[Prevalence and factors associated with low back pain among hospital staff in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)]. / Prévalence et facteurs de risque associés à la lombalgie chez le personnel hospitalier à Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence, risk factors, associated with low back pain among hospital staff in a developing country. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This transversal study was conducted from March 2007 to February 2008 at Yalgado Ouédraogo Teaching Hospital in Ouagadougou (CHU-YO), Burkina Faso. RESULTS: There were 256 men and 180 women with an average age of 38 +/- 8.25 years (range, 22 to 58). Mean BMI was 25.11 +/- 4.03 Kg/m2. The prevalence of chronic low back pain was 56.4% overall, 47.3% in men and 69.4% in women. Individual risk factors included female sex (p=0.000004), age (p=0.026), and high BMI (p=0.0002). Sports activity appeared to be a protective factor (p=0,035). Professional risk factors were the number of working hours per week (p=0,005) and numbers of guards per month (p=0.014) and posture during work (p=0.01). Analysis of socioprofessional consequences revealed significant impact in 43 (17,5%) patients. The loss work hours in 2007 were estimated to 1020. Three patients had to change working stations due to disability and 82 (19%) reported restricted working capacity. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of low back pain is high among hospital staff of CHU-YO. Preventive measures are needed to reduce socioprofessional consequences.

[Self-medication in the treatment of acute malaria: study based on users of private health drug stores in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso]. / Automédication dans le traitement de l'accès palustre: étude auprès de clients d'officines pharmaceutiques privées de la ville de Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

In order to contribute to the national debate on the change of protocol of the simple forms of malaria treatment in Burkina Faso, we conducted a transversal descriptive study among 397 private pharmacies users in Ouagadougou. The aims of the study were: - making an inventory of the antimalarials and signs which led to self-medication; - identifying the factors favouring self-treatment and the reasons why these antimalarials have been bought; - making an inventory of the misuses of antimalarial drugs by individuals practicing self-medication; - checking the knowledge base in individuals practicing self-medication in relation to resistance to antimalarials. We noticed that chloroquine (39.3%), sulfadoxine-pyrimethamin (24.4%), arthemisinin and its by products (15.1%) were the three main molecules which account for antimalarial self-treatment However the use of these molecules was inappropriate regarding the dosage (41.3%) as well as the rate of intake (40.7%). Self-medication was motivated by the common signs of malaria and the way in which this parasitosis has become an every day feature in people's minds. The choice of the molecule, the knowledge of the directions for use and the rate of intake were significantly linked to the level of education (p < 0.001). Self-medication being one of the major causes of resistance development, it is necessary together with local pharmacies retailers, to organize information campaigns on the correct use of molecules of the new antimalarial therapeutic scheme which will be adopted.

[Herpes zoster and human imunodeficiency virus in the medical centers of Ouagadougou]. / Le zona dans les formations sanitaires de Ouagadougou dans le contexte de la pandemie du VIH/SIDA.

Herpes zoster is an acute posterior ganglio-radiculitis related to the reactivation of the chicken pox-herpes zoster virus remained quiescent in the neurons of the nerve-knots. It usually occurs at the subject after 60 years old. For young patient, it is closely related to the infection by the HIV. Our exploratory descriptive and analytical study was carried out from 1 October 2002 to 30 September 2003, in order to describe the epidemiological, clinical aspects of the herpes zoster in the medical formations of the town of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and to determine the prevalence of the infection by the HIV in the patients. We have collected 118 patients who have a herpes zoster through 6500 consultants. There were 79 women and 39 men. The average age was 34.4 years. The age bracket from 20 to 40 years was the most touched. The blistered eruption was the first reason for consultation; the light with type of burn, intermittent pain prevailed. The lesions healed in one month but there were 28 ulcerated necrotic cases. Post zoster pains have been observed in 33 cases. The localizations were the members in 44 cases (37.29%), the head in 35 cases (29.66%) and the trunk in 40 cases (33.90%). We have observed a case with double localization of herpes zoster. On 65 patients tested for the HIV, 58 (89.2%) were infected. The age bracket from 20 to 40 was the most concerned. A case of corneal necrosis isolated, with blindness and another with an opposed, spasmodic and total hemi paresis were notified. Fourteen patients having an antecedent of herpes zoster were all infected by HIV. Since the pandemic infection by the HIV, the incidence of the herpes zoster increases within the young population. The high frequency of HIV infection among our patients (89.2%) showed that the herpes zoster is closely related to this disease.

[Factors for non-observance of the extended program timetable for vaccination in health districts: the case of Boussé in Burkina Faso]. / Déterminants du non-respect du calendrier vaccinal du programme élargi de vaccination au niveau district sanitaire: cas du district sanitaire de Boussé, Burkina Faso.

UNLABELLED: Prevention through vaccination is a strong means to fight pediatric lethal diseases. In Burkina Faso, one of the main problems for vaccination is the non-respect of the vaccination timetable bringing about a significant reduction of validity of administered doses. OBJECTIVES: The authors had for aim to assess reasons for the non-compliance to the timetable. A transversal study was carried out in the Boussé health district to: 1) analyze the qualitative and organizational factors of the vaccination services linked to this non compliance; 2) analyze community factors accounting for this situation. POPULATION AND METHOD: The study target group included mothers of children aged 0 to 11 months vaccinated by the vaccination team of the Boussé health district from August 1st, 2003 to June 30th, 2004, and the vaccination team. Variables covered in this study included sociodemographic factors, the organization of vaccination campaigns, the mothers' perception of health service organization, the vaccination team's experience, vaccinal safety, knowledge of vaccination timetable. RESULTS: The following were identified as key factors for the non-observance of the vaccination timetable: poor organization of the vaccination services, inadequate competence of the vaccination team, poor educational level of mothers, poor communication level with mothers, postvaccination side effects. CONCLUSION: The study recommends the following: training of vaccination providers, a better organization of vaccination services, and the implementation of a communication plan.

[A study of the unmet needs for major obstetric interventions: the experience of Burkina Faso]. / Etude des besoins obstétricaux non couverts pour les interventions obstétricales majeures: l'expérience du Burkina Faso.

The fight against maternal mortality requires strategies adapted to every socio-economic and geographic context. To define these strategies, it is essential to have relevant information and to obtain the participation of the various actors involved. One of the indicators which summarizes the maternal mortality level and which it the basis for the mobilization of resources is the maternal mortality ratio. This ratio remains difficult to measure especially in countries with limited resources. Based on the major obstetric interventions for absolute maternal indications, the unmet needs for major obstetric intervention approach is an opportunity for developing countries. We applied this approach in Burkina Faso i) to determine the number of major obstetric interventions for absolute maternal indications carried out in 1998; ii) to quantify the deficit in major obstetric interventions for absolute maternal indications carried out in 1998. In order to do this, we conducted a retrospective study based on files in four sanitary regions. Once the data was collected, we listed 610 major obstetric interventions for absolute maternal indications (IOM/IMA). For the same period, the expected number of IOM/IMA was of 1,470, i.e. a relative global deficit of 58.5%. The analysis per sanitary district revealed disparities with deficits going from 87.5% to 15.5%. The lack of qualified personnel and of surgical infrastructures, the low economic level of the populations and the high cost of the services were identified as factors having favoured these deficits.

[Prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders among women working in the health sector in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: results of an evaluation using the GHQ-28]. / Prévalence des troubles psychatriques mineurs chez les femmes travaillant dans le secteur de la santé a Ouagadougou au Burkina Faso: résultats d'une evaluation a l'aide de GHQ-28.

In a developing country like Burkina Faso, where the mental health care relates to only a minority of people affected by the mental disorders, investigations among the general population are very informative. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders among the female population in the urban environment of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, as well as the sociodemographic factors possibly associated with mental troubles among these women. The study was a descriptive transverse investigation with single passage carried out on 227 women whose mean age was 37.38 +/- 7.50 years old. The French version of the GHQ-28 was used to evaluate minor psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of the the psychiatric disorders within the population was 33.48%. The results of the GHQ-28 showed that social abnormal operations (59.03%), anxiety and insomnia (45.37%) were the disorders most frequently detected. The importance of psychiatric morbidity within the surveyed population suggests complementary studies aiming at specifying the supporting factors among others.

[Preliminary information to patients and presentation by Burkinabe physicians of the results of HIV detection test in Burkina Faso]. / Information préalable des patients et annonce par les médecins burkinabé des résultats des tests sérologiques de dépistage de l'infection à VIH au Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: The action of individuals and their family is determining in the result of AIDS control and the knowledge of people's serological situation facilitates their involvement in AIDS control. This study was carried out in order METHODS: A transversal investigation through a self-administered anonymous questionnaire was carried out among the 250 Burkinabe physicians working in a public, private or religious health care sector. The questionnaire was sent by mail, attached to a response coupon. A response of 74% was obtained. RESULTS: Seventy seven physicians, that is 48.7% of the sample, informed patients who were likely to be HIV infected about their intention to ask for an HIV test. Seventy five physicians, that is 47.5% of the sample informed patients on the results of their serological tests on HIV infection. The characteristics of physicians who informed customers on the results of their serological test were similar to those of physicians who informed their patients on the demand for test concerning them. There were often specialists, physicians with long experience in medical practice and physicians more involving in curative consultations than in preventive ones (respectively 54.7% versus 23.3%, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: These results show the necessity of providing young physicians with counselling training, especially general practitioners who should be working in prevention services. Moreover, they constitute a basis for an objective discussion between physicians working in hospital, officials in charge of the national program for AIDS control and medical training schools.

Mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and type 2 and dual infection: a cohort study in Banfora, Burkina Faso.

A prospective cohort study on the mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV1), type 2 (HIV2) and dual positivity (HIV1 + HIV2) was carried out in Banfora, West Burkina Faso. The study samples consist of 117 newborns of HIV-seropositive women matched to 234 newborns of HIV-seronegative women. Among cases, 91 were born of HIV1-seropositive mothers, 15 were born of HIV2-seropositive mothers and 11 were born of HIV1 and HIV2 dual-seropositive mothers and were included in an 18-month follow-up. Calculation of the mother-to-child transmission rate was according to the recommendations of the European Economic Community working group. The HIV1 mother-to-child transmission rate was estimated to be 27.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 24.5 to 32.4) with one method and 25.5% (95% CI 13.5 to 37.5) with a second method. For HIV2, this rate was estimated to be 29.5% (95% CI 26.0 to 39.8) and was not statistically different from the HIV1 mother-to-child transmission rate. No case of transmission was observed in children born of dual seropositive mothers. Survival rate at month 18 was significantly lower for children born of HIV1 mothers: 83.7% (95% CI 78.2 to 92.2). Survival rates were similar between children born of HIV2-seropositive (86.7), dual HIV1 + 2-positive (100) and seronegative mothers (92.0%). Findings suggest a higher mother-to-child transmission rate of HIV2 in children born in Burkina Faso than in Europe and a low clinical expression of HIV2 in children.

Choice of traditional or modern treatment in west Burkina Faso.

A recent survey shows that patients turn to modern medicine more than traditional medicine for most of their needs except rheumatic and neurological complaints. However, the preferences stated are influenced on the one hand by the much lower cost of traditional services, and on the other by official disapproval of animistic practices.