Prevalence and factors associated with alcohol consumption in a high school in northern Guinea.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with alcohol use in a high school in the Middle Guinea region in West Africa. METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study involving 342 high school students was conducted in November 2019 at the Mali centre high school. A questionnaire adapted from the standardised questionnaire validated by the World Health Organization as part of the Global Student Health Surveys was used for data collection. Students were asked about their alcohol use in the 30 days preceding the survey. Using logistic regression, we performed a multivariate analysis that controlled for independent variables to identify factors associated with alcohol use. RESULTS: The age range was 14-27 years. The prevalence of alcohol consumption was 12.28% (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.80, 16.10). Note that 89.80% of the sample studied did not know of any harmful effects of alcohol on health. In a multivariate analysis, we showed that alcohol use was associated with tobacco use (adjusted odds ratio 24.82, 95% CI 20.73, 26.30) and having close friends who also consume alcohol (adjusted odds ratio 4.16, 95% CI 3.63, 6.37). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The substantial prevalence of alcohol use, the high proportion of ignorance of the harmful effects of alcohol, and the reasons for the initial motivation for alcohol use found in this study should attract the attention of stakeholders. An action plan based on the two factors associated found could fight alcohol use at Mali centre high school.

Perceptions, knowledge, attitudes and practices for the prevention and control of lymphatic filariasis in Conakry, Republic of Guinea.

Little is known about the perceptions, attitudes and practices of lymphatic filariasis in Conakry, Republic of Guinea. Yet, such knowledge is important for an optimal design and implementation of setting-specific prevention and control measures. We conducted a cross-sectional study using a mixed methods approach. Qualitative data related to people's general experience with lymphatic filariasis, their perception of the causes of the disease, the onset of elephantiasis, care-seeking behaviour and the socioeconomic impact of lymphatic filariasis were collected through in-depth interviews with 85 respondents. Quantitative data related to strategies for prevention and the knowledge of the causes of the disease were collected by interviewing 429 people. A total of 514 individuals (313 females and 201 males), aged 10-84 years, participated. Most participants were well aware of lymphatic filariasis and they recognized the disease mainly by its disfiguring manifestation, collectively termed "elephantiasis" or "leg-swelling disease". Morbidity patterns due to filarial infection showed an increase with age (from 30 to 50 years) independent of sex. Most patients with lymphatic filariasis abandoned their jobs (73.9%) or sought other work (21.7%). The main perceived causes of acquiring lymphatic filariasis were of supernatural origin (as stated by 8.7% of patients and 5.7% of healthy subjects), while mosquito bites were mentioned by fewer participants (4.3% of patients and 4.2% of healthy subjects). A number of other causes were reported that relate to both medical and non-medical conceptions. The study also identified socioeconomic impairments and stigmatization due to elephantiasis. Taken together, community perception of lymphatic filariasis in Conakry is influenced by sociocultural conceptions. Appropriate health education campaigns aimed at enhancing community understanding of the transmission of lymphatic filariasis are required to increase the success of mass drug administration implemented for the elimination of this disease. There is a need for a morbidity management programme to alleviate lymphatic filariasis-related physical and emotional burden in Conakry.

Current status of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in Beyla and Macenta Prefectures, Forest Guinea.

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken in children aged 9-14 years in Beyla and Macenta Prefectures, Forest Guinea. Stool samples were examined by Kato-Katz and urine samples were examined by the centrifugation method. The overall prevalence and intensity of infection was 66.2% and 462.4 eggs per gram of faeces (epg) for Schistosoma mansoni, 21.0% and 17.8 eggs per 10ml of urine for S. haematobium, 51.2% and 507.5 epg for hookworm, 8.1% and 89.1 epg for Ascaris lumbricoides and 2.4% and 16.7 epg for Trichuris trichiura. The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis (S. mansoni and/or S. haematobium) was 70.7%. The prevalence of schistosomiasis was similar to those reported in the 1990s in the region; however, the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths has since fallen. These findings illustrate the need for schistosomiasis control in Guinea.