Health risk behaviour prevention/intervention programmes targeted at youth/adolescents engaging in risky behaviour—a scoping review

Abstract Background Youth in disadvantaged socio-economic circumstances in South Africa face significant risks to their physical and mental well-being due to exposure to harmful behaviours. More than 50% of the global disease burden is attributed to non-communicable diseases linked to such behaviours. While interventions have been initiated to address these risks, the limited reduction in risky behaviour necessitates closer examination and the exploration of more targeted or innovative approaches for effective mitigation. Objectives To explore existing health risk behaviour prevention/intervention programmes targeting youth, focusing on decreasing risky behaviour engagement and to discuss the success of the intervention used. Methods Three electronic databases were searched from 2009 until November 2023. Studies specifically reported using an intervention programme in youth or adolescents aged 9 to 19 were included. Data extracted included age, grade, sample size, targeted risky behaviour, and outcome. Results A total of 1072 articles were screened across three major databases, and of the nine included studies, n = 7 yielded mild to moderate intervention success results. The use of incentives yielded unsuccessful results. The most successful intervention strategy identified was school-based intervention programmes targeting multiple risky behaviours. Conclusion School interventions combining counselling, electronic screening, and personalized feedback effectively modified behaviour, while incentive-based programs had minimal impact. This underscores the importance of targeted interventions to discourage risky behaviour among young people. Clinical implications Effective intervention and prevention programs targeting health risk behaviours in youth are essential in safeguarding their mental and physical well-being. A clear link between risky behaviour engagement and the potential development of non-communicable diseases or trauma should be emphasised.