Médecine et santé tropicales
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In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the first recourse in case of suspected malaria in the health system is the private pharmacy sector. This study was therefore designed to assess private provider adherence to national case management guidelines in Kimpese, a rural area of Central Kongo province. A descriptive cross-sectional survey of 103 pharmacies took place in March 2016. ⋯ Among providers, fewer than 20% were aware of the national malaria treatment guidelines. The main reasons for non-adherence to national guidelines among private dispensers was the high cost (up to 10 times more expensive than sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine treatment) and adverse effects of artemisinin-based combination therapies. Governmental interventions to improve private sector engagement in implementation of the national guidelines and to prevent the spread of ineffective and non-quality assured antimalarial medicines must be intensified.
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Sexual violence is widespread in the world and has a negative impact on women's mental, social, and physical well-being. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the occurrence of sexual violence among patients seen in the Gynecology-Obstetrics department at Ignace Deen National Hospital. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study of victims of sexual violence seen in the department, directly or on court orders, during the two-year period from May 1, 2016, to April 30, 2018. ⋯ Overall, 58.6% had previously had their hymen broken, and 34.3 very recently, while the hymen was intact in 7.1% of cases. The frequency of sexual violence is underestimated in our society. Its prevention involves its punishment, adequate medical care of victims, and improvement of the status of women.
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A 2-year-old child was accompanied by his parents to the pediatric emergency room for refusal to eat, trismus and generalized contractures four days after the application of a traditional topical treatment (Cassava leaves) on lesions of a severe thermal burn. A temperature of 38̊C, a heart rate of 114 beats/min, and a blood pressure of 90/60 mm Hg were recorded. The tetanus vaccination was not up to date. ⋯ Antitetanus serum (immunoglobulin), an antibiotic (amoxicillin and clavulanic acid), and a myorelaxant (benzodiazepine) were administered. Local treatments were also performed. The child died within 24 hours.
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In 1995, 20 years after the first known Ebola outbreak, one of us (JPG) wrote an editorial about Ebola Virus Disease that captured the knowledge and attitudes toward viral diseases of that time and discussed the future of viruses in our world. Now, 21 years later, in the wake of the West African Ebola pandemic of 2013-2016, and after 22 other Ebola outbreaks, we revisit the article to determine if knowledge, attitudes, and practices have changed. ⋯ However, the global reach of the virus has also increased due to expanded means of global transportation. Furthermore, the knowledge of the virus that has increased with each outbreak has not translated into the necessary marginal increase in preparedness; we do not seem to be learning from our mistakes.