Evaluation of the Knowledge and Practice about Diabetes Mellitus of Adult Population in Porto Novo (Benin)

Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common non-communicable diseases in the world. The aim of our study was to assess the level of knowledge of the adult population of Porto-Novo on clinical manifestations and complications of diabetes mellitus. Methods: It is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted under STEP wise approach. It took place from June 1 to July 28, 2014. Results: A total of 240 subjects were included in the study. The mean age of the subjects was 46.07 years ± 12.63 years, ranging from 25 to 80 years. Subjects age between 35 - 45 years are the most represented. Women were mostly represented 162 against 78 men respectively 67.5% against 32.5% with sex ratio of 0.48. The majority of the subjects were scholar (73.3%). For clinical manifestations of diabetes mellitus, 64.2% of subjects had quoted polyuria, asthenia 57.5%, 56.7% weight loss. Polydipsia and polyphagia were less familiar with, respectively, 27.5% and 23.3%. Regarding the complications of diabetes, diabetic foot and coma were the best known, respectively, 78.8% and 58.8%. Nephropathy (45.0%), 39.6% retinopathy and neuropathy (21.7%) were the least known. The prevalence of physical inactivity in this study population was 95.0%. It was 98.1% in women versus 88.5% for men. Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus, whose prevalence is steadily increasing, is not yet well known in our population.

Self-Medication Practice against Malaria and Associated Factors in the City of Parakou in Northern Benin: Results of a Population Survey in 2017

Introduction: Self-medication is a common practice in Benin. It has many consequences on people’s health in general and develops chemoresistance in particular. Aim: The aim of this work is to study the practice of anti-malarial self-medication in the city of Parakou and to identify the associated factors with this practice. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional analytical survey that took place in the period from April 15 to June 24, 2017. Adults who reported having had malaria symptoms in the last 6 months before the survey and living in 9 neighbourhoods randomly selected in the city of Parakou were included. A structured questionnaire collected their self-medication habit, the drugs used, the supply places and the reasons for this practice. Data were analysed using the Epi-data 3.1 software. Results: Of the 335 respondents included in this study, 141 (42.09%) had self-medicated including 130 (38.81%) with anti-malarial drugs. Fever is the main symptom of malaria cited by respondents (129% or 38.51%) followed by headache (93% or 27.76%). The most commonly used anti-malarial drugs for self-medication are quinine (60% or 44.45%) followed by artemisinin-based combination therapy (46% or 34.07%). Eighty-seven respondents (66.92%) did not have a good knowledge of the drug dosage. Reasons for self-medication were mainly the high cost of consultation fees (99% or 54.10%) and good knowledge of one’s illness (53% or 28.96%). Self-medication associated factors were fever (p = 0.04), non-prescription drugs supply in pharmacies (p Conclusion: Self-medication is a common practice in the city of Parakou. Medicines purchased without prescription in pharmacies and drugs availability in street facilitate this practice, which may compromise the effectiveness of anti-malarial drugs.

Epidemiology of Anemia at the Internal Medicine Department in Borgou Departmental Hospital Center(DHC)in Parakou(Benin)

Objective: To describe clinical and biological characteristics of anemia in the Internal Medicine department of Borgou Departmental Hospital Center (DHC). Methods: This was a transversal and descriptive study for an analytic purpose. All patients hospitalized in the Internal Medicine department of Borgou DHC who had a hemogram for their care were included in the study. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin level lower than 12 g/dL for men and lower than 11.5 g/dL for women. Results: Frequency of anemia was 61.8% (76 of 123 patients). Anemia was moderate in 47.4% of the cases and severe in 27.6% of the cases. Basing on the mean corpuscular volume, microcytic anemia accounted for 36.8%, anemia was normocytic in 46.1% and macrocytic in 17.1% of cases. According to the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, normochromic anemia accounted for 81.6% of the series and hypochromic in 18.4%. The most common pathologies found in anemic patients came from digestive origin (17%), the renal causes were also found in 17% of the cases. Cardiac pathologies were responsible for anemia in 13% of cases. Malaria and pulmonary pathologies were responsible for anemia in respectively 12% and 9%. The main factors associated with anemia were young age (young adult) and neurological pathologies. Conclusion: Anemia hospital prevalence is very high in the Internal Medicine Department of Borgou DHC. Awareness of populations and practitioners for the early management of various pathologies which provide anemia could improve this presentation.