Abstract Body

Background:

Overweight is a common risk factor for several chronic conditions including diabetes, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. In Tunisia, although the National Obesity Prevention and Control Strategy was established since 2013, its implementation did not take place until now.

Purpose: To evaluate the management of overweight among adults in the health care centers of the governorate of Sousse.

Method:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014, among 1977 adults living in 16 districts randomly selected from 3 delegations of the governorate of Sousse. A pre-established and pre-tested questionnaire was administered to participants during face to face interviews with pre-trained medical doctors at their homes. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured at the end of each interview.

Results:

The participant’s average age was 39.8 (± 13.8) years. Females represented 61% of participants. Prevalence of overweight was 65.7%. Among those who visited a health care center during the previous year, measurements of weight and waist circumference were reported by 36.5% and 5.6% respectively. Assessment of dietary habits and physical activity were more common among obese consultants. However, assessment proportions of these behavioral risk factors were around 50%.

Conclusion:

Overweight is highly prevalent among the adults of Sousse. The national prevention program of obesity should be no more delayed in Tunisia.

Abstract Body

1.Background and purpose:
Ensuring universal health coverage while preserving the financial security of patients is
fundamental to achieve Sustainable Development Goals related to health. In Tunisia, access to
healthcare vary with territorial development. However, even in favored regions, access to
healthcare services was rarely evaluated.
Aim: To evaluate the access and the recourse to the healthcare services among the adults of
the governorate of Sousse.
2.Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1977 adults living in 16 districts randomly
selected from the governorate of Sousse in 2014. A pre-tested questionnaire served to collect
data about sociodemographic characteristics and the access to healthcare services by pre-
trained medical doctors during face to face interviews.
3.Results :
The mean age of the participants was 39.8 ± 13.8 years. Women represented 61% of them.
Among the participants, 83% had a medium socio-economic level. Lack of social coverage
was reported by 401 (20.3%) participants. Difficulties with access to healthcare services were
reported by 183 participants (9.3%). The 3 lines of care were used almost identically with
referral frequencies of 27%, 24.7% and 24.6% for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd line respectively (p =
0.139). Recourse to private care structures was significantly more frequent among participants
without social security coverage (79.6%) than among those having social security (58.1%) (p<0.001).
4.Conclusion :
Social security coverage, equity in accessing to healthcare and use of the first line must be
strengthened in the governorate of Sousse. The partnership between public and private
structures would improve health coverage in Tunisia.

Abstract Body

Background:

Overweight is a common risk factor for several chronic conditions including diabetes, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. In Tunisia, although the National Obesity Prevention and Control Strategy was established since 2013, its implementation did not take place until now.

Purpose: To evaluate the management of overweight among adults in the health care centers of the governorate of Sousse.

Method:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014, among 1977 adults living in 16 districts randomly selected from 3 delegations of the governorate of Sousse. A pre-established and pre-tested questionnaire was administered to participants during face to face interviews with pre-trained medical doctors at their homes. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured at the end of each interview.

Results:

The participant’s average age was 39.8 (± 13.8) years. Females represented 61% of participants. Prevalence of overweight was 65.7%. Among those who visited a health care center during the previous year, measurements of weight and waist circumference were reported by 36.5% and 5.6% respectively. Assessment of dietary habits and physical activity were more common among obese consultants. However, assessment proportions of these behavioral risk factors were around 50%.

Conclusion:

Overweight is highly prevalent among the adults of Sousse. The national prevention program of obesity should be no more delayed in Tunisia.

Abstract Body

1.Background and purpose:
Ensuring universal health coverage while preserving the financial security of patients is
fundamental to achieve Sustainable Development Goals related to health. In Tunisia, access to
healthcare vary with territorial development. However, even in favored regions, access to
healthcare services was rarely evaluated.
Aim: To evaluate the access and the recourse to the healthcare services among the adults of
the governorate of Sousse.
2.Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1977 adults living in 16 districts randomly
selected from the governorate of Sousse in 2014. A pre-tested questionnaire served to collect
data about sociodemographic characteristics and the access to healthcare services by pre-
trained medical doctors during face to face interviews.
3.Results :
The mean age of the participants was 39.8 ± 13.8 years. Women represented 61% of them.
Among the participants, 83% had a medium socio-economic level. Lack of social coverage
was reported by 401 (20.3%) participants. Difficulties with access to healthcare services were
reported by 183 participants (9.3%). The 3 lines of care were used almost identically with
referral frequencies of 27%, 24.7% and 24.6% for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd line respectively (p =
0.139). Recourse to private care structures was significantly more frequent among participants
without social security coverage (79.6%) than among those having social security (58.1%) (p<0.001).
4.Conclusion :
Social security coverage, equity in accessing to healthcare and use of the first line must be
strengthened in the governorate of Sousse. The partnership between public and private
structures would improve health coverage in Tunisia.