Preparedness of adolescents departing from Athens International Airport to Africa or Asia: A five-year airport-based prospective study

Abstract Background The number of adolescents who travel has increased. We estimated the preparedness of adolescents (12–18 years) departing from Athens to Africa and Asia. Methods An airport-based survey was conducted from 2011 to 2015. Results Sixty-eight adolescents participated; 27/68 (40%) had the Greek nationality. Their main destinations were the Indian subcontinent (37%) and South-East Asia (32%). Most adolescents planned to stay for Conclusions Less than one third of adolescents travelling to Africa and Asia seek counseling. There is a need to access adolescent travellers in Greece and improve pre-travel vaccinations and malaria chemoprophylaxis.