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  • Article: Individual and institutional determinants of caesarean section in referral hospitals in Senegal and Mali: a cross-sectional epidemiological survey.
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Two years after implementing the free-CS policy, we assessed the non-financial factors associated with caesarean section (CS) in women managed by referral hospitals in Senegal and Mali METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey nested in a cluster trial (QUARITE trial) in 41 referral hospitals in Senegal and Mali (10/01/2007--10/01/2008). Data were collected regarding women's characteristics and on available institutional resources. Individual and institutional factors independently associated with emergency (before labour), intrapartum and elective CS were determined using a hierarchical logistic mixed model. RESULTS: Among 86 505 women, 14% delivered by intrapartum CS, 3% by emergency CS and 2% by elective CS. For intrapartum, emergency and elective CS, the main maternal risk factors were, respectively: previous CS, referral from another facility and suspected cephalopelvic-disproportion (adjusted Odds Ratios from 2.8 to 8.9); vaginal bleeding near full term, hypertensive disorders, previous CS and premature rupture of membranes (adjusted ORs from 3.9 to 10.2); previous CS (adjusted OR=19.2 [17.2-21.6]). Access to adult and neonatal intensive care, a 24-h/day anaesthetist and number of annual deliveries per hospital were independent factors that affected CS rates according to degree of urgency. The presence of obstetricians and/or medical-anaesthetists was associated with an increased risk of elective CS (adjusted ORs [95%CI] = 4.8 [2.6-8.8] to 9.4 [5.1-17.1]). CONCLUSIONS: We confirm the significant effect of well-known maternal risk factors affecting the mode of delivery. Available resources at the institutional level and the degree of urgency of CS should be taken into account in analysing CS rates in this context.
    BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 10/2012; 12(1):114. · 2.83 Impact Factor
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    Article: Malaria and gravidity interact to modify maternal haemoglobin concentrations during pregnancy.
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Primigravidity is one of the main risk factors for both malaria and anaemia. Since the implementation of intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) in sub-Saharan Africa, the relationship between anaemia and gravidity and its evolution during pregnancy has been little explored. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of gravidity on the variation of haemoglobin during pregnancy according to the timing of gestation. METHODS: Data from three studies carried out in nearby areas in south Benin (Ouidah, Come, Allada) between 2005 and 2012 were analysed. At inclusion (first antenatal visit, ANV1) women's age, area of residence, schooling, gravidity, gestational age, weight and height were recorded. Thick blood smears were performed on ANV1, second visit (ANV2) and at delivery. In Allada, women's serum ferritin and CRP concentrations were also assessed. The impact of gravidity on maternal haemoglobin (Hb) was analysed using a logistic or linear regression depending on the outcome. The statistical significance was set to P < 0.05. RESULTS: In total, data from 3,591 pregnant women were analysed. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed a constant association between Hb concentrations and gravidity in the three periods of Hb assessment (ANV1, ANV2 and delivery). Mean Hb concentration was significantly lower in primigravidae than in multigravidae at ANV1 (mean difference = -2.4 g/L, CI 95%: [-3.4, -1.4], P < 0.001). Afterwards, there was a significant increase in primigravidae only, with a tendency to reversal between primigravidae and multigravidae, which was confirmed at delivery (mean difference = 2.8 g/L, CI 95%: [1.3, 4.2], P < 0.001). The prevalence of malaria infection was halved between ANV1 and delivery in primigravidae while it decreased by only 38% among multigravidae, who were less prone to malaria infection (prevalence at ANV1, 20% and 10% respectively). Iron deficiency was more common in multigravidae, and it decreased slightly in this group between ANV1 and delivery. CONCLUSION: In a context of IPTp, Hb levels improved progressively throughout pregnancy in primigravidae, likely as a result of reduction in malaria infection. In multigravidae, the improvement was less perceptible and anaemia was mainly due to iron deficiency.
    Malaria Journal 10/2012; 11(1):348. · 3.19 Impact Factor
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    Article: Consequences of gestational malaria on birth weight: finding the best timeframe for intermittent preventive treatment administration.
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    ABSTRACT: To investigate the consequences of intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) timing on birth weight, we pooled data from two studies conducted in Benin between 2005 and 2010: a prospective cohort of 1037 pregnant women and a randomised trial comparing sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) to mefloquine in 1601 women. A total of 1439 women (752 in the cohort and 687 in the SP arm of the randomised trial) who delivered live singletons were analysed. We showed that an early intake of the first SP dose (4 months of gestation) was associated with a lower risk of LBW compared to a late intake (6-7 months of gestation) (aOR = 0.5 p = 0.01). We also found a borderline increased risk of placental infection when the first SP dose was administered early in pregnancy (aOR = 1.7 p = 0.1). This study is the first to investigate the timing of SP administration during pregnancy. We clearly demonstrated that women who had an early intake of the first SP dose were less at risk of LBW compared to those who had a late intake. Pregnant women should be encouraged to attend antenatal visits early to get their first SP dose and a third dose of SP could be recommended to cover the whole duration of pregnancy and to avoid late infections of the placenta.
    PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(4):e35342. · 4.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Determination of prevalence and etiology of anemia during pregnancy in southern Benin, in conjunction with revision of national management policy].
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    ABSTRACT: Anemia during pregnancy is a serious public health problem. Control requires identification of the underlying etiology. The objective of this study carried out in conjunction with revision of the national policy for the protection of pregnant women in Benin was to determine the prevalence and etiology of anemia. From October 2006 to April 2007, 300 pregnant women were examined at two maternities in Ouidah, Benin. Sociodemographic and environmental characteristics, dietary data, behavioral practices, and history of malaria infection during pregnancy were collected. Blood and stool samples were tested for the presence of malaria parasites and intestinal worms respectively. Hemoglobin and ferritinemia levels were also determined. The prevalence of anemia (Hb < 11 g/dL) was 65.7% while that of malaria and intestinal worms was 4.3% and 8% respectively. Iron deficiency was not found. A borderline significant correlation was found between helminthiasis and anemia. No correlation was found between anemia and malaria. These findings indicate that kits progressively introduced by the health system during the study period provided relatively effective care. This study demonstrates a high prevalence of moderate anemia during pregnancy and suggests that it is mainly due to intestinal helminthiasis. These findings underline the importance of preventive antihelminthic treatment during pregnancy.
    Médecine tropicale: revue du Corps de santé colonial 02/2011; 71(1):63-7.
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    Article: Maternal anemia in Benin: prevalence, risk factors, and association with low birth weight.
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    ABSTRACT: We studied the prevalence of anemia during pregnancy and its relationship with low birth weight (LBW; birth weight < 2,500 g) in Benin. We analyzed 1,508 observations from a randomized controlled trial conducted from 2005 to 2008 showing equivalence on the risk of LBW between two drugs for Intermittent Preventive Treatment of malaria during pregnancy (IPTp). Despite IPTp, helminth prophylaxis, and iron and folic acid supplementations, the proportions of women with severe anemia (hemoglobin [Hb] concentration < 80 g/L) and anemia (Hb < 110 g/L) were high throughout pregnancy: 3.9% and 64.7% during the second and 3.7% and 64.1% during the third trimester, but 2.5% and 39.6% at the onset of labor, respectively. Compared with women without anemia (Hb ≥ 110 g/L) during the third trimester, women with severe anemia (Hb < 80 g/L) were at higher risk of LBW after adjustment for potential confounding factors (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.8; 95% confidence interval [1.4-5.6]).
    The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 09/2011; 85(3):414-20. · 2.59 Impact Factor

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