Prevention of HIV and other STIs in rural Senegal: a study of prevention-related events collected by sentinel observers

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Solanum cultivar responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: growth and mineral status

A greenhouse experiment was carried out in a sandy soil with a low available phosphorus to evaluate responsiveness of four Solanum aethiopicum cultivars to indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Results showed clear interaction between genetic variability of cultivars and fungal isolates on shoot biomass and on mineral status. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can be ranked as Glomus aggregatum > Glomus mosseae > Glomus versiforme for improving yield as well as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium acquisition of Solanum cultivars. Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Solanum aethiopicum, sterile soil, relative mycorrhizal dependency. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.2(11) 2003: 429-43

Les accidents de cyclomoteurs: mécanismes lésionnels et aspects anatomo-cliniques

Le but de notre étude est de décrire les mécanismes lésionnels et les aspects anatomo-cliniques des  traumatismes par accident de cyclomoteur. C'est une étude transversale menée au niveau du Centre  Hospitalier Régional de Kaffrine sur une période de 12 mois. Elle portait sur les patients admis au service d'accueil pour accident de la voie publique impliquant un cyclomoteur. Il s'agissait de 129 patients (112  hommes et de 17 femmes). L'âge moyen était de 30,5 ans. Soixante-treize patients étaient conducteurs de cyclomoteur, 31 piétons et 25 passagers arrière. Le mécanisme le plus fréquent était une chute de moto. Les lésions prédominaient au niveau des membres. Les accidents de cyclomoteur sont un problème de santé publique.Key words: Cyclomoteur, lésion, mécanisme, cliniqu

Hepatocellular carcinoma associated with pregnancy about 2 cases at the gynecological and obstetrical clinic of the Aristide Le Dantec hospital, Dakar, Senegal

The objective of our study was to report 2 cases of hepatocellular carcinomas associated with pregnancy followed in our structure and to review the literature. Our patients were 30 and 37-year-old multi-gesture females with chronic unattended viral hepatitis B in whom the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma was made in the third trimester of pregnancy at 31 weeks of amenorrhea and 4 days and at 32 weeks of amenorrhea after the incidental finding of tumor hepatomegaly on abdominal-pelvic ultrasound. The main clinical signs were jaundice and hepatomegaly and paraclinical signs were dominated by hepatic cytolysis and anemia in addition to ultrasound images. Follow-up of pregnancies revealed no particularities. A caesarean section was scheduled at 32 weeks of amenorrhea and 32 weeks of amenorrhea and 3 days allowing the birth of two preterm newborns weighing 1210 and 1500 gm with Apgar scores of 8-10/10 and 7-9/10 respectively at the fifth minute. The immediate post-operative follow-up was simple. However, the maternal-fetal prognosis was poor with the death of both patients in a multi-visceral failure table occurring respectively at 6 weeks and 3 weeks after caesarean section. The newborns had died 8 days after birth. Although rare, these two cases challenge any obstetrician to think about liver cancer in pregnant women, especially those with chronic hepatitis B. Ultrasound examination of the liver, or even better, the MRI, which is more efficient, in order to suspect early on a possible liver cancer. Indeed, early diagnosis and a thorough medical approach are essential for the treatment of HCC in pregnant patients

Men who have sex with men (MSM) and factors associated with not using a condom at last sexual intercourse with a man and with a woman in Senegal

BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with other men (MSM) are a vulnerable population in Africa that has been insufficiently explored. Given the high rate of bisexuality among MSM (73% in the past year), it is important to understand their risk-taking behaviors regarding both men and women. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A socio-behavioral survey was carried out in 2007 among 501 MSM recruited using the snowball sampling method. We explore in this article why a condom was not used during last sexual intercourse with a man and with a woman, taking into account the respondent's characteristics, type of relationship and the context of the sexual act. In the survey, 489 men reported that they had had sexual intercourse at least once with another man during the previous year, and 358 with a man and with a woman. The main risk factors for not using a condom at last sexual intercourse with another man were having sex in a public place (aOR = 6.26 [95%CI: 2.71–14.46]), non-participation in an MSM prevention program (aOR = 3.47 [95%CI: 2.12–5.69]), a 19 years old or younger partner (aOR = 2.6 [95%CI: 1.23–4.53]), being 24 years or younger (aOR = 2.07 [95%CI: 1.20–3.58]) or being 35 years or over (aOR = 3.08 [95%CI:1.11–8.53]) and being unemployed (aOR = 0.36 [95%CI: 0.10–1.25]). The last sexual intercourse with the respondent's wife was hardly ever protected (2%). With women, the other factors were a 15 years or younger partner (aOR = 6.45 [95%CI: 2.56–16.28]), being educated (primary: aOR = 0.45 [95%CI: 0.21–0.95], secondary or higher: aOR = 0.26 [95%CI: 0.11–0.62]), being a student (aOR = 2.20 [95%CI: 1.07–4.54]) or unemployed (aOR = 3.72 [95%CI: 1.31–10.61]) and having participated in a MSM prevention program (aOR = 0.57 [95%CI: 0.34–0.93]). CONCLUSION: Having participated in a prevention program specifically targeting MSM constitutes a major prevention factor. However, these programs targeting MSM must address their heterosexual practices and the specific risks involved

Obstetrical vacuum extraction practice in Senegal: knowledge, attitude and practices

Background:Assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of healthcare providers in the three biggest regions in Senegal, appreciate their level of training and determine the frequency of the practice of vacuum extraction in health facilities.Methods: This was a prospective study conducted over 1 year from January 1 to December 31, 2015 with a survey through interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire with open or closed questions, single or multiple-choice. Were included in the study providers practicing vacuum extractor, officiating in Dakar, Thies and Saint-Louis in the private and/or public sector who agreed to participate in the study. Data were captured and analyzed using File Maker Pro version 12 Inc*, then SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 21.0.Results: Out of 250 healthcare providers, 223 accepted to answer the questionnaire leading to an acceptance rate of 89.2%. 142 healthcare providers (63.7%) were trained in vacuum extraction. A proportion of 62.3% of providers knew the indications of vacuum extraction. For contraindications, only 34.5% of providers were able to cite one of them. Complications of vacuum extraction were known to 58.7% of our providers. There was a statistically significant difference between doctors and the others (midwifes, nurses) in the knowledge of indications, contraindications and complications of vacuum extraction. The only discriminatory parameter leading to this difference was initial and continuous training in vacuum extraction.Conclusions: It is important to introduce obstetric vacuum training in the gynaecology and obstetrics program for medical students and midwifery training schools, reinforce this training using simulators, include the practice of vacuum extraction in the internship objectives of medical students and midwives and evaluate them regularly

Ectopia cordis about a case at Ourossogui regional hospital center

We report in this work, an extremely rare and major case of anterior body wall defects included ectopia cordis define by abnormal location of heart outside of the thorax. This case was diagnosed at the maternity of Ourossogui regional hospital center, in Senegal. Any scan was performed during the pregnancy. Newborn died 10 minutes after birth. Ectopia cordis is related to a possible ventral midline developmental abnormality. It’s associated to other midline abnormalities and is a part of pentalogy of Cantrell. An X-linked genetic abnormality

Meeting the sexual health needs of men who have sex with men in Senegal

A study conducted in Dakar, Senegal by researchers from the National AIDS Council, Cheikh Anta Diop University, and the Horizons program obtained information on the needs, behaviors, knowledge, and attitudes of men who have sex with men (MSM). This study offers important insights into the sexuality of MSM, their vulnerability to STI/HIV, and the role of violence and stigma in their lives. The results also highlight the lack of sexual health services and information available to cover the specific needs of MSM. The results of this study were summarized during a meeting held in April 2001 in Dakar and raised awareness of the importance for public health of developing non-stigmatizing interventions for MSM. The results led to the establishment of an NGO pool to develop and coordinate activities for MSM in Dakar

Completeness of information in electronic compared with paper-based patients’ records in a maternity setting in Dakar, Senegal

Background: Evaluate the consistency of information in paper-based records when registered in parallel with an electronic medical record.Methods: The study was performed at PMSHC in Dakar Senegal. From the end of year 2016, patients’ files were recorded on both paper-based and electronically. Additionally, previous records were electronically registered. To investigate the completeness of records before and after the electronic recording system has been implemented, information about some maternal and fetal/neonatal characteristics were assessed. When the variable was recorded, the system returned 1, unrecorded variables were coded as 0. We then calculated, for each variable, the unrecorded rate before 2017 and after that date. The study period extended from 2011 to June 2019, a nearly ten-year period. Data were extracted from E-perinatal to MS excel 2019 then SPSS 25 software. Frequencies of unrecorded variables were compared with chi-squared test at a level of significance of 5%.Results: A total of 48,270 unique patients’ records were identified during the eight-year period.  Among the study population, data for patients’ age, address and parity were available most of the time before and after 2017 (0.5% missing data versus 0.3% for age and 2.6% versus 1.3% for home address and from 0.3% to 0.0% for parity). However, phone number, maternal weight, maternal height, last menstrual period and blood group were found to be missing up to 96% before 2017. From 2017, these rates experienced a sudden decrease at a significant level: from 82.4% to 27.8% for phone number, from 96% to 56.3% for maternal weight and from 60.1% to 21.3% for blood group. Regarding newborns’ data, it was found that fetal height, head circumference and chest circumference were missing up to just under 25% before 2017. After that date, their completeness improved and flattened under 5%.Conclusions: Structured and computerized files reduce missing data. There is an urgent need the Ministry of health provides hospitals and health care providers with guidelines that describes the standardized information that should be gathered and shared in health and care records

Implementing services for Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) of HIV: a comparative descriptive analysis of national programs in four countries

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is a significant increase in survival for HIV-infected children who have early access to diagnosis and treatment. The goal of this multi-country review was to examine when and where HIV-exposed infants and children are being diagnosed, and whether the EID service is being maximally utilized to improve health outcomes for HIV-exposed children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In four countries across Africa and Asia existing documents and data were reviewed and key informant interviews were conducted. EID testing data was gathered from the central testing laboratories and was then complemented by health facility level data extraction which took place using a standardized and validated questionnaire</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the four countries reviewed from 2006 to 2009 EID sample volumes rose dramatically to an average of >100 samples per quarter in Cambodia and Senegal, >7,000 samples per quarter in Uganda, and >2,000 samples per quarter in Namibia. Geographic coverage of sites also rapidly expanded to 525 sites in Uganda, 205 in Namibia, 48 in Senegal, and 26 in Cambodia in 2009. However, only a small proportion of testing was done at lower-level health facilities: in Uganda Health Center IIs and IIIs comprised 47% of the EID collection sites, but only 11% of the total tests, and in Namibia 15% of EID sites collected >93% of all samples. In all countries except for Namibia, more than 50% of the EID testing was done after 2 months of age. Few sites had robust referral mechanisms between EID and ART. In a sub-sample of children, we noted significant attrition of infants along the continuum of care post testing. Only 22% (Senegal), 37% (Uganda), and 38% (Cambodia) of infants testing positive by PCR were subsequently initiated onto treatment. In Namibia, which had almost universal EID coverage, more than 70% of PCR-positive infants initiated ART in 2008.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>While EID testing has expanded dramatically, a large proportion of PCR- positive infants are initiated on treatment. As EID services continue to scale-up, more programmatic attention and support is needed to retain HIV-exposed infants in care and ensure that those testing positive initiate treatment in a timely manner. Namibia's experience demonstrates that it is feasible for a rural, low-income country to achieve high national coverage of infant testing and treatment.</p