Hawa Thiam Ndiaye

The proportion of medical consultations motivated by skin diseases in the health centers of Bamako (Republic of Mali).

Background Skin diseases have recently been identified as a public health problem in developing countries. However, most studies on skin diseases in developing countries have been conducted in specialized dermatologic centers. Data on the proportion of consultations motivated by skin diseases in nonspecialized health centers in developing countries are scarce. In order to appreciate the request for dermatologic care of the population of a developing African country, we attempted to measure this proportion in health centers of Bamako, the capital of Mali.

Integration of basic dermatological care into primary health care services in Mali.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate, in a developing country, the effect of a short training programme for general health care workers on the management of common skin diseases--a neglected component of primary health care in such regions. METHODS We provided a one-day training programme on the management of the skin diseases to 400 health care workers who worked in primary health care centres in the Bamako area. We evaluated their knowledge and practice before and after training. FINDINGS Before training, knowledge about skin diseases often was poor and practice inadequate. We found a marked improvement in both parameters after training. We analysed the registers of primary health care centres and found that the proportion of patients who presented with skin diseases who benefited from a clear diagnosis and appropriate treatment increased from 42% before the training to 81% after; this was associated with a 25% reduction in prescription costs. Improved levels of knowledge and practice persisted for up to 18 months after training. CONCLUSIONS The training programme markedly improved the basic dermatological abilities of the health care workers targeted. Specific training may be a reasonable solution to a neglected component of primary health care in many developing countries.

Side effects of depigmenting products in Bamako, Mali

There can be no doubt that, generally speaking, having beautiful, radiant skin is by no means a matter of minor concern for women in Mali, as for those in other countries. They therefore use all available means to enhance their skin: foundation, other types of make-up and, increasingly, skin-bleaching products. The use of skin-bleaching products has become a fashionable practice in recent years in our African villages, involving mainly women but sometimes both sexes. Termed “caco” in Mali and “xeesal” in Senegal, the users of these products have been increasing in number: prevalences of 25% in Bamako 1 and 59% in Togo 2 have been reported. The financial impact of the practice is by no means negligible, and cutaneous complications are very frequent. 3 However, the risk of any specific complication occurring is not the same for all the complications which are likely to occur. Risks vary from one individual to another and are also connected with the type of product used. The aim of this study was to quantify the risk of cutaneous complications occurring in connection with the cosmetic use of skin-bleaching products.

Hair Care and Hair Styles in Women in Bamako, Mali

In contrast to Caucasian hair, which is fine and silky, black African hair has a dry and frizzy consistency. In both sexes, the natural hairstyle formed by the hair is used in various contexts as a means of self-expression, in particular to express female beauty. 1 Dry and frizzy hair does not easily lend itself to different methods of hair styling. Nevertheless, our hair salons produce hair styles that are impressive in aesthetic terms but which are poorly documented. 2 Hair care may also be sought for scalp problems such as pruritus, dandruff and alopecia. The types of hair care and styles available, as well as the side effects of the techniques employed, are poorly understood in Bamako. The aim of this study was to acquire a better understanding of the hair care and hair styling carried out in salons and hairdressing centers, as well as the side effects of these procedures observed in women in Bamako.

Pruritus in dermatological hospital in Bamako, Mali

Pruritus is a symptom frequently encountered in dermatology consultations. For practitioners working in a tropical environment, particularly in Africa, the diagnosis of pruritus remains a constant problem. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemioclinical aspects and the etiologies of pruritus encountered at the dermatological hospital in Bamako. We conducted a prospective survey on a cohort of patients attending the Department of Dermatology at the Centre National d’Appui (CNAM‐Ex Institut Marchoux) in the Fight against Disease over a 1‐year period (June 1, 2009–May 31, 2010). Consequently, the study included every patient, whatever their age and gender, that agreed to take part in the survey and whose main reason for attending for a consultation was “pruritus.” The clinical and biological data were entered and analyzed using Epi Info software, version 6.04 fr. A total of 232 patients (163 women, 69 men) attended because of pruritus out of 1761 overall patients (i.e., a prevalence of 13.17%). The mean age of the patients was 33 ± 19 years. Dermatological causes represented 95% of the etiologies. This work allowed us to observe the systemic causes of pruritus in the dermatological environment in Mali and greater likelihood of black women to attend because of pruritus.