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Article History

Received: 10 August 2024

Accepted: 22 April 2026

First Online: 29 April 2026

Declarations

:

: Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of the Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (IPH/OAU/12/1874). Prior to the study, written permission was obtained from the local education authority. Subsequently, verbal permission was secured from school principals to allow research to be conducted within their respective schools. For participants under the age of 18, written assent was obtained, along with written consent from their parents or legal guardians. This process included a thorough explanation of the study’s objectives. Participants aged 18 years and above provided informed consent directly Participation in the study was entirely voluntary and participants were assured of confidentiality and data security. They were informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any time without repercussions. To protect data, it was stored securely on a password-protected computer accessible only to the researcher. At the end of the study, all adolescents were counselled on the health, and social consequences of gambling. Those identified with pathological gambling were provided with counselling and referred to the school health clinic at the Urban Comprehensive Health Centre, Eleyele, Ife within the same town, for further specialist care. Also, the study was conducted in line with the ethical standards as laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.