Prevalence and Factors Associated with Chronic Low Back Pain in the Mining Sector in Burkina Faso

Introduction: Low back pain is nowadays a real public health problem in companies. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with chronic low back pain among workers of a mining company in Burkina Faso. Material and Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study with a retrospective collection that took place from August 1, 2021 to March 16, 2022 in a gold mine in Burkina Faso. It focused on mine workers who participated in the 2019 annual medical visit. Results: Out of a total workforce of 880 workers who took part in the annual medical visit in 2019, 165 had chronic common low back pain, i.e. a prevalence of 18.75%. The average age of low back pain workers was 37.21 ± 7.5 years. Among the workers suffering from low back pain, 62 (37.58%) held the position of machine operator. Clinically, mechanical pain was found in 113 low back pain workers (76%) and twenty-nine (17.58%) had radicular pain. Standard radiography of the lumbar spine was abnormal in 129 workers (78.18%. In the univariate analysis, the factors associated with the pathology were sex, level of study, work station and seniority in the position. After a logistic regression, the factors associated with its occurrence were whole-body vibration (Fisher’s test = 12.7541;P = 0.000), male sex (Fisher’s test = 8.363;P = 0.004), and seniority for 4 to 5 years (Chi2 = 4.0234;p = 0.046). Conclusion: The study reveals the existence of chronic low back pain cases among the workers of the mining company. There is a predominance of the pathology in men, workers exposed to vibrations and those with a seniority of 4 to 5 years. It is necessary to establish a policy of prevention of low back pain for the benefit of workers, in particular those exposed to vibrations.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Violence among Primary and Secondary School Workers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Introduction: Violence is a major problem in today’s workplace. It affects workers in all sectors of activity. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with violence among primary and secondary school staff in Ouagadougou. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study that took place from April 22, 2020 to February 18, 2021 in primary and secondary schools in Ouagadougou. It focused on the educational staff of these establishments. Results: A total of 362 agents took part in the study. The average age of participants was 36.5 ± 6.89 years. The sex ratio was 1.62 men to one woman. The majority of workers were teachers, with 300 participants (82.87%). The average job tenure was 7 years ± 6.91 years. With regard to violence in the workplace, 87 workers were victims, representing a prevalence of 24.03%. Of these workers, 59 (67.81%) were men and 36 (41.38%) had less than six years’ experience. Acts of violence were predominantly pushing observed in 15 workers (50%), while shouting and aggressive tone dominated psychological violence and concerned 54 cases (36.24%). On univariate analysis, the factors associated with violence were age (p = 0.046) and type of establishment (p = 0.012). On multivariate analysis, only the nature of the establishment was the only factor associated with the occurrence of violence among teaching staff (OR = 2.3690, p = 0.0213). Conclusion: The prevalence of violence is high in these educational establishments. Age and type of establishment are factors associated with its occurrence. It is therefore necessary to develop an effective strategy for preventing this risk in the workplace.

Prevalence and Tasks Associated with Respiratory Symptoms among Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Handlers in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 2019

Introduction: The uncontrolled management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (W3E) causes respiratory problems in the handlers of this waste. The objective was to study the stains associated with respiratory symptoms in W3E handlers. Methods: The study was cross-sectional with an analytical focus on W3E handlers in the informal sector in Ouagadougou. A peer-validated questionnaire collected data on a sample of 161 manipulators. Results: the most common W3E processing tasks were the purchase or sale of W3E (67.70%), its repair (39.75%) and its collection (31.06%). The prevalence of cough was 21.74%, that of wheezing 14.91%, phlegm 12.50% and dyspnea at rest 10.56%. In bivariate analysis, there were significant associations at the 5% level between W3E repair and phlegm (p-value = 0.044), between W3E burning and wheezing (p-value = 0.011) and between W3E and cough (p-value = 0.01). The final logistic regression models suggested that the burning of W3E and the melting of lead batteries represented risk factors for the occurrence of cough with respective prevalence ratios of 4.57 and 4.63. Conclusion: raising awareness on the wearing of personal protective equipment, in particular masks adapted by W3E handlers, favoring those who are dedicated to the burning of electronic waste and the melting of lead could make it possible to reduce the risk of occurrence of respiratory symptoms.

Fascist Leg Necrosis at the Bocar Sidi Sall University Hospital (BSS) in Kati (Mali)

Necrotizing fasciitis is a bacterial dermo-hypodermitis of necrotizing type with involvement of the superficial fascia of the muscles. We report the case of a 50-year-old patient with necrotizing fasciitis of the left leg following erysipelas. Clinical Case: A 50-year-old patient, received at the emergency department for necrotizing wound of the left leg, evolving for 25 days. The examination of the patient made it possible to find: an alteration of the general condition with a WHO score classified stage II. A necrotizing wound of the lower 2/3 of the left leg and the dorsal side of the left foot allowing pus to flow in places, the pedious pulse was well perceived, lymphadenopathy at the root of the homolateral thigh. The complete blood count made it possible to objectify a predominantly neutrophil hyperleukocytosis greater than 10,000/mm3. We first carried out a complete debridement of the necrotic tissues, in a second time we took the patient back to do the autocutaneous graft. The surgical follow-up was simple. Conclusion: Necrotizing fasciitis is a serious infection, management is multidisciplinary.

Kati Chu BSS External Genital Organ Delivery Syndrome: Inguinal Pedicle Flap Plasty

Fournier’s syndrome is a poly microbial necrotizing fasciitis, of severe evolution of the perineum and external genitals. Objectives: We report the experience of the service in the management of Fournier gangrene of the external genital organs by inguinal flap pediculated in front of the loss of significant substances of the scrotum. Patients and method: This was a mono-centric retrospective study from January 2008 to August 2021 in the General Surgery Department of the Bocar Sidi Sall University Hospital (CHU BSS) in Kati. It focused on patients treated for Fournier gangrene of external genitals. The variables studied were age, sex, blood count, germs encountered, the antibiogram, duration of evolution, reconstruction of the scrotum by pedicle flap, and morbidity. Results: During the study period we collected 5 cases of Fournier gangrene of external genitals in the service. The average age was 57.6 years and all the patients were male. The average duration of evolution was 5 days for an average age of 57.6 years. All patients were male. Echerichia coli (E. coli) was the frequently observed germ followed by Enterobacter fécalis (E. fecalis). They were resistant to the usual antibiotics. The germs were 100% sensitive to imipeneme and nitrofurantoin, 70% to gentamycin. The wide necrosectomy followed 3 weeks later by the inguinal flap pedicular plasty greatly improved the surgical procedures. Conclusion: Fournier’s syndrome is a medical surgical emergency whose prognosis is strongly related to early management.