University Preventive Medicine: The Case of Ankatso University Housing Estates in Antananarivo Madagascar

Abstract

Background: In Madagascar, few studies have been carried out on the health needs of students and university preventive medicine which have an important role in the conduct of studies. This study consists in determining the activities of university preventive medicine in Ankatso Antananarivo and the factors linked to this service allowing students to have a better living condition. Methods: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional and descriptive study, representative of students residing in Ankatso university housing estates. Results: A total of 101 students were interviewed. Among them, only 56.4% knew of the existence of university preventive medicine with female predominance. Among those who knew of the existence of preventive medicine, 48.50% knew of its activities. The frequency of illness has been rare in almost all university housing estates. The main health problems declared by the students were fatigue (89.1%), headache (78.2%), digestive pain (62.4%) and depression (51.5%). The majority of the students had not commented on preventive medicine. Nevertheless 42.9% and 16.7% of the students coming from Ambolokandrina and Ambatomaro noticed respectively a lack of information and an insufficiency of the preventive medicine service of Ankatso. Conclusion: Students require good care in the event of illness, information about preventive medicine and the availability of this service in all university campuses.