates found in the western world. Health policies must integrate adolescents' anxiety as a disorder of public health significance. Further studies are needed to evaluate the factors associated with anxiety disorders amongst adolescents in this region. (c) 2007 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.