III.8.2) PATIENT RECRUITMENT
After the approval of the research protocol and the research
authorizations from the different authorities, the personnel in charge of
archives in the pediatric unit were approached. An exhaustive census of all the
children admitted at the pediatric unit with bacterial meningitis within the
study period was done with their admission dates. Then, with information
obtained from the files selection was done according to inclusion criteria. The
children not corresponding to the inclusion criteria were excluded from the
study. The next step was that information from the different files or medical
books was filled into the pre-prepared questionnaires and was kept strictly
confidential.
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The following information was sought:
- Age
- Gender
- Weight of the child
- Origin (Geographical)
- Class level in school
- Rank among the siblings
- Past history (Immunization calendar, p24 status, underlying
disease, any
contact with someone with meningitis)
- Information on the mother /guardian (age, profession, level of
education,
matrimonial status)
- Manifestation of the disease in the child (convulsions, fever,
kerning,
Brudzinski's, nuchal rigidity, lethargy) and physical
examination
- Laboratory findings on CSF (Isolation of bacterium either by
culture ,
soluble antigens and /or Gram stain)
- Treatment (antibiotherapy proposed)
- Evolution throughout the admission (cured, death)
- Any preventive measure proposed (either on the education on
vaccination
programme which is to be respected as directed or education on
chemoprophylaxis with the rest of the individuals at high risk in the
entourage).
The studied variables included:
? Dependent variables: childhood bacterial meningitis
? Independent variables:
- socio- demographic,
- intervening factors such as immune status
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III.8.3) DATA MANAGEMENT
The data were collected and recorded on the pre-prepared
questionnaire, where the data in a form designed and coded for study. Pass word
were employed on the PC in order to ensure security and confidentiality of
data.The data were analysed using Microsoft Excel 2016 and CS PRO 7.2 software.
The data were analysed following the analyses plan set by the investigator; and
the results were recorded then discussed accordingly. Evolution was grouped
into three categories: Cured and death.
III.8.3.1) ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS
The data collected during the study process was kept and
treated confidential, and the prepared questionnaires used to collect the data
were destroyed after the analyses finished. The study was not used for any
personal profit, but for benefits to the general population and also to health
care givers which will use the information for the amelioration of care in our
various health centers and hospitals.
III.9 MANAGERIAL ASPECTS III.9.1) HUMAN RESOURCES
o Supervisor: 01
o Co-supervisors: 02
o Principal Investigator: MAURANE EMMA NDJOCK MBEA
o Collaborators (medical and paramedical personnel)
o A statistician
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CHAPITRE FOUR
RESULTS
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