Socioeconomic associations of poorly controlled epilepsy in the Republic of Guinea: cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the socioeconomic factors associated with epilepsy in the Republic of Guinea. METHODS: People living with epilepsy (PLWE) were prospectively recruited at Ignace Deen Hospital, Conakry, in 2018. An instrument exploring household assets as a measure of wealth was designed and administered. Multivariate logistic regression models with fixed effects were fitted to assess the associations of sociodemographic and microeconomic factors with self-reported frequency of seizures in the prior month and regular intake of antiseizure medications (ASMs). Participants were stratified by age group: children (<13 years), adolescents (13-21) and adults (>21). RESULTS: A total of 285 participants (mean age 19.5 years; 129 females; 106 children, 72 adolescents, 107 adults, median household size 8) had an average of 4.2 seizures in the prior month. 64% were regularly taking ASMs. Direct costs of epilepsy were similar across income strata, averaging 60 USD/month in the lowest and 75 USD/month in the highest wealth quintiles (P = 0.42). The poorest PLWE were more likely to spend their money on traditional treatments (average 35USD/month) than on medical consultations (average 11 USD/month) (P = 0.01), whereas the wealthiest participants were not. Higher seizure frequency was associated with a lower household education level in adolescents and children (P = 0.028; P = 0.026) and with being male (P = 0.009) in children. Adolescents in higher-educated households were more likely to take ASMs (P = 0.004). Boys were more likely to regularly take ASMs than girls (P = 0.047). CONCLUSIONS: Targeted programming for children and adolescents in the households with the lowest education and for girls would help improve epilepsy care in Guinea.

OBJECTIF: Explorer les facteurs socioéconomiques associés à l'épilepsie en République de Guinée. MÉTHODES: Des personnes vivant avec l'épilepsie (PVE) ont été recrutées prospectivement à l'hôpital Ignace Deen, à Conakry, en 2018. Un outil explorant les actifs des ménages en tant que mesure de la richesse a été conçu et administré. Des modèles de régression logistique multivariée avec des effets fixes ont été ajustés pour évaluer les associations de facteurs sociodémographiques et microéconomiques avec la fréquence autodéclarée des crises au cours du mois précédent et la prise régulière de médicaments antiépileptiques (MAE). Les participants ont été stratifiés par groupe d'âge: enfants (<13 ans), adolescents (13-21) et adultes (> 21). RÉSULTATS: 285 participants (âge moyen 19,5 ans; 129 femmes; 106 enfants, 72 adolescents, 107 adultes, taille médiane du ménage 8) ont eu en moyenne 4,2 crises au cours du mois précédent. 64% prenaient régulièrement des MAE. Les coûts directs de l'épilepsie étaient similaires dans toutes les strates de revenus, atteignant en moyenne 60 USD/mois dans les quintiles de richesse les plus bas et 75 USD/mois dans les quintiles de richesse les plus élevés (p = 0,42). Les PVE les plus pauvres étaient plus susceptibles de dépenser leur argent pour des traitements traditionnels (35 USD/mois en moyenne) que pour des consultations médicales (11 USD/mois en moyenne) (p = 0,01), contrairement aux participants les plus riches. Une fréquence de crises plus élevée était associée à un niveau d'éducation du ménage plus faible chez les adolescents et les enfants (p = 0,028; p = 0,026) et au fait d'être de sexe masculin (p = 0,009) chez les enfants. Les adolescents des ménages avec un niveau d'éducation plus élevé étaient plus susceptibles de prendre des MAE (p = 0,004). Les garçons étaient plus susceptibles de prendre régulièrement des MAE que les filles (p = 0,047). CONCLUSIONS: Des programmes ciblés pour les enfants et les adolescents dans les ménages les moins scolarisés et pour les filles aideraient à améliorer les soins de l'épilepsie en Guinée.

Toward Health System Recovery in the Aftermath of Ebola Outbreak in Guinea: New Approaches for Improved Knowledge of Target Populations at the Community Level.

BACKGROUND: Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Guinea has been the epicenter of the huge West Africa Ebola outbreak (2014-2016), that impact heavily the health system. Demographic information is one of the most basic data sources for health systems and services delivery, and yet can be very difficult to obtain with any accuracy. The objectives were to contribute among other to: (i) a determination of the catchment area (health coverage area and responsibility) of the Kirikilan health facility (PCM); (ii) geocoded mapping to find out exactly where these populations per sector of Kirikilan neighborhood lives; (iii) an approach for regular and systematic annual demographic follow up of target populations. METHODS: The study was a 3-year community-based survey with annual follow up of the population within the quartier of Kirikilan in Dubreka Prefecture in Guinea. It was an exhaustive enumeration of the population, sector by sector of the quartier, then there was no sampling size neither estimation. RESULTS: In October 2017 as a baseline of the study, the enumeration showed the total population was 8824 persons, 936 compounds, 1435 households, and the breakdown by sub quartier (sector) has been performed. It's showed the interest of the mapping of the target populations with geo-referenced localization. The annual follow up by demographic enumerus showed a dramatic increase of the size of the population, including strong migration of the evicted population due to urbanization purpose in some districts of Conakry, the capital. CONCLUSION: The study showed the importance of the enumeration and follow up of the target populations, but also of the setting up community data based to improve the district health information system (DHIS 2) in Guinea. The approach has a best practice could be an importunity to improve data sharing, mapping, health quality access, and affordability for a sustainable health toward universal health coverage.