Preventive Measures against Ebola and COVID-19 and Their Impact on Human Dirty-Hand Disease Mitigation in Côte d’Ivoire

Sylvain Gnamien Traoré, Gilbert Fokou, Affou Seraphin Wognin, Kathrin Heitz-Tokpa, Sopi Mathilde Tetchi, Foungoye Allassane Ouattara, Malik Orou Seko (), Chantal Akoua-Koffi, Issaka Tiembre and Bassirou Bonfoh
Additional contact information
Sylvain Gnamien Traoré: Biochemistry and Genetics Research Department, Université Peleforo Gon Coulibaly, Korhogo P.O. Box 1328, Côte d’Ivoire
Gilbert Fokou: Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan P.O. Box 1303, Côte d’Ivoire
Affou Seraphin Wognin: Biochemistry and Genetics Research Department, Université Peleforo Gon Coulibaly, Korhogo P.O. Box 1328, Côte d’Ivoire
Kathrin Heitz-Tokpa: Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan P.O. Box 1303, Côte d’Ivoire
Sopi Mathilde Tetchi: Institut National d’Hygiène Publique, Abidjan P.O. Box V 14, Côte d’Ivoire
Foungoye Allassane Ouattara: Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan P.O. Box 1303, Côte d’Ivoire
Malik Orou Seko: Ecole Inter-Etats des Sciences et Médecines Vétérinaires, Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Fann, Dakar P.O. Box 5077, Senegal
Chantal Akoua-Koffi: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bouaké, Bouaké P.O. Box 1174, Côte d’Ivoire
Issaka Tiembre: Institut National d’Hygiène Publique, Abidjan P.O. Box V 14, Côte d’Ivoire
Bassirou Bonfoh: Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, Abidjan P.O. Box 1303, Côte d’Ivoire

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Hygiene is the most useful public health measure for preventing infections of important endemic and emerging diseases of global significance. This study aimed to assess the impact of these public health preventive measures on dirty hand diseases. A retrospective survey was conducted in the rural general hospitals of Taabo (south-central Côte d’Ivoire) and Marcory (urban Abidjan) to collect clinical data on dirty hand diseases in the patients’ records from 2013 to 2020. In addition, focus group discussions (N = 8) were conducted in the communities in both settings to identify the sociocultural and economic hindering or fostering factors that affected the adoption of and the compliance with handwashing and disinfection practices. A total of 3245 and 8154 patients’ records were examined in the general hospitals of Taabo and Marcory, respectively. Compared with women, men were more affected by typhoid fever (OR, 0.68 [95%CI, 0.53–0.88]) and influenza (OR, 0.87 [95%CI, 0.75–1]). Hygiene measures promoted during Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks had no impact on the prevalence of typhoid fever in both settings; however, a positive impact was observed regarding influenza infections. Populations were aware of the importance of handwashing for public health but had difficulties adhering due to financial constraints, access to drinking water, and the absence or scarcity of handwashing facilities.

Keywords: Côte d’Ivoire; COVID-19; dirty-hand disease; Ebola; prevention; hospital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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