Suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in subjects aged 15-19 in Lomé (Togo).

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to study the epidemiological and clinical profile of adolescents with suicidal thoughts, with or without suicide attempts, and to identify associated factors. RESULTS: A total of 155 (16.5%) of the 941 adolescents interviewed had suicidal thoughts. The average age of the respondents was 18 ± 2.1 years. The sex ratio (m/f) was 1.4. With regard to marital status, 70.2% were single and 29.8% were in a relationship with a cohabiting partner. Family history of suicide was reported in 40%. In their personal history, eight were infected with HIV, three were chronic ethylic and two were diabetics. Forty-six (29.7%) of the 155 adolescents who had suicidal ideation had ever had a suicide attempt. Teens affected by suicide lived in a boarding school in 25.8%, with one parent in 23.9% and 50.3% with both parents. Factors associated with suicide attempts were female sex (p = 0.0107), age over 18 years (p = 0.0177), living in a couple (p = 0.0316), underlying immunodepression (HIV infection, p = 0.0059, sickle cell disease, p = 0.0043) and having a family history of suicides (p = 0.0461).

Sexuality, sexually transmitted infections and contraception among health sciences students in university of Lomé, Togo.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate the practice of sexuality, contraception and the risk of sexually transmitted infections among students in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lomé, Togo. RESULTS: Three hundred and sixteen (316) students were interviewed, with a response rate of 43.3%. The average age of students completing the form was 21.4 ± 2.7 years and their sex ratio was 2.2. Of this number of students who completed the form, 51.8% have already had sex. The mean age of first intercourse was 17.9 ± 3.2 years; 70.3% were heterosexual. Regarding the number of sexual partners, 48.5% of students had more than one partner, of whom 15.9% had at least 5 sexual partners. 21.5% of these students had only one sexual intercourse per month. Regarding contraception among students with the card, 67.5% of students used a method of contraception. Among those using contraceptives, it was a 55.3% condom, followed by the Ogino method at 14.1%. Some of our respondents used more than one method of contraception and 28.5% of respondents indicated that their partners used a method of contraception. For STIs, 10.8% of students completing the form were already infected. Gonorrhea was reported in 30.4% of cases, candidiasis in 26.1% of cases.

Evolution of HIV prevalence and behavioral factors among MSM in Togo between 2011 and 2015.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to assess sexual behavior and measure HIV prevalence among MSM in 2015, in Togo. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study from February to March 2015 in nine major cities of Togo. The respondent-driven sampling method was used to recruit MSM. Behavioral data were collected by interviewer-administered questionnaires. The blood tests were then carried out among MSM to assess their HIV status. Data were inputted into an Epidata database and exported to STATA® 9.0 for analysis. Qualitative variables were compared using the chi-2. RESULTS: A total of 496 MSM were involved in this study, with 43.35% in the capital, Lome. Over the past 12 months, 88.9% of MSM had had sexual intercourse with men and 24.1% of them had had sex with women. The last sexual intercourse was with a casual partner among 52.9% of MSM. During the last 30 days preceding the survey, 68.5% of MSM had regularly used a condom during active anal intercourse and 71.9% had used it during passive anal intercourse. The national prevalence rate of HIV among MSM was 13.0%. The factors associated with HIV infection were age of MSM OR = 5.30 [1.85-15.1], HIV testing history OR = 2.63 [1.18-5.87] and the city of residence of MSM OR = 5.56 [2.90-10.64]. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that HIV prevalence among MSM is five times higher than in the general population (13% vs 2.5%). Thus, the need to rethink HIV sensitization and prevention strategies targeting hidden and stigmatized populations such as MSM.