Pollution de l’air et comportement à risque des employés de boulangerie à Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire)

Dans le secteur de la boulangerie, les employés sont régulièrement exposés à la poussière de farine qui est nocive pour la santé. Cependant, les employés de boulangeries à Abidjan ne prennent pas assez de précautions à leurs postes de travail afin de réduire les risques auxquels ils sont exposés.  L’objectif de cette étude est de mettre en exergue le comportement à risque des employés de boulangeries dans l’exercice de leurs activités à Abidjan. A travers une approche mixte, cette recherche s’est appuyée sur des techniques aussi bien quantitatives que qualitatives. Des entretiens semi-directifs et des questionnaires ont été réalisés avec les employés au sein de la boulangerie. À ces techniques, une observation directe a été effectuée au sein de la boulangerie sur le cadre de travail et le port des équipements de protection. La qualité de l’air a été mesurée à l’aide   du Quest 3M EVM-7. Les résultats montrent que 35 boulangeries (87,5%) sur les 40 investiguées utilisent le gaz butane comme combustible. Les mesures de PM2,5 donnent des valeurs moyennes de 280 µg/m3 et 260 µg/m3   respectivement en zone de production et de vente. Ces mesures correspondent respectivement à 11 et à 10 fois la norme de l’OMS. Dans ce cadre de travail, (374/599, 62,4%) des employés pensent que ne pas porter les équipements de protection individuelle ne constitue pas un risque pour leur santé. De plus ces boulangeries adoptent un système de nettoyage qui met en suspension la poussière de farine, impactant ainsi la qualité de l’air.  La sensibilisation sur les risques sanitaires liés à la pollution de l’air dans les boulangeries est indispensable à l’adoption de bonnes pratiques professionnelles par les employés de ces structures.   In the bakery sector, employees are regularly exposed to flour dust which is harmful to health. However, bakery workers in Abidjan do not take enough precautions at their workstations to reduce the risks to which they are exposed. The objective of this study is to highlight the risky behaviour of bakery workers in the exercise of their activities in Abidjan. Using a mixed-methods approach, this research relied on both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were conducted with employees in the bakery. In addition to these techniques, direct observation was carried out in the bakery on the working environment and the wearing of protective equipment. Air quality was measured using the Quest 3M EVM-7. The results show that 35 bakeries (87.5%) out of the 40 investigated use butane gas as fuel. The PM2.5 measurements gave average values of 280 µg/m3 and 260 µg/m3 in the production and sales areas respectively. These measurements correspond to 11 and 10 times the WHO standard respectively. In this work environment, (374/599, 62.4%) of the employees believe that not wearing personal protective equipment does not constitute a risk to their health. In addition, these bakeries adopt a cleaning system that suspends flour dust, thus impacting air quality.  Raising awareness of the health risks associated with air pollution in bakeries is essential for the adoption of good working practices by the employees of these facilities

Prévalence et facteurs associés aux grossesses en milieu scolaire au Bénin en 2021

Girls' education, recognized as an essential pillar of sustainable development, is sometimes handicapped by the phenomenon of pregnancy in schools. The. The objective of our study is to study the prevalence and factors associated with school pregnancy in Benin in 2021. This was a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2021 and involved girls who benefited from Benin's Sexual Health Education (SHE) project. They were selected using a probabilistic method. Explanatory variables included sociodemographic, behavioral, and reproductive history characteristics. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with school pregnancy. The significance level was 5%. The study included 3652 girls. The mean age was 17.47 ± 2.35 years with extremes of 11 and 24 years. The prevalence of school pregnancy was 5.61% among all girls surveyed and 15.99% among sexually active girls. Factors associated with school-based pregnancy included age ≥20 years; (OR=3.79; CI95%: 2.56-5.62) ,belonging to the collines (OR=2.78; CI95% 1.10-7.02) and atlantique departments (OR=2.83; CI95% 1.13-7.10), not living with both parents (OR=0.57; CI95% 0.38-0.86), frequent prostitution (OR=3.10; CI95% 1.31-7.33) or sometimes (OR = 2.61; CI95% 1.13-6.00), poor or insufficient parental control (OR = 2.42; CI95% 1.58-3.69), and low socioeconomic level of the home household (OR = 1.75; CI95% 1.02-3.01). The phenomenon of pregnancy in schools in Benin is a reality. This study provides evidence to decision-makers at different levels for an efficient fight.   L'éducation des filles, reconnue comme un pilier essentiel du développement durable, est parfois handicapée par  le phénomène de grossesse en milieu scolaire. Dans le but de contribuer à contrôler le phénomène, l’objectif de notre étude est d’étudier la prévalence et les facteurs associés aux grossesses en milieu scolaire au Bénin en 2021. Il s’est agi d’une  enquête transversale réalisée en 2021 et qui a concerné les élèves filles ayant bénéficié du projet Education à la Santé Sexuelle (ESS) au Bénin. Elles étaient sélectionnées selon une méthode probabiliste. Les variables explicatives comprenaient les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, comportementaux et l’histoire reproductive. Un modèle de régression logistique a été utilisé pour identifier les facteurs associés aux besoins non satisfaits. Le seuil de significativité était de 5%. L’étude a inclus  3652 filles. La moyenne d’âge était de 17,47 ± 2,35 ans avec les extrêmes 11 ans et de 24 ans. La prévalence des grossesses en milieu scolaire était de 5,61% chez l’ensemble des filles enquêtées et de 15,99% chez les filles sexuellement actives. Les facteurs associés au phénomène comprenaient l’âge ≥20 ans ; (OR=3,79 ; IC95% : 2,56-5,62), l’appartenance aux départements des collines (OR = 2,78 ; IC95%  1,10-7,02) et de l’atlantique (OR = 2,83 ; IC95%  1,13-7,10), le fait ne pas vivre avec les deux parents (OR = 0,57 ; IC95%  0,38-0,86), se prostituer souvent (OR = 3,10 ; IC95%  1,31-7,33) ou parfois (OR = 2,61 ; IC95%  1,13-6,00), le faible ou insuffisance de contrôle parental (OR = 2,42 ; IC95%  1,58-3,69) et le faible niveau socioéconomique du ménage d’appartenance (OR = 1,75 ; IC95%  1,02-3,01).  Le phénomène de grossesse en milieu scolaire au Bénin est une réalité. La présente étude met à disposition des décideurs à différents niveaux des évidences pour une lutte efficiente.  &nbsp

Prévalence et facteurs associés aux grossesses en milieu scolaire au Bénin en 2021

Girls' education, recognized as an essential pillar of sustainable development, is sometimes handicapped by the phenomenon of pregnancy in schools. The. The objective of our study is to study the prevalence and factors associated with school pregnancy in Benin in 2021. This was a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2021 and involved girls who benefited from Benin's Sexual Health Education (SHE) project. They were selected using a probabilistic method. Explanatory variables included sociodemographic, behavioral, and reproductive history characteristics. A logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with school pregnancy. The significance level was 5%. The study included 3652 girls. The mean age was 17.47 ± 2.35 years with extremes of 11 and 24 years. The prevalence of school pregnancy was 5.61% among all girls surveyed and 15.99% among sexually active girls. Factors associated with school-based pregnancy included age ≥20 years; (OR=3.79; CI95%: 2.56-5.62) ,belonging to the collines (OR=2.78; CI95% 1.10-7.02) and atlantique departments (OR=2.83; CI95% 1.13-7.10), not living with both parents (OR=0.57; CI95% 0.38-0.86), frequent prostitution (OR=3.10; CI95% 1.31-7.33) or sometimes (OR = 2.61; CI95% 1.13-6.00), poor or insufficient parental control (OR = 2.42; CI95% 1.58-3.69), and low socioeconomic level of the home household (OR = 1.75; CI95% 1.02-3.01). The phenomenon of pregnancy in schools in Benin is a reality. This study provides evidence to decision-makers at different levels for an efficient fight.   L'éducation des filles, reconnue comme un pilier essentiel du développement durable, est parfois handicapée par  le phénomène de grossesse en milieu scolaire. Dans le but de contribuer à contrôler le phénomène, l’objectif de notre étude est d’étudier la prévalence et les facteurs associés aux grossesses en milieu scolaire au Bénin en 2021. Il s’est agi d’une  enquête transversale réalisée en 2021 et qui a concerné les élèves filles ayant bénéficié du projet Education à la Santé Sexuelle (ESS) au Bénin. Elles étaient sélectionnées selon une méthode probabiliste. Les variables explicatives comprenaient les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, comportementaux et l’histoire reproductive. Un modèle de régression logistique a été utilisé pour identifier les facteurs associés aux besoins non satisfaits. Le seuil de significativité était de 5%. L’étude a inclus  3652 filles. La moyenne d’âge était de 17,47 ± 2,35 ans avec les extrêmes 11 ans et de 24 ans. La prévalence des grossesses en milieu scolaire était de 5,61% chez l’ensemble des filles enquêtées et de 15,99% chez les filles sexuellement actives. Les facteurs associés au phénomène comprenaient l’âge ≥20 ans ; (OR=3,79 ; IC95% : 2,56-5,62), l’appartenance aux départements des collines (OR = 2,78 ; IC95%  1,10-7,02) et de l’atlantique (OR = 2,83 ; IC95%  1,13-7,10), le fait ne pas vivre avec les deux parents (OR = 0,57 ; IC95%  0,38-0,86), se prostituer souvent (OR = 3,10 ; IC95%  1,31-7,33) ou parfois (OR = 2,61 ; IC95%  1,13-6,00), le faible ou insuffisance de contrôle parental (OR = 2,42 ; IC95%  1,58-3,69) et le faible niveau socioéconomique du ménage d’appartenance (OR = 1,75 ; IC95%  1,02-3,01).  Le phénomène de grossesse en milieu scolaire au Bénin est une réalité. La présente étude met à disposition des décideurs à différents niveaux des évidences pour une lutte efficiente.  &nbsp

Socio-environmental factors associated with the risk of contracting Buruli ulcer in Tiassalé, South Côte d'Ivoire : a case-control study

Buruli ulcer (BU) is a cutaneous infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. The exact mode of transmission remains elusive; yet, some studies identified environmental, socio-sanitary, and behavioral risk factors. The purpose of this study was to assess the association of such factors to contracting BU in Tiassalé, south Côte d'Ivoire.; A case-control study was conducted in 2012. Cases were BU patients diagnosed according to clinical definition put forth by the World Health Organization, readily confirmed by IS2404 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis prior to our study and recruited at one of the health centers of the district. Two controls were matched for each control, by age group (to the nearest 5 years), sex, and living community. Participants were interviewed after providing oral witnessed consent, assessing behavioral, environmental, and socio-sanitary factors.; A total of 51 incident and prevalent cases and 102 controls were enrolled. Sex ratio (male:female) was 0.9. Median age was 25 years (range: 5-70 years). Regular contact with unprotected surface water (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 6.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.1-19.7) and absence of protective equipment during agricultural activities (aOR = 18.5, 95% CI = 5.2-66.7) were identified as the main factors associated with the risk of contracting BU. Etiologic fractions among exposed to both factors were 84.9% and 94.6%, respectively. Good knowledge about the risks that may result in BU (aOR = 0.3, 95% CI = 0.1-0.8) and perception about the disease causes (aOR = 0.1, 95% CI = 0.02-0.3) showed protection against BU with a respective preventive fraction of 70% and 90%.; Main risk factors identified in this study were the contact with unprotected water bodies through daily activities and the absence of protective equipment during agricultural activities. An effective strategy to reduce the incidence of BU should involve compliance with protective equipment during agricultural activities and avoidance of contact with surface water and community capacity building through training and sensitization

Mental health, childhood abuse and HIV sexual risk behaviour among university students in Ivory Coast

Little focus has been paid to the role of poor mental health and childhood abuse among young people with regard to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviour and HIV prevention in Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the association between mental health, childhood abuse and HIV sexual risk behaviour among a sample of university students in Ivory Coast. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with undergraduate students that were recruited randomly from classes at the Felix Houphouet Boigny University of Cocody. The sample included 824 university students (50% men and 50% women), with a mean age of 23.7 years (SD = 2.7). Of the 824 university students who completed the survey, 17.6% reported depression, 10.8% screened positive for post-traumatic stress disorder, 8.3% reported at least monthly heavy episodic drinking, 13.5% reported childhood physical abuse and 4.7% sexual abuse, 33.9% had two or more sexual partners in the past 12 months, 66.3% had inconsistent condom use, 23.6% had alcohol use in the context of sex and 16.7% had a history of a sexually transmitted infection. In multivariable analysis among men, lack of religiousness and alcohol use in the context of sex were associated with HIV risk behaviour, and among women, poorer family background, experience of sexual and physical partner violence, alcohol use in the context of sex and depression were associated with HIV risk behaviour. Poor mental health (depression) including alcohol use and partner violence was found to be associated with HIV risk behaviour. Coordinated mental health and sexual and reproductive health services to meet the needs of university students would be desirable.

Transmission Dynamics of Seasonal Influenza in Abidjan: Epidemiology and Modeling

(Introduction): In the tropics, influenza age-risk groups and the temporal distribution are not as thoroughly studied. (Objective): Here we determine these aspects in Abidjan. Materials and methods: We conducted a review from INHP influenza surveillance database and climatological data from the National Weather Service from 2007 to 2012. (Results): The largest number of positive specimens was from young children aged 0-4 years. The highest monthly and seasonally proportions of influenza viruses were observed in the long rainy season. ARIMAX (2,0,0)RF perform best only with rainfall. (Conclusion): Public health measures must be strengthened at the approach of rainy seasons

Aspects épidémiologiques et cliniques de l'intoxication par les déchets toxiques dans le district d'Abidjan

In the nights of 19 to 21 August, 2006, highly toxic waste products were dumped at various sites in Abidjan, and numerous cases of poisoning were reported to the health authorities, who were unprepared for such a problem. The research group on Environment and Health in Urban Environment from the Swiss Center of Scientific Research and its partners at the Swiss Tropical Institute undertook this study whose objectives were to: describe the epidemiologic profile of the people poisoned; identify the main clinical symptoms and the risk factors for poisoning; and recommend steps to attenuate the effects and to prevent intermediate- and long-term consequences.MethodologyThis cross-sectional study examined the populations living around the discharge sites (n=6). The sample size was calculated at 619 people per site, to identify a 1% risk and a standard error of 0.4%, because of variability of the human impact factor at the different sites. Households were chosen at each site by the transect technique. Six teams, each including a physician, a public health agent and a local guide collected the data, after specific training. A pilot investigation made it possible to validate the final questionnaire.ResultsOf 4573 people surveyed, 4344 people, about 95%, were home during the toxic waste discharge. In all, 2369 (51.8%) had signs of poisoning. Sex, district of residence, and presence at home at the time of the discharge were all statistically related to poisoning. The distribution of poison victims according to health centre shows that 1297 people (64.4%) visited a health center A(3/4) 615 of them (about 47.4%) a public or official centre, and 778 (about 60%), an unofficial centre; 379 (29.2%) were managed by an NGO, 159 individuals (12.3%) by mobile units, 63 individuals (4.8%) by the unofficial public health centre, and 35 (2.7%) at an unspecified site. Of those who sought care, 673 people (about 51.8%) received a medical prescription, and 815 (or 62.7%) had been given drug directly, for free. 94 individuals (about 7.2%) chose their own self-medication, and 74 people (5.7%) a traditional treatment. In all, 34 people, about 2.6% of those who sought care, were hospitalized. Of the subjects who went to a health centre, 1421 (72.8%) had a positive course and 532 (27.7%) an unfavourable course. The latter complained especially of respiratory signs, in particular a cough and thoracic pains (21.8%), digestive signs (diarrhoea and abdominal distension, about 21.5%), and cutaneous (pruritus) and neurological (headaches) signs (20.7%). Overall, 532 people (21.%) still presented signs during the investigation.ConclusionThis study highlighted the persistence of the symptoms among many of those poisoned more than 4 months afterwards. This phenomenon continues, although the sites have been partially cleaned: the long-term effects on population health remain alarming. Thorough multidisciplinary studies are essential to explore the long-term effect