[Access to intermittent preventive treatment (IPt) in a situation of abolition of user's fee: role of economic welfare]. / Accès au traitement préventif intermittent (TPI) dans une situation de gratuité : rôle du bien-être économique.

In Senegal, the free distribution of sulfadoxine pyrimethamine during antenatal care is recommended to remove the disparity in the context of intermittent preventive treatment against malaria. The objective of this study was thus to identify factors influencing access to treatment in a situation of abolition of user fees. It was a cross-sectional and analytical study. It covered a sample of 1906 women aged 15-49 years randomly selected during the national survey on malaria in Senegal. Data were collected during a personal interview. The economic well-being was measured from the characteristics of housing and durable goods. The multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression. The average age was 27.94 ± 5.34, 64.27% resided in rural area and 71.8% had received no schooling. Among the surveyed women, 23% were in the poorest quintile, while 16.3% were in the richest. Intermittent preventive treatment was performed in 49.3%. IPt were made more in urban areas (OR 1.45 95% [1.17 to 1.72]). It increased with the level of education with an OR of 1.5 and 1.68 in primary and secondary. The completion of the IPt increased with economic welfare. The OR ranged from 1.44 to 2.95 in the second quintile to the richest. Free medication does not necessarily benefit poor people. Other accompanying measures must be developed to facilitate the distribution of drugs particularly at community level with the involvement of people.

[Care for elderly patients in Africa: Analysis of the financial implications of the SESAME plan on the budget of the regional hospital center in Thies, Senegal]. / Prise en charge des patients du 3e âge en Afrique: étude des implications financières du plan SESAME sur le budget du centre hospitalier régional de Thiès (Sénégal).

PURPOSE: The SESAME plan has been implemented at the Thies Regional Hospital Center (TRHC) for one year. The purpose of this study was to analyze the financial implications of the plan on the hospital budget for the sustainability of care for persons aged 60 and over. METHODS: This descriptive study included analysis of budget data from October 2006 to September 2007 plus information obtained by interviewing the accountant and head of SESAME plan. The number of patients managed, sources of CHRT funding, grants from various SESAME plan partners, and expenditures for each partner were determined. The weight of the SESAME plan in the CHRT operating budget was determined by calculating the ratio of the overall cost of care for elderly persons in relation to the hospital's revenues and SESAME grants. RESULTS: During the study period, the CHRT received a total of 17375 elderly persons including 89% with no pension or social security. The institute pension scheme (IPRES) covered 21% of the plan as compared to 79% for the state. Utilization plan grants in relation to funding source was 41% for IPRES and 124% for the State. The total cost of services provided to beneficiaries of the SESAME plan exceeded the aggregate amount by 26 083 847 CFA francs. The weight of the SESAME plan in the operating cost of the CHRT was 17%. CONCLUSION: Prefinancing a plan to cover elderly care in hospitals should be sufficient to prevent deficits from impacting negatively on the operating budget of the hospital.

[Epidemiology of women suffering from obstetric fistula in Niger]. / Parcours de la femme souffrant de fistule obstétricale au Niger.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this epidemiological study was to determine factors influencing management of obstetrical fistula (OF) by attempting to understand the itinerary followed by women suffering from OF in Niger. Study was carried out during the surgery session that took place at the Niamey National Hospital from April 18 to 29, 2006. Study variables were socioeconomic profile, obstetric/surgical history, support resources, and level of education. Four trained investigators using a specially designed questionnaire carried out patient interviews. Data were analyzed using the Epi Info 3.3.1 software package. A total of 91 patients with average age of 27.30 years (+/- 8.94) were interviewed. Most patients had no schooling (95%), came from the southwest region of the country (85%), and belonged to the Djerma ethnic group (52%). Most were married (76%) or divorced (19%). In the majority of cases the age at the time of marriage and first childbirth was under 18 years (76% and 55% respectively). The delivery that resulted in OF was the first in 59%, took place in a health care facility in 88%, lasted more than 24 hours in 97%, and took place by the vaginal route in 71%. The delay for the first medical visit was at least 3 months in most cases (66%) usually due to a lack of awareness of treatment availability, or to unavailability of transportation. Most patients had a history of surgery (63%) and were unaware of the probable date of the treatment (99%) with many waiting more than 3 months (44%). Prevention of gainful activity was 4.79 times more frequent after occurrence of OF. Management of OF requires not only qualified personnel but also and especially access to the quality obstetric care and greater awareness among the population. Education for girls is a crucial factor for a better health in Niger.

[Knowledge and behaviours concerning HIV/AIDS infection among sex workers in Ziguinchor (Senegal)]. / Connaissances et pratiques concernant l'infection a VIH/SIDA chez les travailleuses du sexe a Ziguinchor (Senegal).

INTRODUCTION: The Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which it causes constitute one of the major concerns of these two last decades. In Senegal, 77000 people live today with the HIV. In 2002, 28.5% of sex workers in Ziguinchor were infected with HIV. Professional sex work is considered as a main determinant of HIV/AIDS propagation. The objective of this study is to assess knowledge, a ttitudes and behaviours concerning HIV/AIDS within this target group in order to formulate recommendations to improve ongoing activities in information, education and communication. METHOD: The study was cross-sectional, descriptive and analytic. It was set up at the Ziguinchor sexual transmitted diseases (STD) center. Between April 16th and May 2nd in 2003, 68 sex workers who visited the center were interviewed. Data was entered and analyzed with Epi Info 6.04d software. RESULTS: The level of knowledge of sex workers in Ziguinchor was satisfactory: 94% gave at least one mode of contamination, 98.5% knew one means of prevention and 81% gave at least one symptom of the disease. However 35.3% of them did not require the wearing of condom, either because of trust in their partners, because of ignorance of the risk, or because of the proposition of special prices. CONCLUSION: Among sex workers followed at STD center of Ziguinchor, the observed attitudes and behaviors don't match the knowledge level. Information campaigns, that focus on at-risk behaviours, as well as the orientation of research towards specific means for women to prevent infection, such as microbicides, would be critical tools for better fighting against the HIV/AIDS epidemic.