title: Attitudes towards use of anabolic-androgenic steroids among Ghanaian high school students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study is a pioneering exploration of nonmedical anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use among Ghanaian high school students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 2683 students contacted, 2597 (1412 females) participated in a survey (response rate=96.8%). Participants (age range=11-35 years, M=17.2, SD=1.4) provided information on demographics, sports participation, and nonmedical AAS use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall lifetime prevalence of use was 3.8% (males=4.9%, females=3.1%). Moreover, 18.5% reported having an acquaintance that has used AAS while 6.0% of the sample had previously been offered AAS. However, none of the AAS users provided a valid name of the AAS they had used. Use and intent to use AAS was also significantly higher among males, teenagers (versus over 19-year-olds), athletes (versus recreational sportspeople, and nonathletes), and participants in ball games (versus other sports). Female gender, parental absence, religiosity, and participation in jogging had significant positive association with AAS use attitudes whereas participation in martial arts, and swimming had significant negative association with AAS use attitudes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of use and intent to use AAS among Ghanaian high school students should be of concern to authorities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Christiesgate 12, 5015 Bergen, Norway. Electronic address: dominic.sagoe@psysp.uib.no.
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sagoe
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Christiesgate 12, 5015 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Torbjørn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Torsheim
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, Christiesgate 12, 5015 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Molde
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Christiesgate 12, 5015 Bergen, Norway; The Competence Centre, Bergen Clinics Foundation, Vestre Torggate 11, 5015 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Cecilie Schou
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Andreassen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Christiesgate 12, 5015 Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Ståle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pallesen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000728:Androgens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D000728:Androgens
keywords: Adolescents; Africa; Anabolic steroids; Attitudes; Ghana; High school; Prevalence