Key Points

Alcohol and tobacco, the leading preventable risk factors: strengthening efforts to reduce their consumption

• 10% of adults aged 18 to 79 smoke daily in French Guiana, and 79% of them say they want to quit

• 14% of adults exceed the guidelines for low-risk alcohol consumption, and among them, 51% say they want to reduce their consumption

• French Guiana ranks among the regions with the fewest daily smokers and adults exceeding the guidelines for low-risk alcohol consumption

• However, the majority express a desire to quit or reduce these habits: support measures should be strengthened

Physical activity and sedentary lifestyles: levers to mobilize to limit the onset of chronic diseases

• French Guiana ranks among the least sedentary regions but also among those with the lowest levels of physical activity: 22% of adults spend more than 7 hours a day sitting, and only 28% engage in regular physical activity during leisure time

• Marked social inequalities: socially advantaged groups are the most sedentary, while the most disadvantaged engage in less physical activity

• Reducing sedentary behavior and engaging in physical activity are two health-promoting behaviors that notably limit the onset of cardiovascular diseases

• Promoting individual behaviors and adapting the built environment must be encouraged to facilitate physical activity and reduce time spent sitting or lying down

Diabetes and hypertension: French Guiana is one of the regions most affected

• 23% of adults aged 18 to 79 report having high blood pressure in French Guiana; of these, 76% report receiving antihypertensive treatment

• 7% of adults report having diabetes, and 79% of them report receiving pharmacological treatment

• Women are more affected by these two conditions, and socio-professional factors play a significant role: screening and prevention efforts must be strengthened, with particular attention given to the most vulnerable populations, especially those who are socially disadvantaged

• Furthermore, there is room for improvement in treatment uptake and adherence

No health without mental health: mental health is a fundamental public health issue

• 14% of adults aged 18 to 79 in French Guiana have experienced a major depressive episode in the past 12 months, of whom only 29% sought professional help

• 6% of adults have experienced generalized anxiety disorder in the past 12 months, of whom 64% did not seek any care

• 7% of adults have had suicidal thoughts in the past 12 months

• The situation in French Guiana is similar to the national situation: efforts to promote good mental health, raise awareness that resources for mental health care exist, and improve access to care must continue

Vaccination: increasing uptake to reduce the incidence of preventable diseases

• 79% of adults aged 18 to 79 in French Guiana say they are in favor of vaccination

• Vaccination against COVID-19, and to a lesser extent against the flu, faces the most resistance, including among people aged 65 and older

• Efforts to promote vaccination that take into account identified socio-demographic differences must therefore be prioritized to avoid widening the social divide