Prevalence and Factors Associated with Sharing of Human Immunodeficiency Seropositivity Status among Serodiscordant Couples in the City of Parakou (Benin)

Introduction: In serodiscordant couples, sharing serostatus is a crucial step in the HIV risk management process. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with serostatus sharing among HIV serodiscordant couples in the city of Parakou. Setting and methods: This study was carried out in the city of Parakou, capital of northern Benin. It was a descriptive, analytical cross-sectional study with non-probability sampling for convenience. Socio-demographic data, as well as data on antecedents, behaviours, social and marital life, were collected using a questionnaire gave to the participants. Clinical and therapeutic data were collected from patients’ medical records and follow-up charts. Data were analyzed and processed using R 4.3.1 software. The significance level was set at 5%, and logistic regression was used to identify potential predictors of shared serostatus among serodiscordant couples in the city of Parakou in 2022. Results: A total of 299 participants in long-term serodiscordant relationships were included in our study. The average age of the subjects was 37.55 ± 10.25 years. Women were the infected partner in 80.27% of cases. The most common level of education was secondary (33.45%). Most respondents (230 subjects, 76.92%) were married. The average duration of the couple’s relationship was 121.68 months ± 96.32. The most frequent screening circumstances were: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) (50.84%) and hospital screening (26.09%). The infected partner shared his or her serostatus with his or her spouse in 47.83% of cases. Potential predictors of serostatus sharing within the couple were: marital status (p Conclusion: The sharing of serostatus within serodiscordant couples needs to be managed in a way that takes into account the social and marital characteristics of the couple.

Influence of Gut Microbiota and its Metabolites on Progression of Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease(MAFLD)has become a prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide because of lifestyle and dietary changes.Gut microbiota and its metabolites have been shown to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of MAFLD.Understanding of the function of gut microbiota and its metabolites in MAFLD may help to elucidate pathological mechanisms,identify diagnostic markers,and develop drugs or probiotics for the treatment of MAFLD.Here we review the pathogenesis of MAFLD by gut microbiota and its metabolites and discuss the feasibility of treating MAFLD from the perspective of gut microbes.

Associated with Knowledge, Attitude, Practice of Women of Childbearing Age towards Gynecological and Breast Cancer in Glazoue, Benin in 2021

Introduction: Gynaecological and breast cancers (GBC) are the most frequent and most serious cancers of women. They are frequent in Benin with an average of 108.5 cases per year. Objective: To identify factors associated with women’s knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding GBC. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, prospective, descriptive and analytical study. Women of childbearing age residing in the commune of Glazoué in Benin for at least six months were included. The WHO cluster sampling technique was used. The Bruno De Finetti postulate and the Likert scale were used to study women’s knowledge, attitudes and practices. Data were collected and analysed using Epi Data 3.1 and Epi info 7.2.2.6 software. Results: A total of 540 women were registered. The mean age was 27.1 ± 8.84 years with extremes of 15 and 49 years. They were married (61.1%), had secondary education (40.2%) and lived in urban areas (61.9%). They had a low level of knowledge (75.4%), an adapted attitude (93.0%) and poor practice (88.9%). Occupation (p = 0.000), level of education (p = 0.007) and place of residence (p = 0.001) significantly influenced knowledge of GBC. The attitude was adequate (93%) and the practice was poor (88.9%). Inappropriate attitude was significantly associated with the level of education (p = 0.006). Conclusion: Women in the commune of Glazoué in Benin have a low level of knowledge of GBC with an adapted attitude and poor practice. Several factors are associated, hence the need to take them into account to facilitate GBC screening.

Factors Associated with Early Pregnancy among Adolescent Girls in Schools in Bohicon, Benin in 2022

Introduction: The growing phenomenon of early pregnancies in Benin has adverse consequences on the lives of adolescent girls, impacting various social, health, economic, and educational aspects. This study aims to identify the factors associated with early pregnancies in the municipality of Bohicon in 2022. Materials and Methods: This is a case-control study conducted in Bohicon, involving 47 cases and 94 controls from 16 secondary and technical schools. Cases were selected exhaustively, while controls were randomly drawn from girls aged 10 to 19 in the same class who had never been pregnant. Matching was based on the type of institution and class. Data were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using Epi info 7.2.1.0 and STATA 15 software, employing multiple conditional logistic regression (5% significance threshold) to identify factors related to early pregnancies. Results: The average age of adolescents was 17.63 years ± 0.09 for cases and 17.12 years ± 0.13 for controls. Associated factors included age over 16 years (p = 0.049), the marital status of the adolescent (single) (p = 0.001), and the monthly pocket money of the adolescent less than 10,000 FCFA (p = 0.031). Conclusion: Three factors related to early pregnancies were identified. To counteract this phenomenon and promote responsible sexuality among adolescents, it is essential to strengthen communication efforts aimed at modifying behaviors.

Population genetics of marmosets in Asian primate research centers and loci associated with epileptic risk revealed by whole-genome sequencing

The common marmoset(Callithrix jacchus)has emerged as a valuable nonhuman primate model in biomedical research with the recent release of high-quality reference genome assemblies.Epileptic marmosets have been independently reported in two Asian primate research centers.Nevertheless,the population genetics within these primate centers and the specific genetic variants associated with epilepsy in marmosets have not yet been elucidated.Here,we characterized the genetic relationships and risk variants for epilepsy in 41 samples from two epileptic marmoset pedigrees using whole-genome sequencing.We identified 14558184 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)from the 41 samples and found higher chimerism levels in blood samples than in fingernail samples.Genetic analysis showed fourth-degree of relatedness among marmosets at the primate centers.In addition,SNP and copy number variation(CNV)analyses suggested that the WW domain-containing oxidoreductase(WWOX)and Tyrosine-protein phosphatase nonreceptor type 21(PTPN21)genes may be associated with epilepsy in marmosets.Notably,KCTD18-like gene deletion was more common in epileptic marmosets than control marmosets.This study provides valuable population genomic resources for marmosets in two Asian primate centers.Genetic analyses identified a reasonable breeding strategy for genetic diversity maintenance in the two centers,while the case-control study revealed potential risk genes/variants associated with epilepsy in marmosets.

Knowledge of Tuberculosis, Services of TB Control Programme and Associated Socio-Demographic Inequity among Rural Participants of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. India is still the highest TB burden country. There is a scarcity of data on TB knowledge from Rajasthan state of India. Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of knowledge about TB and services of TB control programme and to determine its correlates among rural population of Jaipur, Rajasthan. Methods: Cross-sectional community based study was carried out at Model Rural Health Research Unit, Jaipur, a unit of Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India. Results: Study reports the result from 1993 adult participants from 10 villages of 2 sub-districts of district Jaipur. About 88.9% of studied participants knew that TB is an infectious disease and it spreads from TB patient to healthy person in close contact. Only 22.3% of participants knew “DOTS is the treatment for TB”. While, only 58.9% knew “sputum is used for diagnosis of TB” at health centers. Scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward classes social groups knew less than the mainstream “General” social group. The observed difference was statistically significant (p 0.05). Logistic regression analysis estimated the relative contribution to knowledge status. Conclusion: The knowledge of study participants on transmission of tuberculosis was similar to knowledge of population in country wide study. They poorly knew sputum is used for diagnosing tuberculosis disease;socio-demographic inequity exists in this knowledge too. People from older age groups, underprivileged social groups and minority need extra educational activities.

Factors Associated with Non-Compliance among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease at the Departmental University Hospital of Borgou and Alibori in Parakou (Benin)

Introduction: Therapeutic compliance in chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a major challenge for the prevention of this condition, which is both a non-communicable disease (NCD) and a complication of other NCDs. Non-adherence to treatment (NOT) is a factor in the poor prognosis of CKD in developing countries, particularly in Benin. The aim of this study was to evaluate therapeutic compliance (TC) and determine the factors associated with non-compliance in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing treatment at the Departmental University Hospital of Borgou and Alibori in Parakou (CHUD/B-A). Patients and Methods: This study was carried out in the Nephrology Department of CHUD/B-A. It was a cross-sectional, descriptive study with analytical aims that ran from December 25, 2022 to March 15, 2023 and covered data from 2017 to 2022. It involved 345 patient records meeting the diagnosis of CKD according to the KDIGO 2012 criteria. NOT was defined by a Girerd score evaluation greater than or equal to 3. Data processing and analysis were performed with R software version 4.3.0. Results: The mean age (SD) of patients was 50 years (±14.9). The prevalence of NOT was 57.1%. Potential predictors of non-adherence were: monthly revenue (p = 0.009), mode of admission (p = 0.001), phytotherapy (p = 0.040), traditional treatment (p = 0.049) and quantity of drugs (p = 0.042). Conclusion: Therapeutic compliance among chronic kidney patients still needs to be improved through awareness-raising sessions.

Healthcare Associated Infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of King Abdl Aziz Specialist Hospital, Taif, KSA

Healthcare-associated infection is a common problem of newborn in neonatal intensive care units. It results in high mortality rate and serious complications. The Aim: to assess the incidence, etiology and the mortality of healthcareassociated infections of patients in neonatal intensive care unit at King Abdl Aziz Specialist Hospital (KAASH), Taif, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Material and Methods: This is a retrospective study including 8033 neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care unit during period between April, 2006 and December, 2012. The health-care associated infection rate, mortality rate, causative organism and risk factors were studied. Results: The prevalence of health-care associated infection was found to be 6.03%;the mortality rate was 27.1%. The highest prevalence was among children with the birth weight below 1000 g. The most frequent causative pathogen was klebseilla spp, followed by other gram negative bacilli. Conclusion: The rate of healthcare-associated infections in neonatal intensive care unit at KAASH was relatively high. In addition, the mortality rate was observed to be high (27.1%) owing to the high virulence of the causative organisms.

DETECTION OF CANCER-ASSOCIATED ANTIGEN IN FECES USING MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF COLON CARCINOMA

Monoclonal antibodies against colon and pancreatic cancer, CL-2, CL-3, PS-9, PS-10, were used to detect the associated antigens in feces of patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma and non-cancer diseases. Binding inhibition test by SABC-ELISA method were performed for the measurement of the antigen level. Results showed that the associated antigen detected in feces of patients with colon cancer were significantly higher than that of non-cancer disease or normal subjects. The positive rates were 61.1% as detected with CL-2; 53.4% with CL-3; 55.0%, PS-9; and 53.3% PS-10 in cancer patients while that in normal subjects were 7%; 9%; 8%; and 8% respectively. When 'cocktail' of CL-2, PS-9 and PS-10 were used, the positive rates were 92.5% in colon cancer and 14% in normal subjects. In seven out of the sixty patients with colon cancer studied who were graded as Dukes A, the results were all positive. The results seem superior to the serologic detection and may provide a promising new approach in the early diagnosis of colon cancer.

THE STUDY ON RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BREAST CANCER AMONG WOMEN IN TIANJIN, CHINA AND ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA

To explore the possible explanation of the marked difference in the incidence of breast cancer between Chinese and Australian women, the authors have compared and analysed the results of two case-control studies completed recently in Tianjin, China and Adelaide, Australia. Of 10 known risk factors for breast cancer 9 were significantly higher in level in Adelaide women than in Tianjin women, i.e., women in Adelaide were much taller, heavier, more obese, earlier at menarche, later at first full-term pregnancy, more nulliparous, less parity, more in history of breast cancer in first degree relatives, more educated. From the 7 risk factors analysed by use of logistic regression model 5 factors, i.e., earlier age at menarche, later age at first full-term pregnancy, less parity, history of benign disease, and history of breast cancer in first degree relatives, were associated significantly with the increased risk for breast cancer in the Tianjin study, but not in Adelaide study. These factors being not associated with breast cancer in Adelaide women were unexpected. The explanation of the indefinite findings in Adelaide study was due to the fact that the level of the risk factor is universally high, relatively uniform and lack of categories. The difference in the risk factor distribution between cases and controle would not be seen in case-control studies, and significance of the risk factor therefore may not be found. According to data on diet survey in these two cities, the calories from fat was significantly higher in Adelaide women than in Tianjin women. The marked difference in incidence in women in the two cities resulted from the summing-up effect of a number of factors. The important role of fat intake in geographical incidence difference and in the development of breast cancer was also discussed.

Calibration of coupled hydro-mechanical properties of grain-based model for simulating fracture process and associated pore pressure evolution in excavation damage zone around deep tunnels

The objective of this paper is to develop a methodology for calibration of a discrete element grain-based model(GBM)to replicate the hydro-mechanical properties of a brittle rock measured in the laboratory,and to apply the calibrated model to simulating the formation of excavation damage zone(EDZ)around underground excavations.Firstly,a new cohesive crack model is implemented into the universal distinct element code(UDEC)to control the fracturing behaviour of materials under various loading modes.Next,a methodology for calibration of the components of the UDEC-Voronoi model is discussed.The role of connectivity of induced microcracks on increasing the permeability of laboratory-scale samples is investigated.The calibrated samples are used to investigate the influence of pore fluid pressure on weakening the drained strength of the laboratory-scale rock.The validity of the Terzaghi’s effective stress law for the drained peak strength of low-porosity rock is tested by performing a series of biaxial compression test simulations.Finally,the evolution of damage and pore pressure around two unsupported circular tunnels in crystalline granitic rock is studied.

Hepatic Lipogenesis Associated with Biochemical Changes in Overfed Landaise Geese and China Xupu Geese

This experiment studied hepatic lipogenesis associated with biochemical changes in overfed Landaise Geese and China Xupu geese. Twenty healthy male Landaise geese and 20 healthy male Xupu geese, hatched on the same day under the same feeding conditions, were selected as experimental animals. The animals were divided into two groups and each breed served as an experimental group. Per goose of per experimental group served for a repeat. Brown rice was selected as test diet. After overfeeding for 21 d and then slaughtering, the biochemical changes of hepatic lipogenesis in the genetic susceptibility to fatty liver were evaluated. These results showed that （1） the weight of fatty liver of the two breeds of geese were 801 and 375 g （P〈0.05）, respectively. There were no differences on the abdominal fat pat, filet total and filet pectoralis major in the two breeds experimental of the geese group （P〈0.05） and no difference on body and filet skin plus subcutaneous adipose tissue （P〉0.05） was found; （2） in these two breeds of geese, there were no differences on very-lowdensity lipoprotein （VLDL）, cholesteryl esters （CE） （P〈0.05）, free cholesterol （FC）, triglycerides （TG）, phospholipids （PL） and protein （P 〈 0.05）; （3） there were no differences on activities of malic enzyme （ME）, glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase （G6PDH）, acetyl-CoA-carboxylas （ACX）, fatty acid synthase （FAS）, and mRNA level of ME in the two experimental breeds of geese groups （P 〈0.05）; （4） test in Landaise geese group showed that there was no significant correlation with the specific enzymatic activities, while in Xupu geese group, the liver weight was negatively correlated to the specific activity of ACX and positively to that of ME; （5） in these overfed geese, ME activity appeared to be a major factor involved in the genetic susceptibility to hepatic steatosis and it determined the hepatic lipogenesis capacity.

Factors associated with refractory pain in emergency patients admitted to emergency general surgery

BACKGROUND: Oligoanalgesia in emergency departments (EDs) is multifactorial. A previousstudy reported that emergency providers did not adequately manage patients with severe paindespite objective findings for surgical pathologies. Our study aims to investigate clinical andlaboratory factors, in addition to providers’ interventions, that might have been associated witholigoanalgesia in a group of ED patients with moderate and severe pains due to surgical pathologies.METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of adult patients who were transferred directlyfrom referring EDs to the emergency general surgery (EGS) service at a quaternary academic centerbetween January 2014 and December 2016. Patients who were intubated, did not have adequaterecords, or had mild pain were excluded. The primary outcome was refractory pain, which wasdefi ned as pain reduction <2 units on the 0–10 pain scale between triage and ED departure.RESULTS: We analyzed 200 patients, and 58 (29%) had refractory pain. Patients with refractory painhad signifi cantly higher disease severity, serum lactate (3.4±2.0 mg/dL vs. 1.4±0.9 mg/dL, P=0.001), and lessfrequent pain medication administration (median [interquartile range], 3 [3–5] vs. 4 [3–7], P=0.001), whencompared to patients with no refractory pain. Multivariable logistic regression showed that the number of painmedication administration (odds ratio [OR] 0.80, 95% confi dence interval [95% CI] 0.68–0.98) and ED serumlactate levels (OR 3.80, 95% CI 2.10–6.80) were signifi cantly associated with the likelihood of refractory pain.CONCLUSIONS: In ED patients transferring to EGS service, elevated serum lactate levelswere associated with a higher likelihood of refractory pain.

Amplification of chromosome 21q22.3 harboring trefoil factor family genes in liver fluke related cholangiocarcinoma is associated with poor prognosis

瞄准：在 cholangiocarcinoma (CCA ) 包括翘摇因素家庭基因(TFF ) 在染色体区域 21q22-qter 上决定突变而产生之遗传的不平衡病人和分析在突变而产生之遗传的不平衡和 clinicopathological 参数之间的关联。方法：量的 PCR 扩大用一条标准曲线和格林·西布尔在四个微卫星标记和翘摇因素家庭基因(TFF1， TFF2，和 TFF3 ) 上被执行我染料方法。相对拷贝数字被测试地点的 DNA 拷贝数字决定引用地点。当由有正常参考的比较的删除或扩大变化，相对拷贝数字被解释。在突变而产生之遗传的不平衡和 CCA 病人的 clinicopathological 参数之间的协会被 chi (2 ) 评估测试。Kaplan-Meier 方法被用来分析幸存。结果：在 D21S1890， D21S1893，和 TFF3 的扩大的频率分别地是 32.5% ， 30.0% ，和 28.7% 。在盖住 D21S1893， D21S1890，和 TFF 的区域有扩大的病人显示出差的预后，而有删除的病人显示出有利预后(平均数：51.7 wk 对 124.82 wk， P = 0.012 ) 。穆尔蒂瓦里伊特·考克斯回归分析表明 D21S1893， D21S1890 和 TFF，血管侵略，和阶段的那扩大与差的预后被联系。结论：D21S1893-D21S1890 区域可以特别怀有候选人基因 TFF 和丝氨酸朊酶家庭，它可能涉及肿瘤侵略和转移贡献穷人幸存。在这个区域的扩大可以在 CCA 病人的治疗被用作一个预示的标记。

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Anemia Pregnancy in a Group of Moroccan Pregnant Women

Background: Pregnancy is typically accompanied by an increase of micronutrient requirements in general and especially iron. This increased need may be an additional risk factor for developing anemia. Purpose of the study: The aim of this study is to provide data on the prevalence of anemia of pregnancy in the maternity ward of the regional hospital in the city of Temara, and examine risk factors that may expose women to anemia during pregnancy. Materiel and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study of a year was conducted to the hospital Sidi Lahcen in the city of Temara. Sociodemographic and nutritional data were collected through a questionnaire, obstetric and medical histories of women in labor and the results of biological tests were recorded from the patient obstetric file. Results: Among the 849 women surveyed, 690 (82%) had performed a blood count, and among these 117 (16.8%) were found anemic, with the following proportions: 57.6% had mild anemia, 41.5% had moderate anemia and a minority (0.8%) had severe anemia. The pregnant women aged over 35 years were the most exposed to anemia during pregnancy (47%) compared with younger women (p < 0.001). Women who had a history of anemia aside from pregnancy and those who had anemia in earlier pregnancies were more prone to developing anemia in the current pregnancy with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). The number of pregnancies, number of previous abortions and place of residence had no influence on the occurrence of anemia of pregnancy. The consumption of fortified flour with iron and vitamins as well as consuming iron rich foods was not a protective factor against the development of anemia of pregnancy. Tea consumption near the meal was not a factor exposing to anemia during pregnancy. Conclusion: Anemia is a public health problem in Morocco. Evidence from our study emphasizes the need to implement educational programs to improve the nutritional knowledge and sensitization of women.

Evaluation of Size Structure in Freshwater Cyanobacterial Populations: Methods to Quantify Risk Associated with Changes in Biomass and Microcystin Concentrations

Cyanobacterial populations in surface waters, including drinking water supplies and recreational waters, represent an ever present challenge for resource managers. As communities continuously respond to external and internal processes, dynamic profiles of composition, dominance, growth and toxigenicity emerge. In this study measures of size structure and biomass, quantified using light microscopy and fluorometry, were used to estimate microcystin concentrations through linear regression analysis. Toxigenic profiles using cyanobacterial biomass were developed for lakes dominated by Microcystis spp. and Dolichospermum spp., influenced by both genus-specific pigment concentrations as well as microcystin concentrations. Community composition (Log %MIC) and biomass were used to describe microcystin concentrations in mixed assemblages, where composition was the first input variable. The accessory photopigment phycocyanin was used to describe the linear relationship between the daily growth and net microcystin production rates in the bloom-forming Microcystis spp. samples, suggesting that this size-fractionated sample may provide indications of potential toxigenicity in the whole lake water sample. Future investigations using fluorometric evaluation of cyanobacterial populations could provide additional applications and metrics for use by resource managers to quantify risk association with elevated cyanotoxin concentrations.

成功的酒店设计需要创新、舒适和最大投资回报——访泰国P49 Deesign and Associates创始人& CEO Vipavadee Patpongpibul

"不是我们选择了酒店,是酒店找到了我们。"当Vipavadee Patpongpibul成功设计了人生第一个酒店项目后,酒店项目纷至沓来,开启了她的酒店设计生涯。泰国著名酒店设计师Vipavadee Patpongpibul从小对艺术非常感兴趣,受母亲职业的影响,她最终选择从事室内设计。为了专注地做室内设计,她组建了P49 Deesign and Associates,致力于亚洲酒店业及度假胜地、SPA等项目的设计。Vipavadee Patpongpibul喜欢从泰国浓郁多样的文化传统中寻找设计灵感,她希望将人们的热情友善展现在设计中。多年酒店设计经验。

The South-Western Alboran Earthquake Sequence of January-March 2016 and Its Associated Coulomb Stress Changes

We expose the results of the study of the south-western Alboran seismic sequence of January-March 2016 and the stress perturbations it caused by means of Coulomb modeling. The use of data from numerous stations allowed us to relocate the largest events (Mw ≥ 3.8) south of those determined by IGN (Spain). The main shock of 25 January 2016 (Mw = 6.3) was relocated at 35.6133°N × 3.6888°W, at a hypocentral depth of 15.5 ± 6.0 km. The epicenters are aligned along two distinct clusters: The first runs N-S towards the Moroccan coast along Al-Idrissi fracture zone, while the second is centered on the Alboran ridge northern thrust fault. The focal mechanisms determined by different agencies correspond to a strike-slip/normal/reverse motion in the western cluster and thrusting in the eastern one. Coulomb stress change modeling shows that the main earthquake: (1) may have been triggered by stress accumulation by the 1994 and 2004 earthquakes;(2) has induced stress perturbations that provide a suitable explanation for the distribution of the aftershock clusters, including the eastern cluster. The prediction of the next event shows that it is likely to occur near the Moroccan coast.

Factors Associated with Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Seroprevalence amongst Pregnant Women in Kenya

Background: Knowledge of factors associated with seroprevalence of Hepatitis B in pregnancy is important in informing policies towards prevention of vertical transmission of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection, since in-utero and perinatal infection lead to chronic carrier state with severe long-term sequela. In addition, adequate and timely immunization plays a major role in the prevention of transmission. Objective: To determine the factors associated with HBs Ag seroprevalence in pregnant women from various geographical regions in Kenya. Methods and Subjects: This was a cross-sectional survey amongst all pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Kenyatta National Hospital and 8 other hospitals from different regions of Kenya in their third trimester of pregnancy among June 2001 to June 2002. For each pregnant woman, age, history of intravenous drug use, sexually transmitted disease (STD), liver diseases, alcohol intake, blood transfusion (BT) and presence of traditional scarification were documented. HBs Ag serology was assayed at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) laboratory. Results: A total of 2241 pregnant women were enrolled in the study, 2196 consented, of whom 205 (9.3%) tested positive for HBs Ag. A significant association was found between HBs Ag seroprevalence and traditional scarification (p = 0.029), history of blood transfusion (p = 0.0024) and alcohol intake (p = 0.05). There was no significant association between Hbs Ag seroprevalence and sexually transmitted disease (p = 0.64). It was not possible to evaluate the association of HBs Ag seroprevalence with history of hospitalization for any liver disease including Hepatitis A, B or C, history of intravenous drug use or contact with sex partners previously hospitalised for any liver disease including Hepatitis A, B or C as the numbers with these attributes were small. Conclusions: We found 9.3% of pregnant women were HBs Ag positive, significantly higher than previously observed. The high seropositivity was associated with traditional scarification, history of blood transfusion and alcohol intake. Proper screening of blood transfusion products, immunization and control of scarification and alcohol use should be considered by health policy experts.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Diabetes Mellitus in Benin

Background: Data on diabetes mellitus in general population in Benin is scarce. This study aimed therefore to assess prevalence and risk factors of diabetes mellitus in Benin. Methods: The study consisted of a cross-sectional survey, using the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s instrument for stepwise surveillance (STEPS) of non-communicable diseases risk factors. A five-stage random sample of 25 to 64 years old male and female adults living in Benin participated in structured interviews and their size, weight and blood pressure were measured according to standardized procedures. Glycaemia was measured using ACCUTREND? test strips for capillary blood glucose. Prevalence and means were computed with their 95% confidence interval and standard error respectively, taking into account the sampling design. Prevalence was compared by Khi2 and means by Student’s t test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify socio-demographic diabetes’s risk factors. Results: A total of 3772 adults participated in the study. The average age of respondents was 44.2 years. Overall, 68.3% of subjects were illiterate, 82.4% lived in rural areas, 82.57% were self-employed, 20% overweight, 7.51% obese and the prevalence of hypertension was 29.5 p.100. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 1.4 p.100 [CI95% = (0.94:2.05)]. This prevalence was higher in men than in women (2.1% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.0031). This prevalence was higher in urban areas than in rural areas. The Littoral department had the highest prevalence (3.4%), followed by the Collines department (2.7%), Donga (2.4%) and Borgou (2.3%). As many as 49.3% of subjects diagnosed with diabetes mellitus were not aware of their status. The age group of 56 - 64 years had the highest risk [OR = 6.6, IC95% = (1.6;22.4)]. The risk of diabetes was higher in people living in urban areas than in people living in rural areas [OR = 3.04 CI95% = (1.6;6.0)]. After controlling for confounding factors, risk factors of diabetes were gender, men being more at risk than women (p = 0.002) age from 55 to 64 years (p = 0.009), overweight (p < 0.0001) and obesity (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Our findings suggested that diabetes mellitus was common in Benin. The prevalence of diabetes is more likely to increase in regard to the nutritional transitions (diet) and the accelerating urbanization of Benin. Communication campaigns for behavioral change are needed to slow down or even reverse this trend.