[Fight against maternal mortality in rural areas: decentralization of emergency obstetric cares in Burkina Faso]. / Lutte contre la mortalité maternelle en milieu rural: décentralisation de l'offre des soins obstétricaux d'urgence au Burkina Faso.

INTRODUCTION: In order to cover the shortage of midwives (MWs) in the health district of Tougan, Burkina Faso, a strategy for the decentralization of emergency obstetric cares, based on ad hoc interventions undertaken by MW to manage obstetric complications in health centers (HCs), has been developed in rural areas. This study aimed to describe this experience and to analyze the achieved results. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, analytical, intervention study based on a review of routine data from all the parturients treated from 2013 to 2015. Data collection took place from 5 to 20 January 2016. Chi-square Test, odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 416 parturients with obstetric complications were treated by zonal MW. The average age of patients was 26.4 years. The median distance travelled to treat parturients was 15 km, with an average intervention period of 21.1 minutes (standard deviation = 7.13 minutes). Dystocias accounted for half (50.7%, CI95%= 45.8-55.6) of treated complications followed by hemorrhage (26.4%, CI95%= 22.3%-31.0%). More than 77% of interventions resulted in local resolution of obstetric complications. Finally, the intervention outcome was subject to the pathology treated (OR=5.88; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This strategy was an answer to the shortage of MWs in the perypheral HCs in the health district of Tougan. In this particular context, this intervention could provide an alternative solution to the shortage of human resources for health in rural areas.

Comparative Validation of Five Quantitative Rapid Test Kits for the Analysis of Salt Iodine Content: Laboratory Performance, User- and Field-Friendliness.

BACKGROUND: Iodine deficiency has important health and development consequences and the introduction of iodized salt as national programs has been a great public health success in the past decades. To render national salt iodization programs sustainable and ensure adequate iodization levels, simple methods to quantitatively assess whether salt is adequately iodized are required. Several methods claim to be simple and reliable, and are available on the market or are in development. OBJECTIVE: This work has validated the currently available quantitative rapid test kits (quantRTK) in a comparative manner for both their laboratory performance and ease of use in field settings. METHODS: Laboratory performance parameters (linearity, detection and quantification limit, intra- and inter-assay imprecision) were conducted on 5 quantRTK. We assessed inter-operator imprecision using salt of different quality along with the comparison of 59 salt samples from across the globe; measurements were made both in a laboratory and a field setting by technicians and non-technicians. Results from the quantRTK were compared against iodometric titration for validity. An 'ease-of-use' rating system was developed to identify the most suitable quantRTK for a given task. RESULTS: Most of the devices showed acceptable laboratory performance, but for some of the devices, use by non-technicians revealed poorer performance when working in a routine manner. Of the quantRTK tested, the iCheck® and I-Reader® showed most consistent performance and ease of use, and a newly developed paper-based method (saltPAD) holds promise if further developed. CONCLUSIONS: User- and field-friendly devices are now available and the most appropriate quantRTK can be selected depending on the number of samples and the budget available.