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 the fewest adults exceeding the guidelines for low-risk alcohol consumption
• The majority express a desire to quit or reduce these habits: support measures should be strengthened

Physical activity and sedentary lifestyles: key areas to address to reduce the onset of chronic diseases

• French Guiana ranks among the regions that are least sedentary but engage in the least physical activity: 22% of adults spend more than 7 hours a day sitting, and only 28% engage in regular physical activity during their 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 help limit the onset of cardiovascular diseases, among other benefits
• Promoting individual behaviors and adapting the built environment must be encouraged to facilitate physical activity and reduce the 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 in French Guiana report having high blood pressure; of these, 76% report receiving antihypertensive medication
• 7% of adults report having diabetes; of these, 79% report receiving medication
• Women are more affected by these two conditions, and socio-occupational 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 utilization and adherence

There is 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 are available, and improve access to care must continue

French Guiana, a region marked by social inequalities where adults more frequently report food insecurity and discrimination

• 33% of adults report having gone hungry without being able to eat due to a lack of money or other resources in the past 12 months. 36% of adults aged 18 to 79 report having experienced unequal treatment or discrimination in the past five years. 65% of adults aged 18–79 report their financial situation as “just” or “difficult, in debt.”