Practice of Barrier Measures against COVID-19 Among Diabetic People Followed at Departmental University Hospital Center Ouémé-Plateau, Benin, in 2021

Introduction: COVID-19 is a pandemic disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-COV2 appeared in China in 2019. The aim of the study was to evaluate the practice of barrier measures against COVID-19 and to identify associated factors among diabetics followed at Departmental University Hospital Center Ouémé-Plateau, Benin, in 2021. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from June to August 2021, including diabetics aged 18 and over, hospitalized or received for medical visits in the department of medicine at the target hospital. Data were collected during an interview with each participant thanks to a questionnaire. “Good practice” was defined as regular practice of at least two of three barrier measures: hand washing, physical distancing and mask-wearing. Results: A total of 110 diabetics were included with a female predominance (55.5%) and a mean age of 57 ± 11.3 years. Among them, 89.1% washed their hands, 41.8% respected physical distancing and 12.7% wore a mask. The proportion of good practice was 47.3%. Only 5 practiced the three barrier measures. Only age group was associated with good practice. Conclusion: The study showed a low proportion of good practice of barrier measures against COVID-19 among diabetic people surveyed. It is important to continue the action for COVID-19 prevention among diabetic people in the targeted hospital and in other hospitals in Benin.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity among Public Secondary School Teachers in Parakou, Benin, in 2021

Introduction: Overweight and obesity represent a public health problem in Africa due to the epidemiological transition. The objectives of this work were to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and to identify associated factors among public secondary school teachers in Parakou, Benin in 2021. Methods: We conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study. Teachers working in public secondary schools in Parakou during the 2020-2021 academic year, present at work and who gave their written informed consent, were included. A two-stage random sampling was carried out. Data were collected during an individual interview using a questionnaire followed by the measurement of anthropometric parameters and blood pressure. Overweight and obesity were defined by a body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify associated factors. Results: A sample of 325 teachers, including 88.6% of men, was recruited with an average age of 36.2 ± 6.8 years. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 43.7% (95% CI [38.1%-44.8%]). It increased significantly with income (p Conclusion: The results show a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. Actions are necessary to prevent overweight and obesity among secondary school teachers in Parakou, in Benin.

Epidemiology of Lower Extremity Artery Disease in People Living with HIV Followed at the Departmental University Hospital Center Ouémé-Plateau in 2019

Introduction: Lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) is a serious cardiovascular disease. People living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at risk. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of LEAD and identify the associated factors among people living with HIV who were followed at the departmental university hospital Ouémé-Plateau in Benin. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. It included all HIV-infected people who were monitored at the department of medicine of the target hospital during the study period and met the inclusion criteria (followed for at least three months, aged at least 25 years, and having given their written consent to participate). Data were collected during an individual interview, followed by the measurement of parameters. The ankle brachial index ≤ 0.9 was used for the diagnosis of LEAD. Associated factors were searched through a multivariable logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of LEAD was 34.2% among 222 respondents having a mean age was 42.9 ± 10.8 years and a female predominance (77.5%). No significant association was found between the presence of LEAD and sociodemographic factors. The presence of LEAD was significantly associated with hypertension and antiretroviral therapy. Hypertensive patients had a higher risk of LEAD compared to non-hypertensive patients (OR = 1.98, 95% CI [1.04-3.83], p = 0.037). Those who were receiving second-line therapy also had a higher risk of LEAD compared to those on first-line therapy (OR = 2.95, 95% CI [1.14-7.60], p = 0.025). Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of LEAD especially among hypertensive patients and those who were receiving second-line antiretroviral therapy. LEAD diagnosis and management should be included in the routine care of people living with HIV in Benin.

Prevalence of Hypertension during Pregnancy in Benin: Results from STEPS Survey in 2015

Introduction: Hypertension disorders of pregnancy are one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal deaths. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of hypertension among pregnant women having participated in the STEPS survey in Benin in 2015. Methods: This was a database analysis. STEPS survey included consenting adults aged 18 to 69 years, living in Benin for at least 6 months prior to the survey. The participants were selected in households by a three-stage random sampling technique. The World Health Organization (WHO) STEPS instrument was used for data collection. After an individual interview with the participant at home, blood pressure was measured according to WHO recommendations. Pregnant women database was extracted for analysis. A multivariable logistic regression was done for associated factors identification. Results: A total of 2800 women (out of 5127 people) participated in the STEPS study of which 240 declared to be pregnant. The mean age was 28.9 ± 6.8 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 13.3%. Severe hypertension represented 2.9%. Hypertension during pregnancy was associated with primary school education level (compared to none, adjusted OR = 0.3, 95% CI [0.1 - 0.9], p = 0.042). No significant association was found with behavioral factors. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension during pregnancy is high in Benin. In-depth studies and targeted interventions for prevention should be implemented.

Perceptions and Knowledge about Cervical Cancer among Women Living with HIV in Parakou in 2017

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most common cancer in women and those living with HIV have a six times higher risk of cervical cancer compared to those without. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge and perceptions about cervical cancer in women living with HIV/AIDS (WLWHIV) in the municipality of Parakou in Benin. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted among WLWHIV monitored on antiretrovira (ARV) therapy (ART) centers in Parakou. Study participants were selected by systematic random sampling technique. Data collection took place from September 5, 2017 to November 6, 2017. Log-binomial regression was used to identify associated factors. Results: A total of 167 women were recruited into the study. The median age was 35 years [Interquartile range: 41.50 - 30.00]. More than half of the women had no perception of the cause of CC. Only 12.6% of women believed in the preventive capacity of early screening of CC. Among women, 15.6% knew that it can be prevented, but only 9.6% had heard of HPV and 4.8% knew that HPV vaccination is an effective means of preventing CC. The factors associated with the low level of knowledge were the age at first sexual intercourse (≤24 years), the ART follow-up site (private health structure) and the fact of not having visited a maternity hospital in the last 12 months preceding the survey. Conclusion: The perceptions and knowledge about cervical cancer in the population of women living with HIV and monitored on ART in Parakou were inadequate and disproportionate to their vulnerability to this cancer. In order to avoid a double burden on these women, their ART centers must integrate cervical cancer prevention interventions into ART initiation services.

Accessibility to Safe Drinking Water and Diarrheal Diseases: A Quasi-Experiment on a Case of Water Well Drilling in the Village of Kassouala, Municipality of Tchaourou, Benin, January 2018-July 2019

Background: In 2017, 900 million people in the world did not have sustainable access to safe drinking water (SDW). In addition, between 2016 and 2020, the global population with safely managed drinking water at home increased from 70 percent to 74 percent. Drinking water insecurity is the daily situation of people in developing countries. The lack of SDW supply is at the root of many diseases, including diarrheal diseases. Kassouala is a village in the municipality of Tchaourou without access to SDW, but having benefited from the drilling of a well in September 2018. The objective of this study was to study the effect of access to safe drinking water on the frequency of diarrheal diseases in Kassouala between January 2018 and July 2019. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study in Kassouala using the natural experiments of the village of Bérétou as a control group for estimating the effect of a causal nature. There were double temporal (January 2018-July 2019) and geographical (Kassouala-Bérétou) comparisons based on data collected from health care registers. A population-based comparability survey of the two villages was conducted among 170 households in each village (experimental village, control village). A two-stage cluster sampling procedure was used to select the survey participants. Data were collected from heads of household by semi-structured questionnaire. We used Pearson or Mantel-Haenszel chi-square tests, as appropriate, and the “difference-in-difference” method to assess the effect. Results: In Kassouala, the proportion of households with access to safe drinking water had increased to 78.88%, whereas it was nil in 2018 before the well drilling, and the frequency of diarrheal diseases decreased significantly from January 2018 before drilling to July 2019 after drilling (57.11% to 44.64%;p Conclusion: Access to safe drinking water in Kassouala has a causal effect on the reduction of diarrheal diseases. However, for the supply of drinking water to be integrated into the community development plan of Tchaourou, it is necessary to support the scaling up of this intervention, which would be considered as a pilot, of a community participation program.

COVID-19 Vaccine, Asymptomatic Cases, Risk Communication and Community Engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa

African region will probably be the last region in COVID-19 vaccine uptake. But that shouldn’t be a problematic issue if the emphasis is maintained on the role Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) can play in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic through the adoption of preventive measures. We used the issue of asymptomatic cases to illustrate the importance that should still be given to preventive measures such as hand washing, mask wearing, physical and social distancing, knowing that vaccines have never been 100% effective. Also with the issue of variants in COVID-19, the vaccine couldn’t be considered as a panacea. Lessons from the Nordic countries are strong arguments to put emphasis on preventive measures in the region.