Knowledge and Practices of Pregnant Women on Malaria Prevention in Brazzaville

Introduction: Since the deployment of preventive measures against malaria in pregnant women in Congo, the coverage rates in Intermittent Preventive Treatment for malaria in pregnancy using Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP) and Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) remain low compared to the objectives set by WHO. This study aimed to analyze the knowledge and practices of pregnant women in the prevention of malaria in Brazzaville. Population and Method: This is an analytical cross-sectional study, conducted from September 15th to October 30th, 2021. The sample consisted of pregnant women who performed at least three antenatal care consultations one month apart each;obtained from a two-stage random sample. Data were collected from a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed with Epi-Info version 7.2.6 software. The odds-ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated to assess the associations between the variables. Results: A total of 331 pregnant women were selected. The mean age was 27 years (22;31). Most women were single (82.8%), multiparous (63.4%) and 74.9% had secondary level education. The level of knowledge was insufficient in 53.8% of respondents;nearly 64.7% had good preventive practices. Pregnant women with no education are 8 times more likely to have insufficient knowledge of malaria prevention (OR = 8.33 [2.02 - 34.17];p = 0.0036). Also, those whose gestational age is between 22 - 27 weeks are 2.54 times more likely to have insufficient knowledge than those with gestational age of 36 weeks and above (OR = 2.54 [1.33 - 4.46], p = 0.0071). Conclusion: It is important to strengthen the awareness in order to bring pregnant women to improve their knowledge of malaria prevention and change their behavior.

Burnout among Caregivers in Four Maternities in Brazzaville

Introduction: The professional exhaustion syndrome, also referred to as burnout, combines deep fatigue, disinvestment in professional activity, a feeling of failure and incompetence at work resulting from the chronic constraints suffered by the worker. The purpose of this work is to assess its prevalence among caregivers of the maternity wards in the district hospitals of Brazzaville. Methodology: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in four maternities of respectively Bacongo, Makélékélé, Mfilou and Talangai hospitals in Brazzaville between February 1st and February 28th, 2021. Socio-demographic and professional characteristics were collected from a sample of midwives and nurses. The level of exhaustion was evaluated using the “Maslach Burnout Inventory” scale defined as “high” when the 3 dimensions are reached, “moderate” when only 2 are reached, and low for any other result. Results: Among the 143 caregivers investigated (62.9%) of respondents declared being in burnout. According to the dimensions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory scale, 53.1% are caregivers are in high emotional exhaustion;53.1% have a high level of depersonalization and 75.5% have a low level of personal accomplishment. Workload (OR = 13.69;[4.28 - 61.27];p Conclusion: In our study, all dimensions of burnout were high. It is therefore a real phenomenon among caregivers in the four maternities of the district hospitals of Brazzaville. The associated factors can be avoided through prevention.

Contraception among Women Aged 35 and over at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville

Objective: To study contraception among women aged 35 and over at the University Hospital of Brazzaville. Population and Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study, conducted from April 1st 2017 to January 31st 2022 in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the University Hospital of Brazzaville, including women aged 35 years and over who had received a contraceptive method. The study variables were sociodemographic, reproductive, clinical and contraceptive method related. Results: Two hundred and thirty customers were collected during the study period, i.e., 10.8% of the patients who received contraception. They were 38.4 ± 3 years old on average, had secondary education (46.1%), were of low socioeconomic status (54.3%), lived with a partner (98.7%) and came from an urban area (97.4%). They were multigravida (85.2%), and multiparous (63.9%) with an average of 4 living children. The indications were of two types: convenience (26.2%) and medical (73.8%). The most commonly used contraceptives were implants (72.2%) and injectable progestin (20.5%). Conclusion: The indication for contraception for women over 35 years of age at the University Hospital Center of Brazzaville is more medical, with the use of long-acting contraceptives.