[Yaws in Côte d'lvoire: health problem forgotten and neglected]. / Le pian en Côte d'Ivoire: problème de santé oublié et négligé.

Yaws is endemic in Côte d'Ivoire, with an hospital incidence estimated by the medical statistics at 0.58 per thousand in 2000; cases of yaws were notified in all medical districts. This study describes the yaws situation in Côte d'Ivoire based on available hospital statistics and a cross section investigation. The yaws diagnoses during the investigation were based on clinic lesions. The yaws prevalence found at the end of the investigation was 5 per thousand: the majority of the patients were children under 15 years old (82%) and male (91%). Only 27% of diagnosed patients had a medical treatment at the time of the study. Yaws is still endemic in Côte d'Ivoire which underlines the need for an implementation of a national control strategy.

[Acceptability of HIV screening in patients suffering from sexually transmitted infections at the antiveneral center of Abidjan, Côte-d'Ivoire]. / Acceptabilité du dépistage du VIH chez les patients atteints d'infections sexuellement transmissibles au dispensaire antivénérien d'Adjamé, Côte-d'Ivoire.

The systematic screening in high risk groups can be an efficient way to struggle against HIV/AIDS. We have conducted a transversal descriptive study in patients suffering from STI and who had consulted the antiveneral dispensary of the Institut National de Santé Publique (Abidjan) from 1st September 2002 to 31st October 2002. The aim was to identify the acceptability of the HIV screening test. During this inquiry, 167 patients were recruited. This study permits to confirm the young age of the population with a male predominance in patients having sexual transmitted infections. So, 70.1% have accepted to do this test. However, 23.4% of patients recruited had really done the HIV test. Among those who have accepted to do the test, 28.2% were infected.

[Identification of malfunctioning in the treatment and quality of care of maternal morbidity in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire]. / Identification des dysfonctionnements dans la prise en charge de la morbidité maternelle grave à Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).

A study was carried out using a clinical audit aimed at identifying the dysfunctions in the care of female patients with serious morbidity. The study was done at the University Hospital of Cocody (CHU de Codody) and in the health training unit in the southern part of Abobo (Abidjan) from January to May 2000. The study allowed us to track and record the frequency of women who nearly died (40.4%) in both of the sites during the period of the study. Malfunctions were found at all stages of the female patients' care. The provision of medical care during the patients' hospitalisation and care provided in the emergency room were the cases and situations wherein the most frequency was noted, with 42.8% and 39.6% of dysfunctions found respectively. The delay for patients to wait to receive care was long, varying from 80 minutes to 5 days coupled with a lack of follow-up and surveillance of patients. This data demonstrates the inadequacy of the quality of obstetrical care.

[Awareness, attitudes, and practices of secondary school students in relation to HIV/AIDS in Abidjan, Ivory Coast]. / Connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des collégiens et lycéens d'Abidjan face au VIH/sida.

In May 2001, we conducted a descriptive transversal survey with a single data collection phase in 13 schools in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the awareness, attitudes, and practices of teenagers with regard to HIV/AIDS. Most respondents (66.5%) were female. Mean age was 16.32 years (range, 13 to 19 years). Most respondents stated that they had heard about AIDS and demonstrated good factual knowledge. The most frequently mentioned method of prevention was condom use (89.2%). A total of 338 (56.1%) had already experienced sexual intercourse. However most sexually active respondents stated that they did no always use condoms.

[Why a graduate diploma specializing in the management of health projects in Cote d'Ivoire?]. / Pourquoi un diplôme de gestion de projets de santé en Côte d'Ivoire?

The achievement of the "health for all" objectives represents a particular challenge for developing countries where the morbidity rates and the number of deaths are increasing on an annual basis. In order the face this situation in Côte d'Ivoire, health action programmes were initiated on the one hand, and on the other, a type of decentralised responsibility was established for the coverage of the population's health at the health district level where these programmes are administered. However, serious insufficiencies were noted in the management of health projects as well as a lack of follow-up and evaluation by trained staff. Furthermore, it is imperative to have personnel qualified in managing health projects. In fact, this specialised training will allow for the attainment of knowledge and competencies necessary for the effective conception, development, planning, implementation and management of health action programmes at the national level as much as the district level. In addition, these health project specialists will be able to get involved at several levels in positions such as managers of national projects, technical advisors for national health directives, district managers, etc. Such training would contribute to the improvement of the population's health status and thus address the challenge of health for all.

[Prevalence of dental caries in school milieu in the northwest of Côte d'Ivoire]. / Prévalence de la carie dentaire en milieu scolaire dans le nord-ouest de la Cote d'Ivoire.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of tooth decay and its correlation with dental care habits in northwestern Ivory Coast. Study was carried out in primary schools in the city of Odienne in January 1999. The study cohort comprised 500 students of both genders ranging in age from 4 to 15 years. The prevalence of tooth decay was 77.2% and the mean CAO index was 2.43. Dental care involved use of a chewing stick in 49% and a tooth brush in 50.8%. Only 5.6% of children cleaned their teeth three-times a day on a regular basis. Statistical analysis of study data demonstrated a correlation between the frequency of tooth cleaning and incidence of tooth decay. The incidence of tooth decay was 60.7% in students that cleaned their teeth three times a day versus 78.2% in students who cleaned their teeth less regularly. An educational campaign has been undertaken to inform students of the importance of oral hygiene in maintaining healthy teeth. A dental examination program would be useful to provide routine check-ups. A group study will be needed to monitor oral hygiene in students and evaluate the impact of these measures on tooth decay.