About one billion people worldwide are at risk for iodine deficiency. Despite existing programs of prophylaxis, the prevention of iodine deficiency is still a challenge throughout the developing world. We studied the efficacy of low doses of iodized oil in an area of severe iodine deficiency in Zaire. ; Clinical Trial ; Journal Article ; Randomized Controlled Trial ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; SCOPUS: cp.j ; info:eu-repo/semantics/published
Aims: To estimate the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in the Kampong Cham province and to determine the association between these symptoms and an impaired social functioning. Methods: Cross-sectional cluster sample survey conducted among adults randomly selected within 50 clusters distributed over the province. Results: Of the respondents, 42.4% reported symptoms that met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition criteria for depression, 53% displayed high anxiety symptoms and 7.3% met posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) criteria. Posttraumatic symptoms of intrusion and avoidance were present in 47.8% and 45.4% respectively. When reviewing comorbidities, 29.2% had depression and anxiety symptoms, 16.5% anxiety symptoms, 6.1% depression and 7.1% had triple comorbidity (PTSD, depression and anxiety). Regarding social functioning, 25.3% reported being socially impaired. Respondents with comorbid symptoms for depression, anxiety and PTSD were associated with an increased risk for social impairment compared with others. Being over 65 years and having experienced violent events were other factors associated with social impairment. Conclusion: Five years after the return of a more stable context in Cambodia, the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in the community remains high. In addition, these symptoms are strongly associated with social impairment. This suggests that beyond psychosocial programs, the implementation of adapted clinical psychiatric care should be considered as a priority.
The population of eastern Kivu, like that of Rwanda, has been surviving in critical conditions for many years. The Rwandan refugees of 1994 fled into an area with its own serious problems. The Zairean health services in the health districts of Rutshuru, Kirotshe and Masisi, in spite of the political and socioeconomic disintegration of the country, were still functioning, and the local hospitals and health centres, although overwhelmed, contributed to a large extent to the disaster response. Prominent among the major problems facing the local health services were their limited adaptability, the inadequate coordination and collaboration offered to them by the humanitarian aid agencies, and the discrimination between the direct and secondary victims of the emergency. The public health consequences of the Rwandan refugee crisis for the Zairean population constitute an integral part of the disaster. ; Peer reviewed
