Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects of Inguinal Hernia in Children in the General Surgery Department of Reference Health Center in Commune I of Bamako Mali

Inguinal hernia in children is a congenital pathology in children linked to the persistence of the peritoneo-vaginal canal in children and the NüCK canal in girls;persisting into adulthood. This work aimed to study inguinal hernia in children in the general surgery department of the Reference Health Center of Commune I of the Bamako District;to determine the frequency of inguinal hernia;describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of inguinal hernias and in order to evaluate the cost of treatment. This was a prospective study from April 2017 to March 2018 during which 60 children with an inguinal hernia were collected. Inguinal hernias in children represented 9.23% of patients operated on in the department. The average age was 59.23 months with extremes of one month and 180 months and a standard deviation of 49.23 years. The male sex was dominant with a sex ratio equal to 9:1. The notion of prematurity was found in 11.7% and was associated with a testicle not in place in 1.7% of cases. 41.7% of our patients were referred by a doctor and 66.7% of patients presented with painless, intermittent inguino-scrotal swelling (83.3% of cases). The hernia was discovered before one week of life in 50% of cases. Inguinal swelling was absent in 11.7% but observed intraoperatively. The inguinal hernia was unilateral in 91.7% of cases and 70% of hernias were discovered by the parents during pushing efforts. The inguinal hernia was located on the right in 61.7% of cases. The hernia swelling was soft, painless, impulsive and reducible in 78.3% of cases. The swelling was inguino-scrotal in 58.3% of cases. The hernia was simple in 95% of patients and hernial strangulation was observed in 3 cases or 5% of cases. 98.3% of patients were ASA I. The treatment was carried out openly in all our patients including closure of the vaginal peritoneal canal in 95% of cases under general anesthesia in 98.3% of cases. The morbidity rate was 8.4% (surgical site infection: 6.7% of cases and hematoma: 1.7%). The immediate consequences were simple in 96.6% of cases. No cases of recurrence occurred during the 6 months after the intervention. The average cost of care was estimated at 69,743 FCFA.

The Perception of Health Workers and Stakeholders Involved in the Process of Selecting Indigent in Burkina Faso

Background: Indigent selected for their health care is complex and poses enormous challenges. The actors involved have an influence on health actions and their perception is decisive for better care for the indigent. Little evidence exists on these perceptions and this paper has captured this. Methods: A case study involved 163 participants with a questionnaire and an interview guide. The quantitative responses were classified according to a measurement scale, proportions and overall indices of perception (Ip) and satisfaction (CSAT) were calculated. The relationship between variables was investigated using chi-square. Thematic analysis was used with qualitative data. The study met ethical requirements. Results: The participants had a positive perception of the selection: Ip = 0.77, but a minority (1/5) were dissatisfied with the selection. The perception of selection did not differ significantly depending on the experience of the actors. For the vast majority, the definition of indigent was satisfactory (CSAT = 91.4). The selection was done in a top down fashion and steps such as setting up committees, informing stakeholders, had shortcomings which negatively impacted the effectiveness of the selection. The needs of the participants included transparency in the indigent select process, matching the tools for selecting the indigent to the context, strengthening of local action, deconstruction of prejudices in terms of the indigent, power of actors to act, and importance for health services to reach out to the indigent. Conclusion: Considering the perception of the actors as well as their needs will improve the selection for effective care of the indigent.

Analysis of Indigents Selection by the Community: A Construction Inequality

Burkina Faso conducted a community selection of the indigent in eight health districts. The selection targeted 15% to 20% indigent per district. This study analyzed the data of this selection from the databases of the Ministry of Health. Descriptive analysis and time series modeling were performed. Indigents were predominantly female, heads of household were mostly elderly, and the average age of household members ranged from 21.9 to 29.8 years. The households were small. Indigents were mostly uneducated and employed. They all belonged to a given religious denomination, Muslims were the most numerous. The majority of the indigents were married and almost a quarter of them were widows. About 2% to 17% of indigents were selected depending on the district. Forecasts showed both an increase and a decrease in the use of health care by indigents. The study recommends considering the poverty level specific to each district when selecting, strengthening education policies targeting the indigent, improving the socio-health conditions of the indigent including specific actions considering age, sex and marital status, and the formulation of an employment policy targeting the indigent. Analyzes of the relationship between poverty and religion may allow the exploitation of religious capital for the benefit of the indigent.