[Survey of smoking in the rural area of Thiadiaye, Senegal]

The objective of this article is to study the place of tobacco addiction in a rural area in Senegal. We have performed a transversal and domicillary study on a sample of adults and adolescents of the district of Thiadiaye (Senegal). The mean age of the studied population is 39 +/- 8.5 years (extremes: 12 and 100 years). The sex ratio is 0.85%. The prevalence of tobacco addict was 24.07%, 9% of the teenagers and 32% of the adults were smokers. Tobacco use was more frequent among men (89% 5%) than women (10.5%) (p < 10(-7)). The most common form was traditional tobacco: 62.1%. Cigarette was smoked in 14.4% of cases. The mean duration of tobacco use was 13 +/- -12.2 years. The mean consumption per day of traditional tobacco was 5.1 +/- 4, whereas the mean number of cigarettes per day is 12.3 +/- -7. Our study shows that tobacco occupies an important place in rural area in Senegal where coexist with traditional habits, a modern tobacco use represented by cigarette smoking.

[Arterial pressure and body mass index of children and adolescents in a rural area of Thiadiaye, Senegal]

The purpose of this study is to assess the profile of blood pressure and body mass index of children and adolescents in a rural area in Africa. It is a prospective study concerning a sample of 465 children and adolescents in the district of Thiadiaye (Senegal). The ration boys/girls was 1.02. Blood pressure was higher in girls. The prevalence of hypertension was 5.1% for the children and 1.5% for adolescents. There was no significative variation in body mass index for children whereas we were noted an augmentation with age in adolescence. The parameters of corpulence are higher in girls in adolescence. The prevalence of obesity was 3% in children and 2.4% for adolescents. There was no correlation between blood pressure and body mass index. This study show many particularities in rural area as for as blood pressure and body mas index of children and adolescent are concerned.