Factors associated with malaria chemoprophylaxis compliance among French service members deployed in Central African Republic

Archive ouverte

Créach, Marie-Aude | Velut, Guillaume | Laval, Franck, De | Briolant, Sébastien | Aigle, Luc | Marimoutou, Catherine | Deparis, Xavier | Meynard, Jean-Baptiste | Pradines, Bruno | Simon, Fabrice | Michel, Remy | Mayet, Aurélie

Edité par CCSD ; BioMed Central -

International audience. Background: Malaria is a public health concern in the French armed forces, with 400-800 cases reported every year and three deaths in the past 2 years. However, lack of chemoprophylaxis (CP) compliance is often reported among service members. The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with CP compliance.Methods: A retrospective study (1296 service members) was carried out among troops deployed in Central African Republic. Determinants of CP were collected by self-questionnaire. Socio-demographic variables, behavioural characteristics, belief variables, operational determinants such as troops in contact (TIC) and number of nights worked per week and peer-to-peer reinforcement were studied. Relationships between covariates and compliance were explored using logistic regressions (outcome: compliance as a dummy variable).Results: Chemoprophylaxis compliance was associated with other individual preventive measures against mosquito bites (bed net use, OR (odds ratio) = 1.41 (95 % CI [1.08-1.84]), and insecticide on clothing, OR = 1.90 ([1.43-2.51]) and malaria-related behaviours (taking chemoprophylaxis at the same time every day, OR = 2.37 ([1.17-4.78]) and taking chemoprophylaxis with food, OR = 1.45 ([1.11-1.89])). High perceived risk of contracting malaria, OR = 1.59 ([1.02-2.50]), positive perception of CP effectiveness, OR = 1.62 ([1.09-2.40]) and the practice of peer-to-peer reinforcement, OR = 1.38 ([1.05-1.82]) were also associated with better compliance. No association was found with TIC and number of nights worked.Conclusions: This study, which shows a positive relationship between peer-to-peer reinforcement and CP compliance, also suggests the existence of two main personality profiles among service members: those who seek risks and those who are health-conscious. Health education should be expanded beyond knowledge, know-how and motivational factors by using a comprehensive approach based on identification of health determinants, development of psychosocial skills and peer-to-peer reinforcement.

• Description
• Sujet/Public
• Outil
• Outil d'anticipation
• Mémoire et thèse
• Gestion