Biomedical subjects

C Oepen

Publications and source records attributed to C Oepen.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1990

Neonatal mid-upper-arm circumference is a valid proxy for birth-weight.

A survey was carried out on a consecutive sample of 973 newborn babies representative for the city of Ouagadougou to assess the validity of neonatal mid-upper-arm-circumference (MUAC) as an indicator of birth-weight. The optimal cut-off point of neonatal MUAC to differentiate between low (less than 2500 g) and normal (greater than or equal to 2500 g) birth-weight babies was 9.5 cm. High values for sensitivity (91%) and specificity (83%) indicate an excellent validity. A newborn with a MUAC of less than 9.5 cm runs a 23 fold risk of being of low birth-weight (relative risk). The advantages of this simple, locally available and inexpensive indicator, which can be used by trained traditional birth attendants (TBA) and by the mothers themselves as a substitute for birth-weight, are discussed.

Anthropometry↗

PubMed1989

Assessment of MCH services offered by professional and community health workers in the district of Solenzo, Burkina Faso. I. Utilization of MCH services.

A representative household survey of a district of Burkina Faso was carried out in order to study the utilization of trained birth attendants (TBA) versus professional health workers as providers of under fives' (UFC), antenatal (ANC), and maternity care (MC). Overall utilization by the target groups varied between 13 per cent (UFC), 31 per cent (ANC), and 32 per cent (MC). The presence of a village health post did not increase utilization of MCH care. Furthermore, those who did utilize, preferred to choose another source of care: the professional midwife for ANC, the traditional 'old woman' for delivery. Sick infants were generally not taken to the village health worker (VHW), but rather treated by the family itself. The determinants of utilization were assessed by means of multivariate analysis. The level of care offered in the village (health post, dispensary, and medical centre), educational level of both the mother and the husband, and ethnic group were identified as major factors influencing health seeking behaviour in MCH. A strong case is made for improvement of quality of care before extension of geographical coverage. The importance of involving husbands in sensitization for the utilization of MCH-care is stressed and the implications are discussed for the role of the community health workers in caring for mothers and children.

Burkina Faso↗

PubMed1988

[The problem of a medical health program for children in the Sahal zone of Africa: exemplified by Burkina Faso].

To date, medical programmes aimed at helping children have tended to be well-meant rather than effective. However, the scientific evaluation of past experience may provide helpers and those who bear the political responsibility with the knowledge that they require in order to render such programmes more effective. Long-term, broad-based (i.e. national or politically supported) programmes are preferable to spontaneous and timely actions.

Burkina Faso↗