Prematurity, intrauterine growth retardation and low birth weight : risk factors in a malaria-endemic area in southern Benin

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the contribution of prematurity and small for gestational age (SGA) to low birth weight (LBW) as well as to identify risk factors associated with preterm birth and SGA and to explore their impact on birth weight. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in southern Benin between June 2007 and July 2008. At delivery, women's characteristics and newborn's anthropometric measurements were collected. Gestational age was estimated using the Ballard method; SGA was defined using the William's reference curve. Analyses were performed by multiple logistic and linear regressions. Results: In total, 526 mother-infant pairs were enrolled. LBW (<2500 g), prematurity (<37 weeks) and SGA accounted for 9.1%, 10.3% and 25.3% of the sample, respectively. Infant's male gender was associated with a lower risk of prematurity (p=0.03). Low maternal anthropometric status (p<0.001), primiparity (p=0.017) and infant's male gender (p=0.015) were associated with an increased risk of SGA. Only low maternal anthropometric status and primiparity were associated with an increased risk of LBW, and their effect on LBW was mediated by SGA. Conclusions: SGA was the main mechanism mediating the effect of risk factors on LBW. Maternal undernutrition (either short stature or low anthropometric status) was the most important of them

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus among French prison inmates in 2010: a challenge for public health policy

International audienceWe evaluated prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among prison inmates in France in 2010, in a cross-sectional single-day study based on a two-stage design. Sampling favoured larger establishments and included all types of prisons. Establishments were stratified by geographical region. Estimates were adjusted by post-stratification of the total population of inmates in France. From 60,975 inmates in all 188 prisons on the sampling day, 2,154 were selected from 27 prisons, and 1,876 questionnaires completed. HIV prevalence was estimated at 2.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9-4.2), 2.6% (95% CI: 0.7-8.8) in women and 2.0% (95% CI: 0.9-4.3) in men; 75% of inmates were receiving treatment for HIV. HCV prevalence was estimated at 4.8% (95% CI: 3.5-6.5) and was higher for women (11.8%; 95% CI: 8.5-16.1) than men (4.5%; 95% CI: 3.3-6.3). Almost half of HCV-infected inmates had chronic hepatitis C and 44% were receiving or had received treatment. HIV and HCV prevalence was six times higher than in the general population, and 2.5% of inmates had viraemic hepatitis C. The moment of incarceration provides an ideal opportunity for testing and treating, limiting spread of HCV and improving patients' prognosis