Introduction: The profession of motorbike taxi driver is flourishing in Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of traffic accidents involving motorbike taxis. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study conducted from 3 January 2020 to 2 February 2020. The study population consisted of motorbike taxi drivers admitted to the emergency department of the Thies regional hospital (Senegal) after a traffic accident. Results: A total of 63 motorbike taxi drivers took part in the study. The average age was 26.7 years. The level of education was low. The average daily takings were 6,627 FCA francs. The drivers were not wearing helmets in 81% of cases. Similarly, 95% had no driving licence. Stress (39.7%), risky sexual behaviour (36.5%), drug use (22.2%) and alcohol consumption (6.3%) were also found. The main causes of accidents were speeding (96.8%), the effect of other road users (96.8%), the driver’s profile (50.8%), the condition of motorbikes (50.8%) and road conditions (14.3%). The regulations in force on motorbike taxis were perceived bad in 57.1% of cases. Reducing police harassment (95.2%), reducing the cost of taxes (90.5%), training in the highway code (69.8%) were the main expectations of drivers. Conclusion: Motorcycle taxi drivers are highly vulnerable to road accidents. The public authorities need to raise awareness and clean up this type of informal transport.

Introduction: Smoking constitutes a serious risk to the health of workers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of caregivers on the harmful effects of tobacco and their perception of the actions to be promoted for a tobacco-free hospital. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study, carried out from April 1 to May 31, 2021 at the hospitals of Kossodo and Boulmiougou in Ouagadougou. Data collection was done using an anonymous, pre-established self-administered questionnaire. Results: A total of 246 caregivers were participated in the study. The average age was 44.8 years and 77.2% had more than 10 years of seniority in the function. The existence of the anti-tobacco law in Burkina Faso in public places was known by 78.9% of caregivers. Most caregivers were aware of tobacco-related harm (93.5%). The most known tobacco-related pathologies were lung cancer (55.3%), throat cancer (13.8%). Posters (88.2%), the ban on smoking in hospitals (93.9%), staff training (80.5%) and monitoring of compliance with the anti-smoking law (46%) were the major means recommended to achieve a tobacco-free hospital. Conclusion: Caregivers should serve as role models in tobacco control. The establishment of an anti-tobacco surveillance committee in health structures and the strengthening of awareness are to be promoted.

Objectives: It consisted in evaluating psychosocial risk factors among midwives/ maieuticians of Yalgado Ouédrago University Hospital Center of Ouagadougou. Methodology: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional and analytical study, carried out using an anonymous self-questionnaire. The Karasek scale was used to identify risk situations. Data were entered and analyzed using Epi info version 7.0 software. The significance level chosen was p < 5% to assess the link between socio-professional variables and stress. Result: A total of 42 midwives/maieuticians were participated in the study. The average age was 38 years old. Women predominated (71.4%). The average weekly working hours was 45 hours. The average number of monthly guards was 6. The average seniority in the profession was 10.5 years. The prevalence of psychosocial risks was 88.1% for psychological demand, 57.1% for low decision latitude and 64.3% for low social support. Value conflicts (71.4%), job and work insecurity (52.4%) and emotional demands (21.4%) were collected. The prevalence of job train was 52.4% and that of isostrain was 26.2%. The correlation between socio-professional variables and stress was not statistically significant (p˃0.05). Conclusion: Psychosocial risks are omnipresent among midwives/maieuticians. It is urgent to promote the creation of occupational health services in care settings in order to improve the psychosocial environment and to detect the suffering of caregivers early.

Objective: To identify the determinants of the acceptability and skepticism of health workers about the anticovid-19 vaccination during the covid-19 pandemic in Senegal. Material and methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out among health personnel in the Sangalkam Health District from May 1 to May 15, 2021. A questionnaire was sent to the various health professional categories in the district. Anonymity and confidentiality were guaranteed. The data collected was entered and processed with Excel version 2013 software. Results: The participation rate was 82.5% (n = 140). Women represented 83.6% (n = 117). The average age of the respondents was 36.8 years. The average number of years of experience was 9.8 years. Nursing aides were more represented (23.6%). The vaccine rate was 87.1% (n = 122). The inactivated BIBP vaccine (Sinopharm) was the most administered (93.4%). The side effects were minor or even moderate and affected 30.3% of the vaccinees. On the other hand, 12.9% (n = 18) of the respondents were not vaccinated. The main determinants of vaccine acceptance were concern for protection (68%) and compliance with instructions from the hierarchy (29.5%). Mistrust of the information received (61.1%), fear of rumors (57.2%) and side effects (28.6%) were the main reasons for vaccine refusal. Conclusion: Awareness and communication are essential to remove barriers to anticovid-19 vaccination and increase acceptability.

Night work in hospitals, despite its many negative psychosomatic, occupational and social repercussions, remains very little evaluated in African countries, and particularly in Senegal. The objective of this study was to evaluate its various repercussions on the health and socio-professional life of workers. For this, we conducted a cross-sectional and descriptive study over a period of 3 months using anonymous questionnaires. Our sample included health professionals performing night watch. A total of 65 had participated in the study. Women accounted for 63%. State nurses were more numerous (44.7%). The average age was 34.2 years old. The average seniority in night work was 7.1 years. 55.4% of workers felt comfortable with this type of schedule, compared with 44.6% feeling disrupted. 74.6% preferred daytime work. Several impacts of night work were identified. They were physiological, with poor sleep quality (48.4%), insufficient sleep duration (42.2%), menstrual disorders (24.7% of women). On the psychological level, stress (52.3%), temperamental disorders (26.5%), anxiety and depression (7.7%) were found. The somatic effects were chronic fatigue (100%), cardiovascular symptoms, weight disorders (46.1%). On a professional level, the nocturnal victims of blood exposure accidents accounted for 36.5%. On the social level, 42.2% reported disruptions in their family life. Thus, regular medical and psychological monitoring of night workers is fundamental.

Blood Exposure Accidents (BEA) are a daily risk faced by the staff of Kolda’s Regional Hospital Center (RHCK).The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of BEA within this structure and to identify their main determinants. We have done a cross-sectional, descriptive study for an analytical purpose carried out over a period of two months. A total of 81 professionals agreed to participate in the study. Forty of them were victims of BEA (49.3%). The average age of the victims was 36.7 years. Women were the most affected (65%). 45% of victims were previously vaccinated against hepatitis B, before the occurrence of the accident. Nurses were more numerous (42.5%) and maternity was the service where the most victims were collected (25%). The mechanism of occurrence of the accident was dominated by the bite (82.5%). The most common procedures involved were surgical suture (20%), injections (20%) and catheterization (20%). The reporting rate was 66.7%. No contamination was observed. Several risk factors for the occurrence of BEA have been identified. They are psychological (stress, tiredness), organizational (overloaded and/or perforated containers, overwork), environmental (lack of lighting, unsuitable premises). Other factors were related to the patients (agitations, emergencies). In addition to this, there is a lack of respect for standard precautions as well as a lack of training and awareness among staff. Conclusion: the study has shown the need to raise awareness, train and improve the working conditions of caregivers.