Background: This study tests associations between psychosocial stress at work measured by the effort-reward imbalance model in a dynamic perspective, and multiple indicators of poor mental health, in a prospective design.

BackgroundRoutine health information systems (RHIS) are crucial to the acquisition of data for health sector planning. In developing countries, the insufficient quality of the data produced by these systems limits their usefulness in regards to decision-making. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with poor data quality in the RHIS in Benin.MethodsThis cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study included health workers who were responsible for data collection in public and private health centers. The technique and tools used were an interview with a self-administered questionnaire. The dependent variable was the quality of the data. The independent variables were socio-demographic and work-related characteristics, personal and work-related resources, and the perception of the technical factors. The quality of the data was assessed using the Lot Quality Assurance Sampling method. We used survival analysis with univariate proportional hazards (PH) Cox models to derive hazards ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Focus group data were evaluated with a content analysis.ResultsA significant link was found between data quality and level of responsibility (p = 0.011), sector of employment (p = 0.007), RHIS training (p = 0.026), level of work engagement (p < 0.001), and the level of perceived self-efficacy (p = 0.03). The focus groups confirmed a positive relationship with organizational factors such as the availability of resources, supervision, and the perceived complexity of the technical factors.ConclusionThis exploratory study identified several factors associated with the quality of the data in the RHIS in Benin. The results could provide strategic decision support in improving the system’s performance.

BackgroundHypertension remains a public health challenge worldwide. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, its prevalence has increased in the past three decades. Higher prevalence of poor blood pressure control and an increasing number of reported cases of complications due to hypertension have also been observed. It is well established that non-adherence to antihypertensive medication contributes to poor control of blood pressure. The aim of this study is to measure non-adherence to antihypertensive medication and to identify its predictors.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at Kinshasa Primary Health-care network facilities from October to November 2013. A total of 395 hypertensive patients were included in the study. A structured interview was used to collect data. Adherence to medication was assessed using the Morisky Medication Scale. Covariates were defined according to the framework of the World Health Organization. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of non-adherence.ResultsA total of 395 patients participated in this study. The prevalence of non-adherence to antihypertensive medication and blood pressure control was 54.2 % (95 % CI 47.3–61.8) and 15.6 % (95 % CI 12.1–20.0), respectively. Poor knowledge of complications of hypertension (OR = 2.4; 95 % CI 1.4–4.4), unavailability of antihypertensive drugs in the healthcare facilities (OR = 2.8; 95 % CI 1.4–5.5), lack of hypertensive patients education in the healthcare facilities (OR = 1.7; 95 % CI 1.1–2.7), prior experience of medication side effects (OR = 2.2; 95 % CI 1.4–3.3), uncontrolled blood pressure (OR = 2.0; 95 % CI 1.1–3.9), and taking non-prescribed medications (OR = 2.2; 95 % CI 1.2–3.8) were associated with non-adherence to antihypertensive medication.ConclusionThis study identified predictors of non-adherence to antihypertensive medication. All predictors identified were modifiable. Interventional studies targeting these predictors for improving adherence are needed.

PM2.5 and NO exposures incrementally increase the risk of STEMI. The risk related to PM appears to be greater in the elderly, while younger patients appear to be more susceptible to NO exposure.

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