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In a prospective survey, the authors related 124 cases of maternal traumatic lesions during a child birth. They were apper lesions in 13% of uterine rupture, and lower lesions in 87% cervical vaginal and vulvoperineal ruptures). Adolescent primiparas were the most concerned with an incidence of 9.12% followed by the greater number of multiparas 8.24%. Age, parity, badly or unassisted deliveries were the main factors of risk. For the uterine rupture surgical intervention was preservative in 62% of cases. Suture has been essential in lower lesions. One maternal decease is registered, the foetal forecast is bad (14 foetal decease out of 16) in the uterine rupture. Morbidity was important: 64% in cicatricial perineum, 62% in cicatricial uterine, 37% in hysterectomy. In results, that all the cases of maternal traumatic lesions observed were avoidable. The authors recommended a better pregnancy and delivery care.

Early delivery is not rare, it is an important cause of perinatal mortality. In this study its rate, was 4.95%. The early and late ages of procreation were particularly interested (7.95%) and 3.90%. The first and last parities were more exposed (7.75%-5.31%). The woman occupation was as an important risk-factor. The incidences increased in the poor and rich women groups (7.34%-3.84%) the early labor risk was reduced when the women had efficient prenatal care; when the women had delivered early, the early labor risk increased. So when the women had delivered a stillborn. The early labor risk factor was more important. Finally the authors founded 83.33% of maternal causes could be controlled by efficient prenatal care. Even this rate was so important in the foetal group causes.

A survey for the prevalence, geographical distribution and clinical manifestations of onchocerciasis was conducted on the Island of Bioko (formerly Fernando Póo), Equatorial Guinea, between 1987-89. The whole population (1799 inhabitants) of thirteen villages distributed around the island was surveyed. Identification data, physical examination and Snellen "E" test for visual acuity were performed. Skin snips were taken from both iliac crests and right scapula and calf. Differential diagnosis between Onchocerca volvulus and Mansonella streptocerca was carried out in both fresh and Giemsa stained preparations. The overall prevalence (+ skin snips) and mean microfilarial density were 75.2% (range 51.9% to 87.1%) and 32.2 mf/snip respectively. Skin snips showed a higher microfilarial density from iliac crests. The following clinical manifestations were found: 560 (31.2%) with nodules; 518 (28.8%) with dermatitis, pigmentation changes and cutaneous atrophy; 753 (41.9%) with lymphoadenopathy and lymphoedema. Blindness due to different causes was registered in 13 cases (0.8%). The results showed that onchocerciasis is hyperendemic and widespread over the island. It is estimated that almost the whole population (62,000) is at risk of infection.

Fang women are known to practice virtually no contraception but for them induced abortion is not an acceptable option. Their reproductive behaviour consequently is governed by the ability to conceive, spontaneous intrauterine mortality and child spacing (due to prolonged breast-feeding and sexual abstinence). In a sample of 587 women from one hospital and one clinic in Nsork, there was a positive correlation between maternal age and the number of pregnancies, resulting in a mean of 5.52 pregnancies per female and one child born every 2.5 years. The reported spontaneous abortion rate was 28.6%.

A mathematical model was used to estimate malaria transmission rates based on serological data. The model is minimally stochastic and assumes an age-dependent force of infection for malaria. The transmission rates estimated were applied to a simple compartmental model in order to mimic the malaria transmission. The model has shown a good retrieving capacity for serological and parasite prevalence data.

In Equatorial Guinea the structures of the Trypanosomiasis Control Programme and the primary health care network are being used by the country's campaign against schistosomiasis. The benefits--and considerable difficulties--of this endeavour are discussed in the present article.

A seroparasitological study of malaria was carried out in two of the more important islands of Equatorial Guinea, Bioko (ex Fernando Poo) and Annobón. The study involved a randomly-chosen population of children aged from two to nine years. In Bioko 1130 children were chosen from 29 of the 51 villages on the island; in Annobón 185 children were chosen from the capital town, where all the population lived. Indirect immunofluorescence tests (IFAT) showed a prevalence of malaria infection of 29.8% in Bioko and 55.7% in Annobón. The parasitic prevalence (malaria index) was 26.6% and 55.1% respectively, and the splenic index was 57.0% and 54.6% respectively. The results indicate that this is an area of stable hyperendemic malaria, which may benefit from an antimalarial programme.

A longitudinal community-based study was carried out in order to evaluate the impact of repeated selective population chemotherapy with praziquantel on the epidemiology of an urban focus of Schistosoma intercalatum in the city of Bata, capital of the Continental Region of Equatorial Guinea. Three surveys were undertaken in January of 1988, 1989 and 1990, determining parasitological prevalence, intensity of infection and morbidity and applying repeated targeted mass treatment. One dose of praziquantel (40 mg/kg body weight) was given one week after treatment with mebendazole (100 mg every 12 hours for 3 days). A reduction of the overall prevalence by S. intercalatum of 69.9% and 79.3% in the first and second year respectively was found. Persons showing high parasite burden suffered a reduction of 95.7%. The cure rate (no more eggs in stool) was between 90% and 98.9%. A significant decrease of signs and symptoms was observed. No important side effects were detected. This study shows the positive action of praziquantel in reducing prevalence, intensity of infection and morbidity due to S. intercalatum, above all in the case of a high human population participation response. Cure rates obtained being similar to the ones observed using the same drug in Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium.

Between February and April 1990 the first five cases of human paragonimiasis, tentatively due to Paragonimus africanus, have been detected in Equatorial Guinea, thanks to the normal activities of the National Schistosomiasis Project and its coordination with the National Tuberculosis Project.

The authors report the results of national surveys conducted in 5 Central Africa states: Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and RCA. The method used was cluster sampling among random populations. Only adults (greater than 15 years of age) took part in the study. The prevalence rates were between 6 and 14 per thousand. They are markedly higher than the official data.

In Equatorial Guinea, the human trypanosomiasis, after an intensive surveillance beginning in the 30's, seemed to be controlled by the end of the 60's. A lack of surveillance provoked a surge of different foci, confirmed in 1982 by the spontaneous presentations of sick in the hospitals of the old foci. These processes have been observed in the Luba focus (ex San Carlos) on the island of Bioko (ex Fernando Poo). The situation was grave in 1985 and a survey was organized by the "Centro de Control de la Tripanosomiasis" (Ministerio de Sanidad de Guinea Ecuatorial--Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional) to delimit the focus, to evaluate the presence of the disease in the different villages, to know the characteristics and the distribution of the vector, and evaluate the impact of the mono-pyramidal trap as the method of anti-vectorial control. The results have been obtained and presented in the conclusion.