Effets identitaires de la socialisation différentielle de genre sur les aspirations au premier enfant et au mariage des jeunes adolescent(e)s à Ouagadougou: une étude mixte

Studies show that gender socialisation shapes differently the gendered identity, self-esteem, and sexual behaviours of girls and boys. While pre-adolescence is viewed as a pivotal period for gendered socialisation, few studies in francophone Africa investigate the role of gender identity effects on aspirations and sexual and reproductive behaviours at this life stage. This article explores how the internalisation of gender stereotypes during socialisation is linked to the aspirations of girls and boys for certain life events, such as having their first child or getting married. A survey was conducted in 10 primary schools in Ouagadougou, among pupils aged between 9 and 16 years, as well as seven focus group discussions with their parents. The findings indicate a gender-based variation in the effects of adherence to unequal gender norms among young adolescents. As a result, girls tend to have earlier aspirations towards marriage and later aspirations for childbearing, while boys show earlier aspirations for childbearing and later ones for marriage. These effects may expose both girls and boys to risks of poor sexual and reproductive health. Interventions promoting egalitarian gender norms could boost girls' self-esteem as well as mutual respect among young adolescents of both genders, aiming to improve their sexual and reproductive health during adolescence and into adulthood.

Hepatitis B seroprevalence in HIV-infected patients consulting in a public day care unit in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

OBJECTIVE

The authors had for aim to assess the prevalence of hepatitis B co-infection in a cohort of HIV-infected patients, routinely followed-up at the Day Care Unit of the Bobo Dioulasso Sanou Souro University Hospital, Burkina Faso.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The Elisa technique was used to dose HBs antigen (AgHBs), antibodies anti-HBs and anti-HBc in all the patients followed by the biological laboratory, from October to December 2008.

RESULTS

The AgHBs prevalence was 12.7% [CI at 95%: 10.7-15.0%] and men were slightly more likely to be positive for AgHBs than women (16.5% [12.0-21.9%] versus 11.6% [9.4-14.1%]; P=0.047); 83.3% of the patients [80.8-85.6%] were positive for hepatitis B core antibody, and 32.6% [29.7-35.6%] for hepatitis B surface antibody; 29.9% of the patients [27.1-32.8%] had a complete profile of former hepatitis B infection, 41.3% [38.2-44.4%] expressed core antibodies only; 13.8% [11.7-16.0%] had a negative serological test, and 2.3% [1.5-3.4%] presented a vaccinal immunity.

CONCLUSION

These results stress the usefulness of screening for hepatitis B in all HIV-infected patients, along with the initial biological tests. This would help adapt HIV treatment to co-infected patients and to build an expanded program of vaccination for non-immune patients.

Serological diagnosis of human immuno-deficiency virus in Burkina Faso: reliable, practical strategies using less expensive commercial test kits

Reported are the results of a cross-sectional survey in Burkina Faso to identify reliable, practical strategies for the serological diagnosis of HIV-1 and/or HIV-2 infections, using less-expensive commercial test kits in various combinations, as an alternative to the conventional Western blot (WB) test, which costs US$ 60. Serum samples, collected from blood donors, patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and pregnant women, were tested between December 1995 and January 1997. Twelve commercial test kits were available: five Mixt enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), three Mixt rapid tests, and four additional tests including monospecific HIV-1 and HIV-2 ELISA. The reference strategy utilized a combination of one ELISA or one rapid test with WB, and was conducted following WHO criteria. A total of 768 serum samples were tested; 35 were indeterminate and excluded from the analysis. Seroprevalence of HIV in the remaining 733 sera was found to be 37.5% (95% confidence interval: 34.0-41.1). All the ELISA tests showed 100% sensitivity, but their specificities ranged from 81.4% to 100%. GLA (Genelavia Mixt) had the highest positive delta value, while ICE HIV-1.0.2 (ICE) produced the most distinct negative results. Among the rapid tests, COM (CombAIDS-RS) achieved 100% sensitivity and SPO (HIV Spot) 100% specificity. Various combinations of commercial tests, according to recommended WHO strategies I, II, III, gave excellent results when ICE was included in the sequence. The best combination of tests for strategy II, which achieved 100% sensitivity and specificity, was to use ICE and COM, the cost of which was US$ 2.10, compared with US$ 55.60 for the corresponding conventional strategy. For strategy III, the best combination, which achieved 100% sensitivity and specificity, was to use ICE, ZYG (Enzygnost Anti HIV-1/HIV-2 Plus) and COM, the cost of which was US$ 2.90 (19.2 times lower than the corresponding strategy requiring WB). No rapid test combination showed 100% sensitivity and specificity. Our results indicate that the serodiagnosis of HIV in Burkina Faso is possible by using reliable, less-expensive strategies which do not require Western blot testing. Moreover, there is a choice of strategies for laboratories working with or without an ELISA chain.