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Purpose In most low-income countries, the diagnosis of retinoblastoma is delayed, resulting in a severe prognosis. The objectives of this study were to describe the access to diagnosis and care of children diagnosed with retinoblastoma and the challenges in two sub-Saharan African countries: the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Patients and Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected from the medical records of patients admitted during the period of January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014. Data were entered and analyzed using Epi Info7.1 software and SAS 9.3. Results One hundred sixteen cases of retinoblastoma were collected, including 60 boys and 56 girls. The median diagnosis age was 3 years for both countries. Ninety-eight patients (84%) had unilateral retinoblastoma. Most of the patients presented with advanced disease (76% had extraocular retinoblastoma). Median time between initial symptoms and diagnosis was 8.5 months (range, 0.4 to 116.7 months). Median time between diagnosis and treatment initiation was 31 days (range, 0 to 751 days). The median cost for the treatment of the disease was estimated at $1,954 per patient. Conclusion Late diagnosis of retinoblastoma, with extraocular disease, occurs frequently in both African countries. It is associated with delay in initiating treatment, and the cost of the treatment remains unaffordable for most of the families. Support groups for parents of affected children and the support of the Franco-African Pediatric Oncology Group remain important in improving early diagnosis and providing treatment in sub-Saharan African countries.

Objective: To describe changes in HIV-1 plasma viral load (VL) and CD4 cell counts and to assess zidovudine resistance associated with a short course of oral zidovudine during late pregnancy. Methods: From April 1996 to February 1998 in Abidjan Cote dIvoire 280 HIV-1-seropositive women were randomly assigned at 36 weeks gestation to receive zidovudine (300 mg) or placebo twice a day and then one tablet every 3 h from the onset of labor until delivery. Blood samples obtained every 2 weeks until delivery then at 2 and 4 weeks and 3 or 6 months after delivery were tested from selected women based on duration of therapy for plasma VL and CD4 cell counts and samples from 20 women in the zidovudine group were tested by DNA sequencing for the presence of zidovudine resistance mutations. Results: In the zidovudine group the median reduction in plasma VL (log(10) copies/ml) was -0.48 after 2 weeks (P=0.02 versus placebo) -0.48 after 4 weeks (P=0.06) -.80 after 6 weeks (P=0.29) of treatment -0.12 at delivery (P=0.11) -0.21 at 2 weeks (P=0.83) -0.17 at 4 weeks (P=0.69) and -0.21 at 3 months (P=0.56) postpartum. Median CD4 cell counts were higher in the zidovudine than in the placebo group after 2 4 and 6 weeks of treatment (P

OBJECTIVE: To survey knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding water use and infant feeding in the Koumassi District of Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, and to evaluate the microbiologic quality of source and stored drinking water. DESIGN: Random-cluster household survey. METHODS: We randomly selected 20 clusters, each comprising six households with at least 1 child aged < or =3 years. In each household, we administered a questionnaire and collected source and stored drinking water samples and tested these for chlorine levels and for total coliform and fecal bacteria count ( Escherichia coli ). RESULTS: Municipal water was used for drinking in 112 (93%) of 120 households, and in 99 (83%), it was stored for later use. By 1 month of age, 97 (90%) of 108 infants given drinking water were given stored water for drinking. In 8 (66%) of 12 households where children were receiving artificial feeding, formula was prepared from municipal water without additional treatment. Stored water had lower levels of free chlorine than source water (median of 0.05 versus 0.2 mg/dl; p