A social acceptability scale: Validation in the context of government measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic in Senegal.

INTRODUCTION: In March 2020, the government of Senegal introduced a curfew, a ban on travel between regions, the closure of markets, and a ban on attending places of worship to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of research into the response to COVID-19, we developed a scale to measure the social acceptability of these measures. METHODS: We used Sekhon's theoretical framework of acceptability (TFA) to formulate the content of the scale items. We assessed the homogeneity of the scale using Cronbach's Alpha and average interitem correlations. We measured the dimensional properties of the scale using rating scale models. We tested the sensitivity of the scale to sociodemographic characteristics using mixed linear regressions and rating scale models. RESULTS: The final scale consisted of seven items corresponding to the constructs of acceptability. Analysis performed on data from 813 individuals showed that the scale has satisfactory statistical properties (Cronbach's α > 0.8, Loevinger's coefficient>0.3, intraclass correlation>0.4). CONCLUSION: This scale was one of the first to test the TFA. The small number of items was advantageous for use under challenging data collection contexts. Measuring the acceptability of public health interventions with this tool can help in their design and implementation.

Factors associated with diabetes knowledge, attitudes and practices among people aged 18 and over in the commune of Niakhene in Senegal.

More than 422 million people worldwide have diabetes in 2016, and 1.6 million deaths are attributed to diabetes each year. Knowledge of preventive measures would enable the adjustment of preventive policies. Hence this study on knowledge and practices in rural Senegal. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical survey of subjects aged at least 18 and living in the commune of Niakhene, carried out in October 2020. A systematic random sample, stratified by sex and age group, was used. The questionnaire was based on the STEPS 2015 tool and a review of the literature. In addition to personal characteristics, the questionnaire was used to measure knowledge of symptoms, complications, risk factors, attitude to the disease and screening practices. Descriptive and analytical analyses were performed using R 4.0.2 software. A total of 300 subjects were surveyed. The average age was 35.3 years (+/-16.9), and 52.3% were women. Knowledge (62.7%) was associated with higher education (ORaj2.46{1.16-3.44}), awareness by healthcare staff (ORaj2.88{1.60-5.34}), and a family history of diabetes (ORaj3.09{1.06-11.3}). The positive attitude (53%) was associated with male sex (ORaj1.98{2.07-7.52}), awareness via audio-visual information sources (ORaj3.87{2.07-7.52}), community awareness (ORaj 3.87{2.07-7.52}), existence of a family history of hypertension and knowledge of diabetes (ORaj3.34{2.5-7.69}). Screening was carried out in 34.3% of patients. The associated risk factors were male sex (ORaj 1.95{1.12-3.34}), higher education (ORaj2.49{1.12-559}) and positive attitudes to diabetes (ORaj1.83{1.04-3.26}). One of the most effective interventions against this disease is the adoption of preventive measures which involve early detection and strengthening communication for more effective prevention.

Cross-sectional study on intention to be vaccinated against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Benin and Senegal: A structural equation modeling (SEM).

Vaccination is considered one of the solutions to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, a small proportion of the population were fully vaccinated in Benin (20.9%) and Senegal (7.6%) by December 2022. This study explores the determinants of intent to vaccinate. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study of 865 Beninese and 813 Senegalese aged 18 years and older. Marginal quota sampling by age, gender and region was adopted. Data collection, using a survey instrument based on the Random Digit Dialing method, was conducted from December 24, 2020, to January 16, 2021, in Senegal and from March 29 to May 14, 2021, in Benin. The questionnaire used the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Health Belief Model. The influence of factors was assessed using a structural equation model based on a diagonally weighted least squares estimator to account for ordered categorical data (Likert scales). In Benin and Senegal, the intention to vaccinate against COVID-19 is influenced by distinct factors. In Benin, social influence (ß = 0.42, p = 0.003) and perception of vaccine safety (ß = -0.53, p<0.001) play pivotal roles, suggesting those socially influenced have a higher vaccination intention. In Senegal, vaccination intentions are primarily driven by positive attitudes towards the vaccine (ß = 0.65, p = 0.013) and social influence (ß = 0.25, p = 0.048). This underscores the importance of individual beliefs, personal perceptions, and supportive social contexts in decision-making. Notably, positive vaccination attitudes and perceptions in both countries are strongly tied to increased social influence. While nuances exist between Benin and Senegal regarding factors influencing COVID-19 vaccination intentions, both nations underscore the pivotal roles of social influence and individual vaccination perceptions. Emphasizing trust in vaccine safety and promoting positive attitudes through effective communication are crucial for enhancing vaccination uptake in these West African countries.

Acceptability of contact management and care of simple cases of COVID-19 at home: a cross-sectional study in Senegal.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a major public health problem. In mid-2020, due to the health system challenges from increased COVID-19 cases, the Ministry of Health and Social Action in Senegal opted for contact management and care of simple cases at home. The objective of the study was to determine the acceptability of contact and simple case management of COVID-19 at home and its associated factors in Senegal. METHODS: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study. We collected data from 11 June to 10 July 2020. We used a marginal quota sampling strategy. A total of 813 individuals took part in the survey. We collected data using a telephone interview. RESULTS: The care of simple cases of COVID-19 at home was well accepted (78.5%). The use of home contact management was less accepted (51.4%). Knowledge of the modes of transmission of the virus and confidence in institutional information were associated with the acceptability of home care for simple cases. Regularly searching for information on COVID-19 and confidence in the government's control of the epidemic were associated with the acceptability of managing contacts at home. CONCLUSIONS: Authorities should take these factors into account for better communication to improve the acceptability and confidence in home-based care for COVID-19 and future epidemics.

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Senegal: A mixed study.

This study was an explanatory, sequential, mixed-methods design conducted in Senegal. We collected quantitative data from December 24, 2020, to January 16, 2021, and qualitative data from February 19 to March 30, 2021. We conducted a telephone survey among a marginal quota sample of 607 people over 18 years old. We performed descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses with R software for the quantitative phase; and performed manual content analyses for the qualitative phase. We surveyed 607 people for the quantitative phase and interviewed 30 people for the qualitative phase. Individuals who hesitated or refused to be vaccinated represented 12.9% and 32.8%, respectively. Vaccine hesitancy was related to gender, living in large cities, having a poor attitude toward the vaccine, thinking that the vaccine would not help protect them from the virus, being influenced by people important to them, and lacking information from health professionals. Vaccine refusal was related to living in large cities, having a poor attitude toward the vaccine, thinking that the vaccine would not help protect them from the virus, thinking that the vaccine could endanger their health, trusting opinions of people who were important to them, and lacking information from health professionals. The results of the study show that the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and refusal are diverse and complex. Addressing these factors will help to ensure better vaccination coverage. Governments and health authorities should intensify their efforts to promote vaccine confidence and reduce misinformation.

Factors associated with the acceptability of government measures to address COVID-19 in Senegal.

INTRODUCTION: Three months after the first appearance of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), Senegal recorded its first case on March 2, 2020. Faced with this pandemic, the State reacted quickly with public measures : instituting a curfew, placing a ban on travel between regions, and closing shops and places of worship. This research aims to study the acceptability of these non-pharmaceutical measures by the Senegalese population. METHOD: This study was a cross-sectional and analytical survey conducted in June and July 2020 among Senegalese over 18 years old. Sampling by the representative quota method was distributed proportionally to age, gender and region. We constructed the questionnaire using the theoretical framework of acceptability of health interventions. Through a telephone call center synchronised to an internet server, we collected data on personal characteristics, knowledge of the disease, trust in information sources, trust in government, concern about the pandemic, and the seven dimensions of acceptability. We performed descriptive analysis and structural equation with R software version 4.0.2. RESULTS: This study included a total of 813 individuals. The average age was 34.7 years ( ± 14.2 years). They were predominantly male (54.6 %), with no education (42.6 %). The increased level of knowledge of the disease was associated with confidence in national media information sources provided by the administrative and health authorities (ß=0.11, p<0.01). The increase in the level of trust in the government in response to COVID-19 was positively related to the acceptability of curfew (ß=0.16, p<0.001), travel ban between regions (ß=0.11, p<0.001), and closure of places of worship (ß=0.1, p<0.01) and markets (ß=0.09, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: In Senegal, the acceptability of the measures depended on knowledge of the disease, perception of the risk of the disease, and trust in the government. There is a need to strengthen awareness and risk communication of COVID-19.

QSIRS Can Improve Accuracy of QSOFA and SIRS in Prediction of Mortality in Surgical Emergencies.

Background The quick sequential organ failure assessment (QSOFA) score and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria were developed to predict the risk of sepsis and death in patients received in emergency. To improve sensitivity in predicting death, the association of the two scores was proposed under the term QSIRS (QSOFA + SIRS). Our aim was to determine the accuracy of QSOFA, SIRS, and QSIRS in prediction of mortality in surgical emergencies, and to compare these scores. Patients and Methods This is a prospective study over a period of 1 year. Patients older than 15 years who presented a digestive surgical emergency (bowel obstruction, peritonitis, appendicitis, strangulated hernia) were included. For each score, the specificity, the sensitivity, the positive predictive value, the negative predictive value, and areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) were compared. Results One hundred and eighteen patients were included and 11 deaths were recorded (9.3%). There was a statistically significant relationship between each score and death (QSOFA p = 0.01, SIRS p = 0.003, and QSIRS p = 0.004). The realization of the ROC curve found a higher AUC for QSIRS (0.845 [0.767-0.905]) compared with QSOFA (0.783 [0.698-0.854]) and SIRS (0.737 [0.648-0.813]). QSIRS (90.9%) had a higher sensitivity compared with the two other scores alone (SIRS = 81.9% and QSOFA = 36.3%). Conclusion Our study found that QSIRS improves the ability to predict death in digestive surgical emergencies.