Knowledge and Attitudes of Nursing Staff towards Obstetric Fistula at the Abeche University Hospital, Chad

Introduction: Prevention of obstetric fistula (OF) remains a challenge in Chad where its incidence is 464 cases/year. The present study aims to determine the knowledge and attitudes of nursing staff towards obstetric fistula. Patients and Method: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study including nursing staff at the Abéché University Hospital. The survey took place from March to May 2023 and the sampling was exhaustive. Data collection was done using a form including a questionnaire on sociodemographic parameters, knowledge and attitudes. Participation in the study was voluntary and individual. Results: Participation in the study was 76.11%. Emergency department staff were the most represented, followed by gynecology-obstetrics staff with 34.4% and 20.91% of cases respectively. Nurses represented 53.17% of participants followed by doctors (23.52%). An exact definition of obstetric fistula was reported by 7.84% of participants and it was partial in 80.39%. The level of knowledge of risk factors was considered good in 12.41%. Exact knowledge of clinical signs was reported by 74.5% of cases. Among the participants, 1.96% reported that the treatment of obstetric fistula is traditional. Knowledge about means of prevention was considered good by 13.72% (n = 21), and attitudes by 26.79%? Obstetric fistula knowledge was influenced by profession (doctor, p = 0.011) and attitudes by service (p = 0.004) and profession (doctor, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Obstetric fistula is a curable disease whose prevention remains possible and requires good knowledge of the disease and the promotion of safe motherhood. This study should serve as a basis for the establishment of the obstetric fistula module in the curriculum of healthcare personnel and the promotion of continuing training for its eradication.

Urinary Lithiasis in Children at the Abeche Chu

Introduction: Urinary calculosis is the presence of stones in the urinary tract. It is more common in adults than in children. The aetiologies are multiple and depend on age. The management of calculi in children requires an active aetiological search because of the frequency of hereditary abnormalities which are at the origin of recurrences. The aim of our study was to report the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of urinary lithiasis in children in the context of our practice. Aim: To report the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of urinary lithiasis in children in our practice context. Patients and Method: This was a retrospective descriptive study carried out in the Urology Department of the University Hospital of Abeche from January 2013 to December 2019. Thirty files of patients aged 0 to 15 years operated on for urinary lithiasis were retained. The variables studied for each patient were: age, sex, clinical, para-clinical and therapeutic aspects. Results: We selected 30 cases. Patients ranged in age from 0 to 15 years, with an average age of 5.5 years. There were 26 boys and 4 girls. 62% of the patients were from rural areas. The antecedents were bilharziasis, urinary tract infections, congenital malformation, trauma and bladder lithiasis. Clinical symptoms were dominated by acute urinary retention (n = 16) and dysuria (n = 14). Urine cytobacteriological tests were positive in 16 cases. The diagnosis was made in the majority of cases by ultrasound and/or unprepared abdomen (UA). The location of lithiasis was mainly the bladder (n = 16). Treatment was surgical in 96.7% of cases, with cystolithotomy predominating. Therapeutic results were satisfactory in 90% of cases. Conclusion: Urinary calculi in children are less common than in adults. In our region, stones are most often found in the bladder. Open surgery is still the preferred method of treatment in our practice.

Empirical Models for the Evaluation of Global Solar Radiation for the Site of Abeche in the Province of Ouaddaï, in Chad

The global sustainability plan for future development relies on solar radiation which is the main source of renewable energy. Thus, this work studies the performance of six models to estimate global solar radiation on a horizontal surface for the Abeche site in Chad. The data used in this work were collected at the General Directorate of National Meteorology of Chad. The reliability and accuracy of different models for estimating global solar radiation were validated by statistical indicators to identify the most accurate model. The results show that among all the models, the Sabbagh model has the best performance in estimating the global solar radiation. The average is 6.354 kWh/m2 with an average of -3.704%. This model is validated against NASA data which is widely used.