Referral conditions for severe road traffic injuries and their influence on the occurrence of hospital deaths in Benin

Road traffic accidents are the leading cause of death by trauma. Delays in in first aid due, inter alia, to the long time to transfer traffic accident victims to hospital and the lack of pre-hospital emergency care, contribute to the increase in hospital mortality. This study aims to analyse the referral conditions for severe road traffic injuries and to assess their effect on the occurrence of hospital deaths in Benin. This is an analytical prospective cohort study conducted in road accident victims with a severe injury. Four groups of factors were studied: referral conditions, sociodemographic and victim-specific characteristics, factors related to the accident environment, and factors related to health services. A top-down binary stepwise logistic regression was the basis for the analyses. Nine point eight percent of severe trauma patients died after hospital admission (7.0-13.5). Associated factors were referral time greater than 1 hour (RR=5.7 [1.5-20.9]), transport to hospital by ambulance (RR=4.8 [1.3-17.3]) and by the police or fire department (RR=7.4 [1.8- 29.7]), not wearing protective equipment (RR=4.5 [1.4-15.0]), head injuries (RR=34.8 [8.7-139.6]), and no upper extremity injuries (RR=20.1 [2.3-177.1]). To reduce the risk of hospital death in severe road traffic injuries, it is important to ensure rapid and medicalized referral of severe trauma patients in Benin.

Evaluation of Feeding Practices in Children Aged 6- 23 Months in Southern Benin Rural Setting.

Aims: To assess feeding practices in children aged 6 to 23 months living in rural setting in southern Benin. Study Design: Population based cross-sectional and evaluative study. Place and Duration of Study: Southern Benin, from 1st April to 27th June, 2014. Methodology: Two hundred and fourty children (49.16% girls) aged 6-23 months were randomly selected by cluster sampling technique. Data on breastfeeding and, complementary feeding, food safety and socio-demographic characteristics were collected using a questionnaire. Feeding practices in children were assessed through World Health Organization indicators using predefined scores. Results: The median age of the children was 13 months and 61.65% children aged 12-23 months. Breastfeeding (82.08%), complementary feeding (37.08%) and food safety (15.94%) were adequate among the children. The overall quality of feeding practices was inadequate among children (73.90%) aged 6-23 months. Conclusion: Feeding practices was inadequate in children aged 6 to 23 months in southern Benin rural setting. Nutrition education interventions in mothers are needed to improve feeding practices in children aged 6 to 23 months living in southern Benin rural areas.