title: [Preparedness for influenza A/H5N1 pandemic in Niger: a study on health care workers' knowledge and global organization of health activities].
abstract: In industrialized countries, the emergence of potentially pandemic influenza virus has invited reactions consistent with the potential threat represented by these infectious agents. However, with globalization, controlling epidemics depends as much on an effective global coordination of control methods as on preparedness of northern and southern national health care systems, at the core of which are health care workers. Our study was conducted in the National Hospital of Niamey, the main Nigerian hospital. Its objective was to evaluate the knowledge of health care professionals regarding flu pandemic and control of infection. We interviewed 178 nursing staff, doctors and paramedics on the basis of a survey. This study - the first to our knowledge to explore these issues in the African context-revealed that caregivers have a rather good mastery of theoretical knowledge. Nevertheless, beyond theoretical knowledge, miscellaneous factors compromise the effectiveness of the health care structure. Some of them seem to occupy a critical position, particularly the absence of shared references among sanitary authorities and health care professionals, and the weaknesses of global coordination of preventive activities and case management.
authors: CNRS, UMI 3189, Marseille, France. eugeniealessandro@hotmail.com
authors: E
authors: E
authors: d'Alessandro
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Soula
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Jaffré
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Gourouza
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Adehossi
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Delmont
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002959:Civil Defense / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000502:physiology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008503:Medical Staff / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009548:Niger / Q000453:epidemiology; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D055815:Young Adult