Identification of priorities is a major factor in an public health programme. We should avoid making a selection of priorities on a subjective basis, or basing a decision on temporary situations or the desire of influential personalities confusing personal interests with true priorities. The choice of priorities in health care must take into account two essential factors: 1) The impact of a disease on the population. It can be evaluated by studying:--the mortality rate and the increased life expectation resulting from the suppression of the disease;--the incidence of the disease;--the temporary or the permanent disablement it causes;--the incidence of complications. 2) The possibility of success of health programmes. The possibility of success depends on many factors: technical, logistic, political and psychological, which should be analysed in depth before establishing any priority programme. A public health programme can only be given priority rating when it combines maximum impact on the population with the highest chance of success. Priority rating can be attributed to a public health programme only when long term impact on the population and successful achievement can be combined.

Adolescent↗

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[Anthropometric nutritional indices and food intake of a child population of South Ivory Coast (author's transl)].

The present study was carried out in order to determine new biochemical or immunological parameters which would be used to make an early diagnosis of protein-caloric malnutrition. For the first phase of the research, based on antropometrics (circumference of the arm, head, weight) and on the quantitative evaluation of daily nutritional food intake, three groups of children between the ages of 1 and 3 were selected according to the following criteria: -- Properly nourished children, -- Malnourished children without physical signs of malnutrition, -- Malnourished children with malnutrition signs. The description of these three groups using the forementioned indicators is reported. This work performed on 652 infants shows the following results: -- Whatever the age, mid-arm circumference and weight are significantly reduced in confirmed cases of malnutrition, but are not useful in detecting malnutrition at an early stage. -- Whatever the age, head circumference does not change with the nutritional status, but it is reduced when the malnutrition has set in. -- Whatever the age, the caloric ration (25% deficit) and the proteic ration (35% deficit) of a malnourished child without signs of malnutrition and those of a well nourished child are different. But those ration does not change with an increasing degree of malnutrition.

Anthropometry↗

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[Importance, distribution and main causes of accidents in 1980 in two rural health centers in Ivory Coast. Comparative study (author's transl)].

Everywhere, accidents have got some noteworthy consequential effects on socio-economical growth. In many developing countries, with agricultural economic background and still limited in their preventive and educational health action, the damage is able to impair their development, as much as malnutrition, infections and parasitic diseases. Carried out according to a precise methodology within a programme of research entitled: "Recueil de statistiques sanitaires et choix d'indicateurs de santé en Côte-d'Ivoire", this present study shows that most of usual accidents to children are caused by active or passive shocks, and adults injuries are due to handling sharp and penetrating tools. Burns and injuries caused by animals are noticeably numerous. Concerning road accidents, their incidence rate increases rapidly, even in traditional rural areas. The high frequency of such accidents burden seriously the weak credits budgeted to health formations of rural or sub-urban districts in developing countries. This only observation should incite leaders in putting in this nosologic entity among the significant sanitary priorities of their respective countries. This study enlightens the fact that the main problems of public health must benefit from a well defined epidemiological approach, as accidents do, in order to determine the priority rank and to justify the action to be taken. So, the planners would be able to explore ways and means which could solve at minimum cost the given problems. Primary health cases seem to be particularly adapted to this.

Accidents↗

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[Various biological parameters in sub-clinical protein-calorie malnutrition in Ivory Coast children].

Protein malnutrition is the main aspect of infant pathology in the Third World. This review has been undertaken to find out some early biological indicators of nutritional deficiencies. The review, based on a sample of 1 317 children between 1 and 3 years old, has shown: --in asymptomatic protein malnutrition, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, prealbumin and albumin all significantly decreased. They ease an earlier appreciation than body weight. In protein-calorie malnutrition, body weight remains the major indicator; --children weighing, associated with these parameters determinations, might improve the diagnosis of asymptomatic malnutrition. Indeed, nutrition education of mothers could be envisaged at an early stage. But quick method of determination of these parameters has still to be made practicable.

Body Weight↗

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[Epidemiologic surveillance in an urban tropical milieu].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Cote d'Ivoire↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Epidemiologic surveillance in leprosy control programs].

Epidemiological surveillance of leprosy has to be very particular. As a matter of fact, leprosy is a long lasting disease which occurs for preference in developing countries where means of surveillance are said to be rudimentary and of poor reliability. Moreover initial stage of the disease is always undeterminated and its mean duration depends on clinical forms. Epidemiological and operational constraints are closely related together and must be included in an original surveillance program. The incidence rate is infered from the detection rate ratified by rates of: new monomacular cases, new cases with deformities and ratio multibacillary forms/pancibacillary forms. Prevalence rate is a very important operational indicator. Leprosy must be constantly registered and notified by every people in charge of collecting epidemiological data whether this epidemiological collection is exhaustive or selective. (Selectivity based on morbidity or on health centers in charge of surveillance). It is necessary to repeat transversal domiciliary surveys, in order to obtain necessary information for the knowledge of incidence and prevalence rate determinator. This gives also the possibility to correct the incidence and detection rates outside of the area of influence of health centers. Methodology of surveillance depends not only on epidemiological but also on clinical and operational informations (case holding problems). Feedback of results must be decentralized. In this respect, epidemiological surveillance of leprosy appears to be more interesting than its own purpose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗

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