TITLE:
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of the Health Personnel of the Pediatric and Gynecology-Obstetrics Departments of the Bouaké University Hospital Center (CHU) regarding the Intestinal Microbiota and the First 1000 Days of Life
AUTHORS:
Azagoh-Kouadio Richard, Yao Kouassi Christian, Aka-Tanoh Aude Hélène, Siallou-Avi Christelle, Yeboua Kossonou Roland, Gnantin Josette Landryse Sahi, Adou Léioh Roméo, Akanji Iburaima, Amani Alexise, Asse Kouadio Vincent
KEYWORDS:
Intestinal Microbiota, First 1000 Days, Staff, Knowledge, Côte d’Ivoire
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.11 No.1,
February
9,
2021
ABSTRACT: Introduction: The harmonious development of
the intestinal microbiota during the first 1000 days of life promotes the child’s
immediate and future good health. The objective of the study was to evaluate
the knowledge and practices of health personnel on the intestinal microbiota
and the first 1000 days of life for the
improvement of child health. Methods: Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) type survey conducted among health personnel of the
pediatric and gynecology-obstetrics
departments of the Bouaké University Hospital from July 1 to 31, 2017. All consenting agents working
in the said services and present at the time of the study were included.
The parameters studied concerned socio-professional characteristics, knowledge
of the intestinal microbiota, and knowledge and practice of the first 1000
days. The data analysis was descriptive and analytical with a significance
threshold p ≤ 0.05. Results: Out of 224 active agents, 76 (30 men, 46 women) participated in the
survey, i.e. 33.9%. The respondent
came from the gynecology-obstetrics (54%) and pediatrics (46%) departments and
had professional experience >5 years in 38%. Thirty-eight percent of the
respondents had a good knowledge of the intestinal microbiota. Concerning the
first 1000 days of life, 64.5% of the respondents had a good knowledge of the
first 1000 days overall. They advised exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6
months in 95% of cases. When breastfeeding was not feasible, the main criterion
for choosing the infant formula was the
composition (57.1%). They proposed a standard infant formula (43%), enriched with prebiotic (29.4%), enriched with
probiotic (21.6%), a symbiotic (6%). Good knowledge of the intestinal
microbiota was associated with belonging to the paediatric service (p = 0.013),
socio-professional category (p = 0.031),
year of experience >5 years (p = 0.032)
and the first 1000 days of life to year of experience >5 years (p 0.01). Conclusion: The health personnel interviewed did not have a good knowledge of the
intestinal microbiota and the first 1000 days. Capacity building is needed.