Internet addiction, new contemporary reality in Benin: exploratory analysis of associated factors among medical and paramedical students in 2022 / L'addiction à internet, une réalité contemporaine au Bénin : analyse exploratoire des facteurs associés chez des étudiants du secteur médical et paramédical en 2022.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, Internet addiction is a major concern due to the growing number of Internet users and the consequences associated with this addiction. PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH: In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with Internet addiction among health sciences students at the University of Abomey-Calavi. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 346 students from the Faculty of Health Sciences and the National Institute of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Abomey-Calavi. Participants were selected using simple random sampling. Internet addiction was assessed using K. Young's "Internet Addiction Test." Logistic regression modeling was employed to explore factors associated with Internet addiction. The strength of the association was assessed using odds ratios; the confidence interval (CI) was 95%; and a p-value < 0.05 in the final model was considered significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of Internet addiction was 31.8% (95% CI: [23.26% - 41.38%]). Factors associated with Internet addiction were the participant's field of study, poor relationships with friends and family, communication difficulties, depression, and psychoactive substance consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of Internet addiction exists among students in health sciences institutions in Benin. These findings can support the development of prevention and intervention strategies centered on addressing a public health issue that is still insufficiently recognized.

Introduction: De nos jours, l'addiction à Internet est une préoccupation majeure en raison de l'évolution croissante du nombre d'internautes mais aussi de ses conséquences. But de l'étude: Dans cette étude, nous avons déterminé la prévalence et les facteurs associés à l'addiction à Internet chez les étudiants des sciences de la santé de l'Université d'Abomey-Calavi. Méthodes: Il s'agit d'une étude transversale menée auprès de 346 étudiants de la Faculté des sciences de la santé et de l'Institut national médico-sanitaire de l'Université d'Abomey-Calavi. Ces derniers ont été sélectionnés par échantillonnage aléatoire simple. L'addiction à Internet a été mesurée grâce à l'outil « Internet addiction test de Young ¼. Une modélisation par régression logistique a été utilisée pour explorer les facteurs associés à l'addiction à Internet. La force de l'association a été évaluée avec un rapport de cotes et son intervalle de confiance (IC) à 95 % ; une valeur p <0,05 dans le modèle final a été considérée comme significative. Résultats: La prévalence de l'addiction à Internet était de 31,8 % (IC95 % : [23,26 % - 41,38 %]). La filière d'études, les mauvaises relations avec les proches, les difficultés de communication, la dépression et la consommation de substances psychoactives étaient associées à l'addiction à Internet. Conclusions: Il existe des évidences qui montrent l'addiction à Internet des étudiants des institutions universitaires de santé au Benin. Ces évidences peuvent soutenir la mise en place de stratégies de prévention et de prise en charge axées sur la communication autour d'un phénomène encore insuffisamment perçu comme le problème de santé publique qu'il constitue.

Is Benin on track to reach universal household coverage of basic water, sanitation and hygiene services by 2030?

INTRODUCTION: With the end of the Millennium Agenda, the United Nations Member States adopted the Sustainable Development Agenda in 2015. This new agenda identifies 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets for 2030, including Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). OBJECTIVE: To study the evolution of household access to WASH services over the last two decades in Benin and make projections for 2030. METHODS: In this study, secondary analyses were performed using the datasets of the Demographic and Health Surveys in Benin from 2001 to 2017-2018. The statistical unit was the household. The achievement of the WASH SDGs targets was monitored through the proportion of households using individual basic WASH services, the proportion of households using surface water for drinking, and the proportion of households practising open defecation. The study generated Annual Percentage Changes (APCs) for outcome variables. Based on the APCs between 2001 and 2017-2018, projections were made for 2030. RESULTS: From 2001 to 2017-2018, household access to individual basic WASH services increased from 50.54% to 63.98% (APC = +1.44%), 5.39% to 13.29% (APC = +5.62%), and 2.12% to 10.11% (APC = +9.92%), respectively. At the same time, the prevalence of surface water consumption and open defecation among households decreased from 10.54% to 5.84% (APC = -3.52%) and 67.03% to 53.91% (APC = -1.31%), respectively. If the trend observed between 2001 and 2017-2018 remains unchanged, the national coverage of households with basic individual WASH services would be 76.50%, 26.33% and 10.51%, respectively, by 2030. The prevalence of surface water consumption and open defecation among households would be 3.73% and 45.71%, respectively, by 2030. CONCLUSION: Benin achieved significant progress in household coverage of adequate WASH services over the last two decades. However, progress appears insufficient to achieve universal coverage of households with basic WASH services, and eliminate surface water consumption and open defecation by 2030. There is a need to strengthen research into the drivers of household access to adequate WASH services.

Helmet Use Among Two-Wheeler Riders' Road Accident Victims in Benin.

BACKGROUND: In Benin, some riders of two-wheeled vehicles still do not wear helmets, the main protection against head injuries in road accidents. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics of two-wheeled users, and to determine the factors influencing helmet use among this group. METHODS: This is a prospective cross-sectional study of 977 two-wheeled road accident victims from a cohort. Proportions or means were calculated for the different variables. Statistical comparisons were made to test the association with helmet use. Logistic regression modelling was performed to identify factors associated with helmet use. RESULTS: Among all subjects, 81.1% [CI95% (78.5; 83.4)] wore a helmet. Factors explaining helmet use were female gender (OR = 2.8 [1.3-6.1]), purpose of trip (OR = 1.7 [1.1-2.6]), possession of health insurance (OR = 3.7 [1.3-10, 5]), having been driving for 15-20 years (OR = 2.6 [1.4-4.7]) or more than 20 years (OR = 3.4 [2.0-5.8]), good road conditions (OR = 3.1 [2.0-4.8]), and good visibility (OR = 1.9 [1.3-3.1]). CONCLUSION: The factors influencing helmet use are gender, reason for travel, length of time as a driver, possession of health insurance, conditions, and visibility of the road on which the subject are driving. These factors are related to experience and appropriation of the notion of risk, but also related to the environment. To increase helmet use among two-wheelers, helmet awareness should take into account the individual factors found in this study. Enforcement actions should be strengthened, and the quality of the roads improved.

Referral conditions for severe road traffic injuries and their influence on the occurrence of hospital deaths in Benin.

Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death by trauma. Delays in in first aid due, inter alia, to the long time to transfer traffic accident victims to hospital and the lack of pre-hospital emergency care, contribute to the increase in hospital mortality. This study aims to analyse the referral conditions for severe road traffic injuries and to assess their effect on the occurrence of hospital deaths in Benin. This is an analytical prospective cohort study conducted in road accident victims with a severe injury. Four groups of factors were studied: referral conditions, sociodemographic and victim-specific characteristics, factors related to the accident environment, and factors related to health services. A top-down binary stepwise logistic regression was the basis for the analyses. Nine point eight percent of severe trauma patients died after hospital admission (7.0-13.5). Associated factors were referral time greater than 1 hour (RR=5.7 [1.5-20.9]), transport to hospital by ambulance (RR=4.8 [1.3-17.3]) and by the police or fire department (RR=7.4 [1.8-29.7]), not wearing protective equipment (RR=4.5 [1.4-15.0]), head injuries (RR=34.8 [8.7-139.6]), and no upper extremity injuries (RR=20.1 [2.3-177.1]). To reduce the risk of hospital death in severe road traffic injuries, it is important to ensure rapid and medicalized referral of severe trauma patients in Benin.

Contribution of a Geographic Information System to the Prevention of Crashes Among Vulnerable Road Users in the City of Cotonou: Exploratory Study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine, using geographic information system (GIS), the spatial characteristics and factors associated with injury crashes among vulnerable road users (VRUs) in Cotonou, Benin. Patients and Methods: This study was based on road crash data collected by the police in Cotonou from 2008 to 2017. Spatial analyses were performed using density method of QGIS cartography software to identify road crash hotspot for VRUs. Logistic regression analysis was conducted using Stata 15 software. Finally, field observations were used to assess the physical characteristics of the road environment at each hotspot. Results: From 2008 to 2017, six main crash hotspots involving VRUs were identified on the roads of Cotonou. The majority were located at intersections of main roads. These sites did not meet the standards for traffic safety for VRUs. Factors associated with injury crashes among VRUs were intersections (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.8-6.1) and pavement condition (aOR = 7; 95% CI: 2.9-17.1). Conclusion: The present study has made it possible to identify the locations on Cotonou's road network where road safety interventions could be implemented to protect VRUs.

Implementation of a model of awareness-raising for taxi motorcyclists in Benin in relation to helmet use: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to test the effectiveness of an awareness-raising model designed based on the theory of planned behaviour regarding helmet use for motorcycle taxi drivers. METHODS: This quasi-experimental study took place in the cities of Parakou (intervention group) and Porto Novo (control group). Over a three-month period, a package of awareness-raising activities, based on the theory of planned behaviour, have been implemented in the intervention area. Data relate to knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding helmet use was collected prospectively before the intervention, at the end, and 6 months later. Stata 15 was used for data analysis. Chi-square or Fisher, Student's or Kruskal-Wallis tests was carried out. The difference-in-difference method was used to determine the specific effect of the awareness activities. RESULTS: After the intervention, there was an improvement in the total score in both groups compared to baseline. The total score increased by 0.2 (0.06-0.3) in the experimental group when the number of sessions attended increased by one (p = 0.005). The difference-in-difference estimator measured among subjects who attended at least one awareness session, controlling for socio-demographic variables, showed a significantly higher difference in the total score of subjects in the experimental group compared to those in the control group both at the end of the interactive sessions and 6 months later. CONCLUSION: This model improves the helmet-wearing behaviour of motorbike taxi drivers in the experimental area. It could be adapted and applied to other socio-professional groups and other types of users.

Household access to basic drinking water, sanitation and hygiene facilities: secondary analysis of data from the demographic and health survey V, 2017-2018.

BACKGROUND: In Benin, access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) remains an issue. This study aims to provide an overview of household access to basic WASH services based on nationally representative data. METHOD: Secondary analyses were run using the 'HOUSEHOLD' dataset of the fifth Demographic and Health Survey 2017-2018. The dependent variables were household access to individual and combined basic WASH services. The characteristics of the household head and those related to the composition, wealth and environment of the household were independent variables. After a descriptive analysis of all study variables, multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of outcome variables. RESULTS: The study included 14,156 households. Of these, 63.98% (95% CI = 61.63-66.26), 13.28% (95% CI = 12.10-14.57) and 10.11% (95% CI = 9.19-11.11) had access to individual basic water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, respectively. Also, 3% (95% CI = 2.53-3.56) of households had access to combined basic WASH services. Overall, the richest households and few, and those headed by people aged 30 and over, female and with higher levels of education, were the most likely to have access to individual and combined basic WASH services. In addition, disparities based on the department of residence were observed. CONCLUSION: The authors suggest a multifactorial approach that addresses the identified determinants.

Évaluation de la mise en œuvre de la sécurité routière au Bénin en 2019.

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to assess the level of implementation of road safety interventions in Benin. METHOD: The research is based on an evaluative study of road safety aimed to analyze the implementation and logic of road safety interventions, conducted in Benin in 2019. It combined a review of the gray literature and a qualitative component. The data were collected through documents and interviews in structures involved in road safety management. RESULTS: Road safety was a national priority with one lead institution and several structures involved. There was a lack of consensus among stakeholders, insufficient framework documents, resources, legislative texts, and study data. Few roads were in good condition and very few allowed the separation of two-wheeled vehicles. The vehicle fleet was outdated. Various activities were carried out to raise awareness, to educate the population and to enforce the texts but they were insufficient and poorly coordinated. Reference hospitals had the minimum service to deal with trauma cases. The interventions had not yet resulted in a reduction in the number of injuries and fatalities by accidents, which was increasing. CONCLUSION: Benin has made great efforts in the area of road safety. However, there are still some shortcomings to take into account.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Survivors of a Cohort of Road Accident Victims in Benin: Results of a 12-Month Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a frequent psychiatric complication in road accident survivors. However, it remains under-explored and is not taken into account in health policies in Benin. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of PTSD after a road traffic accident. This will help to improve its diagnosis and management in Benin hospitals. Materials and Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to January 2021. Consenting victims of road traffic accidents from three hospitals across Benin, aged 18 years and above, living in the south of the country, were administered various questionnaires at 12-month follow-up. Data on PTSD were collected using a pre-tested, structured and standardized post-traumatic stress disorder questionnaire, the PTSD Checklist (specific version) (PCL-S). A logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with PTSD. An adjusted odds ratio (AOR) followed by a 95% confidence interval was calculated to determine the level of significance with a p-value less than 0.05. Results: Out of 865 patients in the cohort eligible for the 12-month follow-up, 734 (85%) participated in the study. The prevalence of PTSD was 26.43% (95% CI: 23.36-29.75). Factors associated with PTSD on multivariate analysis were female gender (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.38-3.33), hospitalization (AOR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.21-2.89), negative impact of the accident on income (AOR = 4.22, 95% CI: 2.16-8.25), and no return to work (AOR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.99-5.06). Conclusion: The prevalence of PTSD is high in road accident survivors in Benin. The results of this study highlight the need for early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach to the management of PTSD patients in Benin's hospitals.

Effect of wearing a helmet on the occurrence of head injuries in motorcycle riders in Benin: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: In Benin, motorcycles are the main means of transport for road users and are involved in more than half of crashes. This study aims to determine the effect of wearing a helmet on reducing head injuries in road crashes in Benin. METHODS: This case-control study took place in 2020 and focused on road trauma victims. The sample, consisting of 242 cases (trauma victims with head injuries) for 484 controls (without head injuries), was drawn from a database of traffic crash victims recruited from five hospitals across the country from July 2019 to January 2020. Four groups of independent variables were studied: socio-demographic and economic variables, history, behavioural variables including helmet use and road-related and environmental variables. To assess the shape of the association between the independent variables and the dependent variable, a descending step-by-step binary logistic regression model was performed using an explanatory approach. RESULTS: Fewer of the subjects with a head injury were wearing a helmet at the time of the crash 69.8% (95% CI = 63.6-75.6) compared to those without a head injury 90.3% (95% CI = 87.3-92.8). Adjusting for the other variables, subjects not wearing helmets were at greater risk of head injuries (OR = 3.8, 95% CI (2.5-5.7)); the head injury rating was 1.9 (95% CI = 1.2-3.3) times higher in subjects who were fatigued during the crash than among those who were not and 2.0 (95% CI = 1.2-3.3) times higher in subjects with no medical history. CONCLUSION: Failure to wear a helmet exposes motorcyclists to the risk of head injuries during crashes. It is important to increase awareness and better target such initiatives at the subjects most at risk.

Can Professional Motorcyclists Be an Asset in the Immediate Post-Crash Care System in Benin? Baseline of Knowledge and Practices in the City of Cotonou (Benin).

PURPOSE: The situation of road crashes-related deaths remains problematic in low-income countries. The present study aims at analyzing the first-aid knowledge and practices of professional motorcyclists (PMs) in the city of Cotonou in Benin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analytical study conducted from 25 March to 19 April 2019 in Cotonou and concerned PMs registered in a fleet who gave their consent to participate in the study. The World Health Organization's two-stage adaptive cluster sampling technique was applied to select the eligible PMs while respecting the proportionality rate per fleet. A logistic regression analysis was done and the odds ratios were estimated with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The 430 PMs surveyed were all middle-aged men with an average age of 38.38 (±8.70). Among them, 62.56% knew at least one of the emergency phone numbers for the ambulance, police or fire services and 49.53% of the PMs knew at least one of the 3 techniques evaluated. In addition, 33.23% of PMs who had witnessed at least an RC stated that they had alerted the emergency services, and 32.27% said they had helped the victims. The main reason given for the lack of initiative in RCs was lack of knowledge of the course of action to take (19.64%). The level of knowledge was associated with the level of education (AOR: 3.11; CI 95%: 1.79-5.43) and with the length of experience (AOR: 2.56; CI 95%: 1.58-4.18). CONCLUSION: This study reveals that the level of knowledge and practice of PMs in the field of first aid in Cotonou is low and demonstrates the relevance and the need to include this target group in the first-aid chain for road crashes in Benin.

"My right to walk, my right to live": pedestrian fatalities, roads and environmental features in Benin.

BACKGROUND: The implementation of road safety interventions in many developing countries usually focuses on the behavior of users. In order to draw more attention on the role of road infrastructure and physical environment in road safety interventions, this study aims to analyze the environmental and road factors associated with the pedestrians involved in traffic crashes in Benin. METHOD: The method used was an analysis of national road crash statistics for the period 2008 to 2015. The information available included the circumstances surrounding the collision, the road infrastructure, the vehicles and the individuals involved. A multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors of pedestrian mortality in traffic crashes. RESULTS: During the period studied, 3760 crashes involved at least one pedestrian. The death rate among these pedestrians was 27.74% (CI 95%: 26.31-29.20). The mortality predictors were the area in which the crash occurred (OR = 4.94; CI 95%: 4.10-5.94), the day of the crash (OR = 2.17; CI 95%:1.34-3.52), light levels (OR = 1.30; CI 95%: 1.06-1.59), road classification (OR = 1.79; CI 95%: 1.46-2.20), the condition of the road surface (2.04, CI 95%: 1.41-2.95) and the position of the pedestrian during the crash (OR = 1.69; CI 95%: 1.19-2.38). CONCLUSIONS: These results support the need for a holistic approach to interventions aiming to tackle deaths on roads. Interventions should integrate environmental factors for greater pedestrian safety around roads with appropriate signs, roads in good condition and awareness campaigns for a proper use of road infrastructures.

HIV incidence and risk contributing factors among men who have sex with men in Benin: A prospective cohort study.

Men who have sex with Men (MSM) are a key population in the transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. In Benin, there is a lack of strategic information to offer appropriate interventions for these populations who live hidden due to their stigmatization and discrimination. The objective is to identify contributing factors that affect HIV incidence in the MSM population. Study of a prospective cohort of 358 HIV-negative MSM, aged 18 years and over, reporting having had at least one oral or anal relationship with another man during the last 12 months, prior to recruitment. The monitoring lasted 30 months with a follow-up visit every six months. Univariate analyses and a Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression were used to examine the association between bio-behavioral, socio-demographic and knowledge-related characteristics with HIV incidence. The retention rate for the follow-up of the 358 participants was 94.5%. On the 813.5 person-years of follow-up, 48 seroconversions with an HIV incidence of 5.91 per 100 person-years were observed (95% CI: 4.46-7.85). Factors associated with the high risk of HIV were age (HR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2-0.8), living in couple (HR = 0.5 95% CI: 0.2-0.96) and the lack of condom systematic use with a male partner during high-risk sex (HR = 3.9; 95% CI: 1.4-11.1). HIV incidence is high within MSM population and particularly among young people. Targeted, suitable and cost-effective interventions for the delivery of the combination prevention package in an environment free of stigma and discrimination are necessary and vital for reaching the 90x90x90 target.

Comparison of the prevalence rates of HIV infection between men who have sex with men (MSM) and men in the general population in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: According to the 2015 report of the Joint United Nations Program on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the prevalence rates of HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) varied from 6 to 37% depending on the country, far exceeding the national prevalence rates. The present study on HIV infection among men who have sex with men in sub-Saharan Africa was conducted to describe the different sampling methods used to identify this target population and compare the prevalence rates of HIV infection among MSM to that of men in the general population. METHODS: The selection of studies to be included was carried out in the principal electronic databases. The 2009 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) directives were used throughout the entire process. Bias evaluation was performed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. For each country, HIV prevalence values in both groups were calculated. A prevalence ratio was also calculated to compare the prevalence rates of the two groups. RESULTS: Seventeen articles were selected. Most of the studies (82.35%) used the Respondent-Driven Sampling method. The average prevalence rate was 17.81% (range: 3.7-33.46) for MSM and 6.15% (range: 0.5-19.7) for men in the general population. Overall, the human HIV prevalence rate was 4.94 times higher among MSM than among men in the general population (95%CI: 2.91-8.37). The western and central regions of Africa, as well as low-prevalence countries (prevalence < 1%), had very high prevalence ratios: 14.47 (95% CI: 9.90-21.13) and 28.49 (95% CI: 11.47-72.71), respectively. CONCLUSION: MSM are at higher risk of HIV infection than men in the general population. The prevalence ratios are particularly elevated in West and Central Africa as well as in low-prevalence countries. Close monitoring of the situation, research and preventive measures are essential to control the epidemic amongst MSM.

Postpartum Contraceptive Use In Parakou (A City In Northern Benin) In 2018: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Over 30% of maternal deaths and 10% of infant deaths are avoidable if couples space out births at intervals of 2 years or greater. This study aimed to identify factors associated with contraceptive use in the postpartum period. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study among postpartum women living in Parakou. Participants were selected using a two-stage sampling method. Postpartum contraceptive use was defined as the use of at least one contraceptive method at the time of the survey. Independent variables included socio demographic and reproductive history. For the analysis we performed a multiple logistic regression and we calculated odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The study included 453 postpartum women. Among the participants, 59 (13%) were using a contraceptive method. Injectable contraceptives were the most common method used (25.4%). Factors associated with contraceptive use in the postpartum period included history of contraceptive use (AOR=9.4; p<0.001), resumption of sexual intercourse (AOR=5.7; p<0.001), discussion with partner about contraceptive method (AOR=5.7; p=0.005), need of partner's approval before adopting a contraceptive method (AOR=0.4; p=0.014) and counseling during pregnancy, in the delivery room, and during postnatal visits (AOR=2.7; p=0.019). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of contraceptive use during the postpartum period remains low. Interventions should be designed with a focus on the associated factors in order to increase postpartum contraceptive use in Parakou.

["Getting clear skin and why not?": voluntary depigmentation among women in a southwest region of Benin]. / "Avoir la peau claire et pourquoi pas? ": dépigmentation volontaire chez les femmes dans une région du sud-ouest du Bénin.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with the use of products for voluntary depigmentation among women aged 15-49 years in Comè health zone in Benin. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 511 women aged 15-49 years selected using a cluster survey in 2016. Data were collected using a questionnaire seeking to explore the demographic, socio-cultural and economic characteristics of women. Depigmentation ingredients have been identified looking at the composition of regularly used body lotions. We performed a multiple logistic regression analysis. The statistical significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: The prevalence of use for voluntary depigmentation products among women aged 15-49 years in Comè health zone was 79,22% 95%; CI=[75,72-82,78] and 84,23% of women knew at least one of the adverse health effects associated with the use of skin depigmentation products. The products used were hydroquinone based (98.24%) and dermocorticoid based (1.76%). Factors associated with the use of voluntary depigmentation products included marital status (single, widowed, separated or divorced) (OR=3.1; 95% CI=[1.29-7.44]), the search for a husband or a partner (OR=4.92; 95% CI=[1.20-20.09]), the presence of hyperpigmented spots (OR=10.32; 95% CI=[2.87-37,01]). CONCLUSION: These results show that the use of skin depigmentation products among women is a serious and huge public health problem in Comè health zone. Integrated communication campaign which can produce positive changes should be implemented.

[Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-based intermittent preventive treatment in pregnant women and its effect on birth weight: application of 3-dosing regimen in the urban area of South Benin in 2017]. / Traitement préventif intermittent à la sulfadoxine-pyriméthamine chez la femme enceinte et effet sur le poids de naissance du bébé: application de la politique à 3 doses en zone urbaine au Sud Bénin en 2017.

INTRODUCTION: Malaria is a major public health problem, responsible for many complications during pregnancy including inadequate intra-uterine growth and hypotrophies. The aim of this study was to determine the adherence to the 3 doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-based intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) on birthweight in the Cotonou health zone II and III. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study focusing on 630 women in the postpartum period residing in the Cotonou health zone II and III and selected using a two stage sample. Data were collected through a questionnaire and a data processing form. For analysis, data were weighted and we used variance analysis to compare means and to compare proportions with Chi-square Test including estimates regarding the strength of the association by odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval at 95%. RESULTS: Adherence to the 3 doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-based intermittent preventive treatment was 34.08% (CI95%: 24.84% 43.30%]. A significant birthweight-gain of 264.5 g (p < 0.001) in mothers who had received more than 3 doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-based intermittent preventive treatment and chances of having low birth weight baby was lower (OR = 0.45; p = 0.001) among these mothers compared to those who had received less than 3 doses of sulfadoxine pyrimethamine. CONCLUSION: This study highlights low adherence to the new 3-dose regimen of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-based intermittent preventive treatment in the Cotonou health zone II and III, but it reflects its potential to contribute to the reduction of the risk of low birth weight. Strategies must therefore be implemented to strengthen its application for prevention of malaria and of its consequences on vulnerable targets.

[Evaluation of the performance of the logistics management system of malaria control resources in the Littoral Department, Benin, in 2017]. / Evaluation de la performance du système de gestion logistique des intrants de lutte contre le paludisme dans le Département du Littoral, au Bénin, en 2017.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the logistics management system (LMS) of malaria control (MC) resources in the Littoral Department, Benin, in 2017. METHODS: In June 2017, we conducted a cross-sectional evaluative study focusing on the structures for the storage and the disposal of MC resources as well as on staff involved in their management. The performance of the the logistics management system was evaluated on the basis of the observed compliance of the components and sub-components of the "Structure", the "Process" and the "Results" with the norms and standards defined by the Ministry of Health. RESULTS: A total of 36 structures were investigated and secondary target was surveyed. It followed that 52,78% of the structures for the storage and the disposal of MC resources met the requirements for resources storage while only 33.33% of MC resources management staff were trained in logistics management. The performance of the logistics management system of MC resources was inadequate (compliance 59,13 % compared to the expected score). The structure, as well as the process were non-compliant with the standards ( 60,20% and 73.22% compared to the expected score respectively), leading to negative results (41.53% compared to the expected score). The most inadequate sub-component was the logistics management information system (LMIS). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the role of LMS for better performance of MC resources management. Particular attention should be given to this component.

Data quality assessment in the routine health information system: an application of the Lot Quality Assurance Sampling in Benin.

Health information systems in developing countries are often faulted for the poor quality of the data generated and for the insufficient means implemented to improve system performance. This study examined data quality in the Routine Health Information System in Benin in 2012 and carried out a cross-sectional evaluation of the quality of the data using the Lot Quality Assurance Sampling method. The results confirm the insufficient quality of the data based on three criteria: completeness, reliability and accuracy. However, differences can be seen as the shortcomings are less significant for financial data and for immunization data. The method is simple, fast and can be proposed for current use at operational level as a data quality control tool during the production stage.

Factors associated with data quality in the routine health information system of Benin.

BACKGROUND: Routine health information systems (RHIS) are crucial to the acquisition of data for health sector planning. In developing countries, the insufficient quality of the data produced by these systems limits their usefulness in regards to decision-making. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with poor data quality in the RHIS in Benin. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study included health workers who were responsible for data collection in public and private health centers. The technique and tools used were an interview with a self-administered questionnaire. The dependent variable was the quality of the data. The independent variables were socio-demographic and work-related characteristics, personal and work-related resources, and the perception of the technical factors. The quality of the data was assessed using the Lot Quality Assurance Sampling method. We used survival analysis with univariate proportional hazards (PH) Cox models to derive hazards ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Focus group data were evaluated with a content analysis. RESULTS: A significant link was found between data quality and level of responsibility (p = 0.011), sector of employment (p = 0.007), RHIS training (p = 0.026), level of work engagement (p < 0.001), and the level of perceived self-efficacy (p = 0.03). The focus groups confirmed a positive relationship with organizational factors such as the availability of resources, supervision, and the perceived complexity of the technical factors. CONCLUSION: This exploratory study identified several factors associated with the quality of the data in the RHIS in Benin. The results could provide strategic decision support in improving the system's performance.