[Health care, needs and barriers in seeking medical care for global health and sexual and reproductive health, among students from Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire]. / Recours aux soins de santé globale et de santé sexuelle et reproductive, chez les étudiants de l'université Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

BACKGROUND: In Ivory Coast, little is known about health needs and health access barriers among young people. The aim of this study was to describe health provision, health needs and barriers when seeking medical care, with an emphasis on sexual and reproductive health, and the acceptability of a medical examination for students attending their first year at the Houphouët-Boigny University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. METHODS: We conducted a representative cross-sectional study among second year students who were selected by two-stage equiprobable random sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted among students and the university health center staff. RESULTS: Five hundred and forty three students (322 men and 221 women) answered a questionnaire (participation rate 98.4%). Among women who ever had sex, 38.4% (95%CI [30.5%-47.0%]) had unmet contraception needs and 31.2% [23.7%-40.0%] had experienced an unwanted pregnancy. Fear about impaired fertility was the leading reason for non-use of hormonal contraception, the method of choice among most students. The main health problems among students, by order of frequency were malaria (54.3%), respiratory infection (44.6%), constipation (28.0%) and psychological problems (25.9%). High cost perception of services offered, despite their gratuity, were the main barriers against access to the university health center, indicating a lack of communication about this structure and its services. The majority of students favored the establishment of a medical examination during the first year at the university. CONCLUSION: Establishing a medical examination would improve health center visibility. The following services could be offered: (i) HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea screening, (ii) hepatitis B virus screening and vaccination, (iii) provision and information about contraceptive methods, (iv) presentation of the university health center services. Dedicated spaces where students could have access to information about health-related topics (e.g. sexuality, nutrition, depression) could complete the university's healthcare offer.

Changes in viral hepatitis B screening practices over time in West African HIV clinics.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe changes in hepatitis B screening practices over a 3-year period among HIV-infected patients in West Africa. METHODS: A medical chart review was conducted in urban HIV treatment centers in Ivory Coast (3 sites), Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal, and Togo (1 site each). Among patients who started antiretroviral treatment between 2010 and 2012, 100 per year were randomly selected from each clinic. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data was collected using a standardized questionnaire. We assessed changes in the proportion of patients screened over time and identified predictors of screening in a multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 2097 patients were included (median age: 37 years, 65.4% of women). Overall, 313 (14.9%) patients had been screened for hepatitis B, with an increase from 10.6% in 2010 to 18.9% in 2012 (P<0.001) and substantial differences across countries. In multivariable analysis, being aged over 45 years (adjusted odds ratio: 1.34 [1.01-1.77]) and having an income-generating activity (adjusted odds ratio: 1.82 [1.09-3.03]) were associated with screening for hepatitis B infection. Overall, 62 HIV-infected patients (19.8%, 95% confidence interval: 15.5-24.7) were HBsAg-positive and 82.3% of them received a tenofovir-containing drug regimen. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis B screening among HIV-infected patients was low between 2010 and 2012. The increasing availability of HBsAg rapid tests and tenofovir in first-line antiretroviral regimen should improve the rates of hepatitis B screening.

Pratique du dépistage du cancer du col au Service des Maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Abidjan

Le dépistage systématique du cancer du col de l'utérus chez les femmes infectées par le Vih est recommandé par l'oMS et effectif en Côte d'ivoire depuis 2009. l'objectif était de partager l'expérience de cette pratique en routine chez les femmes infectées par le Vih suivies dans un service d'infectiologie à abidjan. il s'est agit d'une étude rétrospective des dossiers de patientes âgées de 25 à 65 ans, infectées par le Vih, suivies au SMiT entre 2010 et 2014. la technique d'inspection visuelle à l'acide acétique (iVa) a été utilisée pour le dépistage. les données socio-démographiques, cliniques et thérapeutiques recueillies ont été analysées à l'aide des logiciels excel 2007 et STaTa version 13.0. le test statistique utilisé pour comparer les pourcentages était le khi deux ou le test exact de Fischer. les différences observées ont été considérées comme significatives en dessous de 5 %. la variable d'intérêt était la réalisation d'au moins un test iVa en routine. Selon le résultat du test iVa, le profil clinique et immunovirologique des patientes a été analysé en précisant la conduite à tenir selon l'indication. enfin la poursuite du dépistage a été notifiée dans le temps spécifiquement chez les femmes négatives au test initial. entre 2010 et 2014, 4 368 femmes infectées par le Vih étaient éligibles au dépistage du cancer du col. Parmi elles, 301 femmes (6,9 %) en ont bénéficié. l'âge médian était de 38 ans [25 - 58 ans]. la médiane des Cd4 au bilan de suivi lors du test iVa était de 291 cellules/mm3 [2 ­ 1 876 cellules/mm3]. le dépistage était positif pour 24 femmes (8 %) et selon les indications, 6 femmes étaient éligibles à la cryothérapie (26 %), 6 à la résection à l'anse diathermique (26 %) et 10 à la réalisation d'un frottis cervico-vaginal, pour une suspicion de cancer invasif (44 %). les patientes positives au test iVa étaient relativement plus jeune (35 vs 38 ans ; p = 0,03). aucun contrôle ultérieur n'a été effectué chez 90 % (n = 249) de celles qui ont eu un test iVa négatif au premier dépistage. le dépistage systématique est peu réalisé en routine au cours du suivi des femmes Vih. les défis opérationnels doivent être relevés pour une optimisation des soins en afrique

HIV seroprevalence among inmates in Togo.

BACKGROUND: There is no data on HIV seroprevalence among prisoners in Togo. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among prisoners in Togo from November 2011 to January 2012. The study population was included by selecting the most densely populated prison in each of the six Togo regions, and by including prisoners (at least18years of age and having been in prison for more than 30days) on a voluntary basis. HIV prevalence was estimated with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: One thousand three hundred and fourty-two prisoners were included in the study. Their median age was 28years, (IQR 25-33years) and 39 (2.9%) were women. The median time spent in the prison was 10months, interquartile range [4-24months]. HIV testing was accepted by 96.0%. HIV seroprevalence in prisons was 4.3%, 95 CI% [3.2-5.5%]. Few prisoners (2.9%) reported having had sex in prisons. The only factor associated with HIV infection was gender with an HIV seroprevalence of 14.3% for women compared to 4.0% for men (P=0.003). CONCLUSION: The prevention and the management of HIV infection should be a priority in Togolese prisons. This requires implementing healthcare facilities in prisons.

[Time trends in demographic and clinical characteristics of adult patients on HAART initiation in West Africa]. / Evolution des conditions d'initiation du traitement antirétroviral des patients infectés par le VIH en Afrique de l'Ouest.

OBJECTIVE: We studied the evolution of drug combinations used, as well as the clinical and immunological profile of patients at initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) between 1996 and 2006 in West Africa. SETTINGS AND METHOD: IeDEA West Africa is a network of HIV care programs established in 2006. We analyzed data from 12 clinical centers treating adults in five countries: Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, Gambia, and Mali. Patients 16 years of age or over were included in the study and the following was documented: sex, date of birth and date of initiation of HAART. RESULTS: We included 14,496 adult patients having started HAART, among these 55 % had started HAART between 2005-2006. The proportion of HIV-infected women increased from 46 % in 1996-2000 to 63 % in 2005-2006. The median age at HAART initiation remained constant: 35 years for women and 40 years for men. The proportion of patients having started HAART with a CD4 count<200 cells/microl was 54 % in 1996-2000, and 64 % in 2005-2006. The most frequently prescribed HAART was: AZT/3TC (or d4T/DDI)/IDV (27 %) in 1996-2000; d4T (or AZT)/3TC/EFV (49 %) in 2003-2004, and d4T/3TC/NVP (49 %) in 2005-2006. CONCLUSION: The first line HAART regimen recommended by WHO was initiated in 83 % of cases in 2005-2006. New approaches to an earlier initiation of ART should be explored to reduce mortality in HIV-infected patients on HAART.