Epidemiology of epilepsy in rural Benin: prevalence, incidence, mortality, and follow-up.

Purpose: Epilepsy is a major clinical and social issue in Africa. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence, incidence, mortality, and therapeutic outcome in rural Djidja in Benin.

Methods: This was a two-phase study with a cross-sectional phase and 18 months of follow-up.

Mental and neurological health research priorities setting in developing countries.

Introduction: A multi-region consultation process designed to generate locally produced regional and global research priorities on mental and neurological health in low- and middle-income countries.

Methods: Between 2003 and 2005, priority setting exercises on MNH research, using the systematic combined approach matrix (CAM) were held in the six regions of the developing world. One regional meeting per region was convened, and a global meeting was organized before and after the regional exercises.

Prevention of venous thromboembolism among inpatients at Cotonou teaching hospital, Benin.

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the use and appropriateness of preventive measures for venous thrombosis among adult inpatients in a Benin teaching hospital.

Patients And Methods: All patients were systematically enrolled. The risk of venous thrombosis was estimated according to international guidelines.

Link between epilepsy and malnutrition in a rural area of Benin.

Purpose: Epilepsy and malnutrition are both important public health problems in sub-Saharan Africa. A relationship between epilepsy and malnutrition has been suspected for many years. Our objective was to investigate the association between epilepsy and malnutrition in Djidja, Benin.

Antioxidant status in alcohol-related diabetes mellitus in Beninese subjects.

In the present study, we investigated the antioxidant status in diabetes mellitus, related or not to alcohol consumption. A total of 38 type 1, 48 type 2 and 42 alcohol-related diabetic patients were selected. Total antioxidant status was assessed through the oxygen radical absorbance capacity of the plasma and the determination of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules.

Psychosocial issues in people with epilepsy in Togo and Benin (West Africa) II: quality of life measured using the QOLIE-31 scale.

Purpose: This study in Togo and Benin, West Africa, was aimed at measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of people with epilepsy (PWE).

Methods: It was a cross-sectional study among 281 adult PWE in Togo and 215 in Benin matched with the same number of controls without epilepsy, using the Quality Of Life in Epilepsy Scale-31 (QOLIE-31).

Results: In Togo and Benin, controls had significantly better HRQOL (80.

Psychosocial issues in people with epilepsy in Togo and Benin (West Africa) I. Anxiety and depression measured using Goldberg's scale.

Purpose: This study in Togo and Benin, West Africa, was aimed at measuring depression and anxiety among people with epilepsy (PWE).

Methods: This cross-sectional study of 281 adult PWE in Togo and 215 in Benin matched with the same number of controls without epilepsy used Goldberg's anxiety and depression scale. The statistical tests used for comparisons were chi(2) tests, Fisher's exact test, analysis of variance, and Fisher's PLSD test when necessary.

[Anxiety and depression among the epileptics in general population in Benin (Western Africa)].

In order to assess prevalence of depression and anxiety among epileptic patients and to compare it to a control population, a matched case-control survey was performed in 196 persons above 18 Year old (98 epileptics and 98 controls matched according to sex, age 10 and social environment) in Republic of Benin (West Africa), using Goldberg's Depression and Anxiety scale. Two main investigators helped by 5 sociology students were trained on a questionnaire by a psychiatrist skilled with public health matters. People taking part in the survey are epileptic patients who already used health services.

[Comparison of sociocultural attitudes towards epilepsy in Limousin (France), in Togo and in Benin (Africa)].

Sociocultural attitudes continue to have a negative impact on management of epilepsy in many African countries and in a few advanced countries. The purpose of this study was to compare attitudes toward epilepsy in France and two African nations: Togo and Benin. A total of 305 epileptic patients over 18 years of age were interviewed using the same quantitative questionnaire about their beliefs, knowledge attitudes and practices regarding their disease.

Interest of LQAS method in a survey of HTLV-I infection in Benin (West Africa).

HTLV-I is heterogeneously distributed in Sub-Saharan Africa. Traditional survey methods as cluster sampling could provide information for a country or region of interest. However, they cannot identify small areas with higher prevalences of infection to help in the health policy planning.

Estimation of the prevalence of epilepsy in the Benin region of Zinvié using the capture-recapture method.

Background: The prevalence of epilepsy was estimated in two villages of 3134 inhabitants, in Benin, in April and May 1997 using the capture-recapture method.

Methods: Information was obtained from (i) a door-to-door cross-sectional study, (ii) a non-medical source consisting of key informants (traditional practitioners, teachers, village leaders, and religious representatives) and (iii) a medical source through evaluation of medical records in health centres. In all the three situations, the diagnosis of epilepsy was confirmed by a neurologist.

[Epidemiological observations on the first case of human paragonimiasis and potential intermediate hosts of Paragonimus sp. in Benin].

Parasitological investigations were carried out for four months in 1998 in two Beninese centres of pneumo-phtisiology (Akpakpa, at Cotonou, and Akron, at Porto-Novo) to detect the patients harbouring eggs of Paragonimus sp. amongst the persons consulting for tuberculosis and showing a broncho-pneumopathy without mycobacteria. Eggs of Paragonimus sp.

Seroprevalence of cysticercosis in Bénin.

We report the results of a seroepidemiological study on the prevalence of cysticercosis in Bénin. Cluster sampling at 3 levels was performed in the 6 départements (Atacora, Borgou, Zou, Mono, Atlantique and Oueme) and 2625 serum samples, from 1329 adult females and 1296 adult males, were collected. Antibodies against Taenia solium cysticerci were first searched for by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the 41 seropositive samples were then examined by enzyme-linked electroimmunotransfer blot assay (EITB).

[Types of hypertension in pregnant women of Benin admitted to the National University Hospital of Cotonou].

We carried out a retrospective and prospective study between January 1995 and August 1996, of pregnant women with high blood pressure. The aim of this work was to determine the prevalence of each type of hypertension according to the classification of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and to evaluate the prognosis for the mother and child. The prevalence of hypertension in pregnancy was found to be 7.

Intrafamilial clustering and 4-year follow-up of asymptomatic human T-cell leukaemia virus type I (HTLV-I) infection in Benin (West Africa).

Background: Few data exist concerning familial human T-cell leukaemia virus type I (HTLV-I) carrier states and transmission in African countries. Two previous surveys performed in Benin in 1989 and 1990 using a three-level cluster sampling method allowed us to identify HTLV-I positive subjects. The evolution of HTLV-I within the families of these subjects is described over a 4-year period, 1991-1995.

[Intra-family transmission of human T-cell lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1) in a cohort of HTLV-1-positive patients (Bénin)].

We are reporting the results of a familial study carried out in Benin in March 1994 within a cohort of HTLV-1 positive subjects. This study aims at appraising the different modes of intra-familial transmission of this retrovirus. The study has included 212 persons: 33 seropositive subjects (identified during two previous seroprevalence surveys and followed up since 1991), and 179 members of their families.

[Human African trypanosomiasis in the north of Benin. A preliminary serologic survey].

Atacora Province has been for a long time a focus of human trypanosomiasis in the People's Republic of Benin. If the prevalence has appreciably decreased in the 1960s on account of the experienced methods of tracking down and a sustained supervision, it is easy to establish and to fear today the waking and even the extension of the historic focus formerly called "Foyer Atacora". Since 1974, new patients in second period of the infection are tracked down each year; they particularly come from the localities of Tanguieta and Materi.