[Compliance with hand-hygiene practice in the General Reference Hospitals of the city of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo]. / Observance de l'hygiène des mains dans les hôpitaux généraux de référence de la ville de Kisangani en République Démocratique du Congo.

INTRODUCTION: the purpose of this study was to assess the compliance with hand-hygiene practice of health-care workers in the General Reference Hospitals (GRH) of the city of Kisangani and to identify factors contributing to it. METHODS: we conducted a cross-sectional study in the Maternity, Surgery, Pediatric and Emergency Departments at four GRH of the city of Kisangani over the period 13th-20th June 2018. One hundred and twenty professionals recruited from among doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians and attendants were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire to assess their level of knowledge and a grid indicating the compliance with hand-hygiene practice in 44 health professionals (1920 opportunities). RESULTS: the rate of overall compliance with hand-hygiene practice was 39% [CI95 0.37; 0.41]; friction with hydroalcoholic solution was much less frequent (5%); cleaners and physicians had higher compliance rates (49% and 44% respectively) than nurses (33%). Approximately one third of professionals were aware of the indications for hand-hygiene according to the WHO; 37% of health professionals declared that they had followed a on-the-job training on hand-hygiene and 36% knew the importance of hand-hygiene in the healthcare environment. The gap in knowledge was not significant between the occupational categories studied (p >0.05). CONCLUSION: this study and the results obtained from it allowed us to conclude that the level of compliance to precautions standards including hand hygiene by healthcare professionals is insufficient. It is therefore necessary to strengthen the compliance with hand-hygiene practices through training and awareness programs for healthcare professionals, the supply of hygiene products and the awareness of healthcare providers.

[Environmental factors associated with textile industry in Democratic Republic of Congo: state of play]. / Facteurs d'ambiance dans l'industrie textile en République Démocratique du Congo: état de lieu.

INTRODUCTION: This case study aims to make an assessment of environmental health nuisances in textile industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional and analytical study. Out of 257 workers selected using systematic sampling, 229 workers were enrolled in the study. 223 workstations were subjected to measurements in order to determine the level of noise, lighting and heat. Data were collected from company documents, by means of a direct-question interview focusing on socio professional informations and through measurements. Descriptive analysis was used for sociodemographic and professional data and analytical approach was used for the measurements. RESULTS: In the company studied 88% of employees were workers. Weaving department included almost 68% of workers. The majority of employees worked as part of a three shift (85%). The study population was predominantly male (85%), aging (52%) over 40 years and educated (80%). In the company studied, only 12.1% of workstations met the noise standards and 18% of workstations met the lighting standards. 94% of workstations didn't meet the heat standards for heavy work. CONCLUSION: Our study highlighted the environmental health nuisances in textile industry, demonstrating the existence of significant gaps related to the prescribed standards for the measured nuisances. These results are a plea for the development of appropriate preventive measures. They should be confronted with other more detailed studies in this work environment.

Occupational Stress among Textile Workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

CONTEXT: In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), scientific studies on occupational health are scarce. The present study aims at estimating the level of occupational stress, as well as associated factors, in a textile company. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional survey among textile workers in DRC. Data (N = 192 subjects) were collected through a self-questionnaire validated for the assessment of stress (Karasek and Siegrist's scale); supplemented by a medical examination. Frequencies and odds ratios (ORs) were estimated for descriptive analyses. Adjusted ORs were calculated through a logistic regression model to investigate associations between socio-demographic and organisational variables and stress. RESULTS: Our study highlighted a high level of stress among individuals: 28% of them were suffering from stress, according to Karasek, and 22%, when applying Siegrist's model. A 14%-isostrain was calculated when considering all workers. A statistically significant association was observed between stress and age, seniority and perceived non-adaptation to work, considering both approaches. Furthermore, when job strain was determined according to Karasek, it was related to the worker status, the poor perception of organisation and alcohol consumption, while stress estimated by applying Siegrist's model showed an association with education level and the occurrence of cardiac symptoms. CONCLUSION: The present study provides of stress among individuals through both models. Several socio-professional factors are associated with stress, which determines populations at risk. The results revealed that both stress models offer complementary information, thus increasing the probability to model workers' health more exactly and to make recommendations on prevention and management.