Impact of COVID-19 on the antenatal care services utilization in the region of Guelmim Oued Noun, Morocco.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted access to healthcare facilities across the world, but there is little evidence of how the pandemic influences the use of essential healthcare in the world. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antenatal indicators in the region of Guelmim Oued Noun, Morocco. Methods: The aggregated data was delivered by regional health authorities covering the period from January 2017 to December 2020. The interrupted time series was mobilized to conduct statistical analysis. Results: The descriptive results revealed a steady decline after the COVID-19 pandemic in antenatal indicators. The results of the regression model showed a negative impact of the pandemic on the antenatal recruitment rate (ß2=-16.14; P<0.01), recruitment rate of women in antenatal visits during the 1st quarter of pregnancy (ß2=- 2.09; P<0.01), antenatal visit completion rate (ß2=-18.10; P>0.05), and average number of visits/pregnancies (ß2=-15.65, P<0,05). Conclusion: The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on antenatal rates was significant for almost all the indicators studied. Future studies should focus on the impact of the pandemic on postnatal and immunization services on a national scale.

Impact of COVID-19 on the antenatal care services utilization in the region of Guelmim Oued Noun, Morocco

Background: Globally, the covid-19 pandemic has seriously impacted access to healthcare facilities across the world, although there is little evidence on how the pandemic affects the use of essential healthcare in the world. Objective: This study sought to evaluate the impact of the covid-19 pandemic on antenatal indicators in the region of Guelmim Oued Noun, Morocco. Methods: The aggregated data was delivered by regional health authorities covering the period from January 2017 to December 2020. The interrupted time series was mobilized to conduct statistical analysis. Results: The descriptive results revealed a steady decline after the Covid-19 pandemic in Antenatal indicators. The results of the regression model showed a negative impact of the pandemic on the antenatal recruitment rate (ß2 = - 16.14; p < 0.01), recruitment rate of women in antenatal visits the 1st quarter of pregnancy (ß2 = -2.09; p < 0.01), antenatal visit completion rate (ß2 = -18.10, p>0.05), average number of visits/pregnancies (ß2 = -15.65, p<0,05). Conclusion: The effect of the covid-19 pandemic on antenatal rates was significant for almost the indicators studied. Future studies should be focused on the impact of the pandemic on postnatal and immunization services on the national scale.

Wunderlich syndrome: Rare and unrecognized emergency.

A real life-threatening emergency, Wunderlich syndrome (WS) is an interesting and unknown clinical condition characterised by intense beginning of spontaneous, non-traumatic renal haemorrhage in the sub-capsular and perirenal space, with a typical clinical and radiological presentation [1] that allow the diagnosis. Although most cases are treated invasively either by surgery or embolization to control the bleeding, Fortunately our 66 year old patient admitted to the Mohammed V military hospital in Rabat benefited from a conservative treatment, which allowed him to avoid all the associated complications and to be discharged from hospital in less than 4 days.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) Regarding Meat Safety and Sanitation among Carcass Handlers Operating and Assessment of Bacteriological Quality of Meat Contact Surfaces at the Marrakech Slaughterhouse, Morocco.

According to the Moroccan Court of Auditors, the meats are prepared in slaughterhouses that do not meet the basic conditions required by Moroccan standards. This survey is being conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of handlers regarding the salubrity and hygiene of meat and to evaluate the bacteriological load of work surfaces in a slaughterhouse located in the Marrakech region. A total of 100 people working at the slaughterhouse participated in the study. The average values concerning the attitude and practice of the carcass handlers were, respectively, very satisfactory (65.7%) and acceptable (53.44%), while the average value of knowledge was generally low (39%). Bacterial load was assessed by the serial dilution method using the standard procedure. Seventy samples were taken from the hands of manipulators, knives, clothes, hooks, door handles, floor, and walls over an area of between 20 and 100 cm2. The total number of aerobic mesophiles (TAVCs), Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella spp was determined for each sample. Escherichia coli was the predominant isolate (42%), while Salmonella spp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the least bacterial isolates with 16% and 14%, respectively. Walls and knives were the most contaminated by E. coli at 90%. This survey reveals the importance of developing formal training for all slaughterhouse handlers regarding meat hygiene and safety during carcass processing to develop their knowledge and practices. Bacteriological results indicate a need to improve the available slaughter facilities and develop an appropriate slaughter process strategy to minimize the risk of carcass contamination.