Prise en charge des patients COVID-19 à l'hôpital de dermatologie de Bamako / Care of COVID-19 patients at the dermatology hospital of Bamako

Aim: To assess the COVID-19 patients' treatment duration according to the place of treatment at the Dermatology Hospital of Bamako (DHB). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study comparing the management of COVID-19 PCR-positive patients in the hospital to that of those managed at home from March 2020 to April 2021 until two consecutive negative PCR 48 hours apart. Results: Among the 1109 patients, 369 were hospitalized, 497 followed at home. As of April 31, 2021, 81.2% (900/1109) of the patients recovered, 1.3% (14/1109) were transferred to another health structure, and 2.5% (28/1109) died. No statisticallysignificant difference was observed between the meanduration of the treatment for patients treated at home (10 days) in (95% CI, 9.69-10.3) and those managedathospital (10 days95% CI, 9.76-10.23) (Mantel-Cox test, p= 0.060). Conclusion: These results suggest that the place of treatment do not influence the time to recovery. This is particularly important given the current burden of COVID-19 management on the health workforce

Objectif: Evaluer la durée du traitement des patients COVID-19 selon le lieu de pris en charge à l'Hôpital de Dermatologie de Bamako (HDB). Méthodologie : Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale comparant la prise en charge des patients COVID-19 PCR-positifs à l'hôpital à celle à domicile de mars 2020 à avril 2021 jusqu'à l'obtention de deux tests PCR négatifs consécutifs à 48 heures d'intervalle. Résultats : Parmi les 1109 patients, 369 ont été hospitalisés, 497 suivis à domicile. Au 31 avril 2021, 81,2% (900/1109) des patients se sont rétablis, 1,3% (14/1109) ont été transférés dans une autre structure de santé et 2,5% (28/1109) sont décédés. Aucune différence statistiquement significative n'a été observée entre la durée moyenne du traitement pour les patients traités à domicile (10 jours) en (IC 95 %, 9,69-10,3) et ceux pris en charge à l'hôpital (10 jours IC 95 %, 9,76-10,23) (test de Mantel Cox, p= 0,060). Conclusion: Ces résultats suggèrent que le lieu de traitement n'influence pas le temps de récupération. Ceci est particulièrement important étant donné la charge actuelle de la gestion des COVID-19 sur le personnel de santé

Drotaverine to shorten the duration of labour in primigravidas: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Drotaverine, a spasmolytic, has been found to have potential to achieve a reduction in the duration of labor and prevent prolonged labor. Objective: To compare the effects of intravenous drotaverine hydrochloride with placebo for shortening the duration of active phase of labor in primigravida's. Methods: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of 246 primigravida's in active phase of labor at term was conducted. They were randomly (1:1 ratio) administered intravenous 2 ml (40mg) of drotaverine hydrochloride or 2 ml of Vitamin B complex as placebo. The primary outcome measure was the duration of active phase of labor. The secondary outcome measures were cervical dilatation rate, oxytocin augmentation rate, incidence of prolonged labor, labor pain scores, mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results: The mean duration of active phase of labor (hour) was significantly lower in the drotaverine group compared to the control (drotaverine; 6.22 ± 2.41 vs placebo; 8.33 ± 3.56; p <0.001). Also, the cervical dilatation rate (cm/hr) was significantly faster in the drotaverine arm (drotaverine; 1.68 ± 1.02 versus placebo; 1.06 ± 0.53, p <0.001). There was a significantly higher probability of faster delivery among women who were given drotaverine (log-rank test, p < 0.001). The oxytocin augmentation rate, incidence of prolonged labor, labor pain scores, mode of delivery, maternal and neonatal outcomes were not significantly different among the groups. Conclusions: Drotaverine hydrochloride is effective in shortening the duration of active phase of labor without adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. However, more evidence is needed to explore its role in active phase of labor among primigravid women. Trial registration number: PACTR201810902005232

Duration of breast feeding and outcome of HIV-exposed infants seen at a tertiary health facility in Sokoto

Background: Appropriate infant feeding is still a challenge to HIV-positive mothers especially in the developing world despite their desire to breast feeding beyond the WHO recommended 12 months' duration. Objective: To determine the duration of breast feeding and correlate with outcome of HIV-exposed infants in UDUTH, Sokoto. Methods: This descriptive observational study was conducted among HIV-exposed infants attending Paediatric ART(PMTCT) clinic, UDUTH, Sokoto. The demographics, infant post-exposure prophylaxis, duration of breast feeding and results of early infant diagnosis (EID) of the infants using HIV-DNA PCR machine; and maternal highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) history were documented. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.0. A p-value of ≤0.05 was taken as significant. Results: One hundred and sixty-three HIV-positive mother-infant pairs were studied, 103(61.7%) of the HIV-positive mothers were aged 25-34 years, 105(62.9%) were of lower socio-economic class and 94(56.3%) had informal education. One hundred and fifteen (62.5%) were on TDF/3TC/EFV and 143 (85.6%) were on HAARTs prior to the index pregnancy. One hundred and sixty-three of the HIV-exposed infants studied were breast-fed and 165 (98.8%) had nevirapine as infant PEP. The mean duration of breast feeding among HIV-exposed infants was 13.2(±3.5) months with a range 6 ­ 20 months. Ninety-eight (60.1%) infants were breastfed beyond 12months. All the HIV-exposed infants were not infected at the end of breastfeeding for 12 months or more. Conclusion: Majority of the HIV-positive mother's breastfed beyond WHO recommended 12 months and their infants were uninfected. This may support the upward review of the duration of breast feeding of HIV-exposed infants in our community

Factors associated with the uptake of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy in the Bamenda health districts, Cameroon

Introduction: the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that in malaria endemic areas with moderate to high transmission rates, pregnant women presenting for antenatal clinic (ANC) should receive at least three doses of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) for malaria between the 16th and 36th weeks of pregnancy at intervals of 4 weeks between doses. Several challenges remain in effective implementation of IPTp policy making the targeted coverage (80%) of the third doses of IPTp far from being achieved. The main objective of this study was to assess factors associated with the uptake of IPTp among pregnant women attending ANCs in the Bamenda Health District. Methods: to reach our objectives, we carried out a cross-sectional study following informed consent with thirty-nine (39) healthcare workers (HCW) and four hundred (400) pregnant women who were either in the third trimester of pregnancy or had recently given birth in any of thirty-six (36) health facilities (HF) within the Bamenda Health District (BHD) from May to August 2014. All sites within the BHD were included. The participants were selected by simple random sampling. The principal research instrument was a structured and pre-tested questionnaire that was designed to capture socio-demographic data and data related to stage of pregnancy and knowledge about IPTp. Data was entered using Ms Excel and analysed using SPSS v20.0. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) was used to report findings. We used Chi-Square test to compare the categorical variables (Fischer's exact test was used in cases were conditions for Chi-Square test were not met). Results: uptake for at least one dose of IPTp was 95.3% (381/400) and 54.9% (209/400) had received all three doses, 15.5% (59/400) received only one dose and 4.8% (19/400) did not receive any of the doses of IPTp. Knowledge about IPTp was associated with an increase uptake of IPTp (P<0.001). All health care providers were knowledgeable about the importance and use of IPTp. However, 35.9% reported not receiving any training on IPTp. Among the health providers, 28.2% did not know when to start IPTp and 43.59% did not know when to stop IPTp. Out of all the health care providers, 30.77% complained of medication (sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine) stock out and 84.62% practiced the policy of direct observed therapy. Conclusion: the uptake of the third dose of IPTp is poor in the Bamenda Health District and this may be attributed to medication stock out and inadequacy of routine trainings for the health providers. The good practice observed was that of direct observed therapy by HCWs. Patient knowledge about IPTp in our study was associated with better uptake of IPTp. Encouraging education of pregnant women on the importance of IPTp, providing routine training to HCWs and promoting direct observation of therapy may improve on IPTp uptake during pregnancy