Search

Skin lightening is a fairly common practice in sub-Saharan Africa, with the epidemiological extent of this fashion phenomenon. To date, no awareness-raising campaign has resulted in a reduction in the frequency of this practice, even with the knowledge of its complications. Systemic complications and skin cancers following the use of depigmenting cosmetics are not as rare as people tend to believe. Systemic complications and skin cancers are among the voluntary cosmetic consequences. Another way of raising awareness needs to be reinvented to effectively raise awareness of the harmful effects of depigmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of people with albinism (PWAs) related to photoprotection and prevention of skin cancers in Togo. Materials and Method: A qualitative, cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of three months in the year 2020 among PWAs over eighteen years of age residing in Lomé, Togo. Results: A total of 78 PWAs were interviewed. Their mean age was 23.38 ± 15.11 years (extremes: 18 and 63 years), and their sex ratio (M/F) was 0.81. In terms of knowledge, all PWAs declared that photoprotection was essential to prevent skin cancers. Interview data revealed the following strengths: wearing a wide-brimmed hat (n = 77; 98.7%) and using sunscreen cream (n = 75; 96.2%) were the main means/measures of prevention. In terms of attitudes, only 27 PWAs (34.6%) said that a dermatology consultation would be their first reaction to an unusual skin lesion. The main prevention means/measures in their possession were wide-brimmed hats (91.3%), sunscreen creams (85.9%), dark clothes (76.9%), and tinted glasses (70.5%). Regarding the practices, sunscreen creams were used by 88.5% of PWAs (n = 69). About two-thirds (64.1%) of respondents used tinted glasses to protect themselves from the sun. Finally, less than a quarter of the respondents (17.9%) consulted a dermatologist for a skin lesion in the last twelve months. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that PWAs in Togo have fairly good knowledge about photoprotection and prevention of skin cancers. Attitudes and practices were generally positive but some behaviors such as dermatological follow-up still require improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Our Dermatology Online / Nasza Dermatologia Online is the property of Our Dermatology Online and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: this study aims to describe the knowledge, attitude and practices of hairdressers about HIV infection in Lomé., Methods: we conducted a descriptive study whose population included hair salon owners and apprentices in the Agoè-Nyivé prefecture, Lomé, between October 1 2016 and March 31 2017. The different parameters studied were data on the general knowledge about HIV, attitudes and practices about HIV/AIDS in the hair salons., Results: a total of 203 owners and apprentices were interviewed in the 68 hair salons in the Agoè-Nyivé prefecture. The study population (100%) knew about HIV/AIDS. Among the participants, 79.3% of them defined it as a sexually transmitted infection. Gloves and aprons were worn before some hairstyling gestures in 33 (51.5%) and 35 (48.5%) hair salons respectively. Moreover, in 60 (88.2%) hair salons, sharp instruments were disinfected prior to their use. However, alcohol was the disinfectant the most commonly used by the majority of the staff of hairdressing salons (89.3%). Moreover, boiling for an average of 7 minutes was performed by 79.8% of hairdressers. In the event of blood exposure accident, 69.6% of staff of hair salons cleaned the exposed site with alcohol., Conclusion: this study shows that hairdressers and their apprentices have good knowledge about HIV infection/AIDS, its modes of transmission and prevention means in hair salons. However, it highlights that the disinfection of soiled equipment and the behaviour of hairdressers and their apprentices in the case of blood exposure accident are sometimes improper., Competing Interests: Les auteurs ne déclarent aucun conflit d'intérêts.