2022 |
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![]() | Silene Casari, Monica Di Paola, Elena Banci, Salou Diallo, Luca Scarallo, Sara Renzo, Agnese Gori, Sonia Renzi, Monica Paci, Quirijn Mast, Tal Pecht, Karim Derra, Berenger Kaboré, Halidou Tinto, Duccio Cavalieri, Paolo Lionetti Changing Dietary Habits: The Impact of Urbanization and Rising Socio-Economic Status in Families from Burkina Faso in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal Article In: Nutrients, vol. 14, iss. 9, 2022, ISSN: 2072-6643. Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: *Economic Status, *Urbanization, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Feeding Behavior, fiber intake, Humans, rural diet, Rural Population, sub-Saharan Africa, Urban Population, urbanization, Western diet | Links: @article{nokey, (1) Background: Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing the fastest urbanization worldwide. People in rural areas still have a traditional and rural lifestyle, whereas the Westernization of diet and lifestyle is already evident in urban areas. This study describes dietary habits of families in Burkina Faso living at different levels of urbanization. (2) Methods: Data on lifestyle, socio-economic conditions, health status and anthropometry were collected from 30 families living in rural villages, a small town and the capital city. A food frequency questionnaire and a 24 h recall diary were used to estimate dietary habits and macronutrients intake. (3) Results: The urban cohort showed a more diversified diet, with a higher intake of animal protein and, especially in children, a higher consumption of simple sugars. Fiber intake was significantly higher in the rural and semi-urbanized cohorts. As expected, overweight and obesity gradually increased with the level of urbanization. In semi-urbanized and urban families, we observed coexistence of under- and over-nutrition, whereas in rural families, a portion of children were wasted and stunted, and adults were underweight. (4) Conclusions: These three cohorts represent a model of the effect on diet of rural-to-urban migration. Rural diet and traditional habits are replaced by a Western-oriented diet when families move to urbanized areas. This dietary transition and increased socio-economic status in newly developing urban areas have a major impact on disease epidemiology, resembling the past evolution in Western countries. | ||
![]() | Moussa Lingani, Serge Henri Zango, Innocent Valéa, Georges Somé, Maïmouna Sanou, Sékou O. Samadoulougou, Serge Ouoba, Eli Rouamba, Annie Robert, Michèle Dramaix, Philippe Donnen, Halidou Tinto Low birth weight and its associated risk factors in a rural health district of Burkina Faso: a cross sectional study. Journal Article In: BMC pregnancy and childbirth, vol. 22, iss. 1, pp. 228, 2022, ISSN: 1471-2393. Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: *Antimalarials/therapeutic use, *Rural Health, Associated factors, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Infant, Low Birth Weight, Newborn, Pregnancy, Risk Factors, Rural area | Links: @article{nokey, BACKGROUND: Low birth weight (LBW) is a major factor of neonate mortality that particularly affects developing countries. However, the scarcity of data to support decision making to reduce LBW occurrence is a major obstacle in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of LBW at the Yako health district in a rural area of Burkina Faso. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was conducted at four peripheral health centers among mothers and their newly delivered babies. The mothers' socio-demographic and obstetrical characteristics were collected by face-to-face interview or by review of antenatal care books. Maternal malaria was tested by standard microscopy and neonates' birth weights were documented. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with LBW. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of 600 neonates examined, the prevalence of low birth weight was 11.0%. Adjustment for socio-demographic characteristic, medical conditions, obstetrical history, malaria prevention measures by multivariate logistic regression found that being a primigravid mother (aOR = 1.8, [95% CI: 1.1-3.0]), the presence of malaria infection (aOR = 1.9, [95% CI: 1.1-3.5]), the uptake of less than three doses of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for the intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp-SP) (aOR = 2.2, [95% CI: 1.3-3.9]), the presence of maternal fever at the time of delivery (aOR = 2.8, [95% CI: 1.5-5.3]) and being a female neonate (aOR = 1.9, [95% CI: 1.1-3.3]) were independently associated with an increased risk of LBW occurrence. The number of antenatal visits performed by the mother during her pregnancy did not provide any direct protection for low birth weight. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of LBW remained high in the study area. Maternal malaria, fever and low uptake of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine doses were significantly associated with LBW and should be adequately addressed by public health interventions. | ||
![]() | Biébo Bihoun, Serge Henri Zango, Maminata Traoré-Coulibaly, Innocent Valea, Raffaella Ravinetto, Jean Pierre Van Geertruyden, Umberto D'Alessandro, Halidou Tinto, Annie Robert Age-modified factors associated with placental malaria in rural Burkina Faso. Journal Article In: BMC pregnancy and childbirth, vol. 22, iss. 1, pp. 248, 2022, ISSN: 1471-2393. Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: *Malaria, *Malaria/epidemiology, Adult, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Falciparum/parasitology, Female, Gravidity, Humans, Malaria, placenta, Placenta/parasitology, Pregnancy, Risk Factors | Links: @article{nokey, BACKGROUND: Malaria in pregnancy can result in placental infection with fetal implications. This study aimed at assessing placental malaria (PM) prevalence and its associated factors in a cohort of pregnant women with peripheral malaria and their offspring. METHOD: The data were collected in the framework of a clinical trial on treatments for malaria in pregnant women . Placental malaria (PM) was diagnosed by histopathological detection of parasites and/or malaria pigment on placenta biopsies taken at delivery. Factors associated with PM were assessed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Out of 745 biopsies examined, PM was diagnosed in 86.8 % of women. Acute, chronic and past PM were retrieved in 11 (1.5 %), 170 (22.8 %), and 466 (62.6 %) women, respectively. A modifying effect was observed in the association of gravidity or anemia at the study start with pooled PM (presence of parasites and/or malaria pigment). In women under 30, gravidity ≤ 2 was associated with an increased prevalence of pooled PM but in women aged 30 years or more, gravidity was no more associated with pooled PM (OR 6.81, 95 % CI 3.18 - 14.60; and OR 0.52, 95 % CI 0.10 - 2.76, respectively). Anemia was associated with pooled PM in women under 30 (OR 1.96, 95 % CI 1.03 - 3.72) but not in women aged 30 years or more (OR 0.68, 95 % CI 0.31 - 1.49). Similarly, the association of gravidity with past-chronic PM depended also on age. A higher prevalence of active PM was observed in women under 30 presenting with symptomatic malaria (OR 3.79, 95 % CI 1.55 - 9.27), while there was no significant increase in the prevalence of active PM (presence of parasites only) in women with symptomatic malaria when aged 30 years or more (OR 0.42, 95 % CI 0.10 - 1.75). In women with chronic PM, the prevalence of low birth weight or prematurity was the highest (31.2 %) as compared with past PM or no PM. CONCLUSION: Despite the rapid diagnosis and efficacious treatment of peripheral infection, the prevalence of placental malaria remained high in women with P. falciparum peripheral infection in Nanoro, especially in younger women This underlines the importance of preventive measures in this specific group. | ||
2021 |
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Journal Articles |
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![]() | Serge Ouoba, Jean Claude Romaric Pingdwinde Ouedraogo, Moussa Lingani, Bunthen E, Md Razeen Ashraf Hussain, Ko Ko, Shintaro Nagashima, Aya Sugiyama, Tomoyuki Akita, Halidou Tinto, Junko Tanaka Epidemiologic profile of hepatitis C virus infection and genotype distribution in Burkina Faso: a systematic review with meta-analysis Journal Article In: BMC Infect. Dis., vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1126, 2021, ISSN: 1471-2334, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34724902 PMCID: PMC8561994). Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Genotype, Hepacivirus/genetics, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C/epidemiology, Humans, Prevalence, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Seroprevalence, Systematic review | Links: @article{Ouoba2021-ug, BACKGROUND: Detailed characteristics of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Burkina Faso are scarce. The main aim of this study was to assess HCV seroprevalence in various settings and populations at risk in Burkina Faso between 1990 and 2020. Secondary objectives included the prevalence of HCV Ribonucleic acid (RNA) and the distribution of HCV genotypes. METHODS: A systematic database search, supplemented by a manual search, was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and African Index Medicus. Studies reporting HCV seroprevalence data in low and high-risk populations in Burkina Faso were included, and a random-effects meta-analysis was applied. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs institute checklist. RESULTS: Low-risk populations were examined in 31 studies involving a total of 168,151 subjects, of whom 8330 were positive for HCV antibodies. Six studies included a total of 1484 high-risk persons, and 96 had antibodies to HCV. The pooled seroprevalence in low-risk populations was 3.72% (95% CI: 3.20-4.28) and 4.75% (95% CI: 1.79-8.94) in high-risk groups. A non-significant decreasing trend was observed over the study period. Seven studies tested HCV RNA in a total of 4759 individuals at low risk for HCV infection, and 81 were positive. The meta-analysis of HCV RNA yielded a pooled prevalence of 1.65% (95% CI: 0.74-2.89%) in low-risk populations, which is assumed to be indicative of HCV prevalence in the general population of Burkina Faso and suggests that about 301,174 people are active HCV carriers in the country. Genotypes 2 and 1 were the most frequent, with 60.3% and 25.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HCV seroprevalence is intermediate in Burkina Faso and indicates the need to implement effective control strategies. There is a paucity of data at the national level and for rural and high-risk populations. General population screening and linkage to care are recommended, with special attention to rural and high-risk populations. | ||
![]() | Mphatso Dennis Phiri, Matthew Cairns, Issaka Zongo, Frederic Nikiema, Modibo Diarra, Rakiswendé Serge Yerbanga, Amadou Barry, Amadou Tapily, Samba Coumare, Ismaila Thera, Irene Kuepfer, Paul Milligan, Halidou Tinto, Alassane Dicko, Jean Bosco Ouédraogo, Brian Greenwood, Daniel Chandramohan, Issaka Sagara The duration of protection from azithromycin against malaria, acute respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin infections when given alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention: Secondary analyses of data from a clinical trial in houndé, Burkina Faso, and bougouni, Mali Journal Article In: Clin. Infect. Dis., vol. 73, no. 7, pp. e2379–e2386, 2021, ISSN: 1537-6591 1058-4838, (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. PMID: 33417683 PMCID: PMC8492219). Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Antimalarials/therapeutic use, Azithromycin, Azithromycin/therapeutic use, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, child mortality, Drug Combinations, duration of protection, Humans, Infant, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology/prevention & control, Mali/epidemiology, Preschool, Sahel, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons | Links: @article{Phiri2021-oy, BACKGROUND: Mass drug administration (MDA) with azithromycin (AZ) is being considered as a strategy to promote child survival in sub-Saharan Africa, but the mechanism by which AZ reduces mortality is unclear. To better understand the nature and extent of protection provided by AZ, we explored the profile of protection by time since administration, using data from a household-randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Burkina Faso and Mali. METHODS: Between 2014 and 2016, 30 977 children aged 3-59 months received seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine and either AZ or placebo monthly, on 4 occasions each year. Poisson regression with gamma-distributed random effects, accounting for the household randomization and within-individual clustering of illness episodes, was used to compare incidence of prespecified outcomes between SMC+AZ versus SMC+placebo groups in fixed time strata post-treatment. The likelihood ratio test was used to assess evidence for a time-treatment group interaction. RESULTS: Relative to SMC+placebo, there was no evidence of protection from SMC+AZ against hospital admissions and deaths. Additional protection from SMC+AZ against malaria was confined to the first 2 weeks post-administration (protective efficacy (PE): 24.2% [95% CI: 17.8%, 30.1%]). Gastroenteritis and pneumonia were reduced by 29.9% [21.7; 37.3%], and 34.3% [14.9; 49.3%], respectively, in the first 2 weeks postadministration. Protection against nonmalaria fevers with a skin condition persisted up to 28 days: PE: 46.3% [35.1; 55.6%]. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits of AZ-MDA are broad-ranging but short-lived. To maximize impact, timing of AZ-MDA must address the challenge of targeting asynchronous morbidity and mortality peaks from different causes. | ||
![]() | Daniel Chandramohan, Issaka Zongo, Issaka Sagara, Matthew Cairns, Rakiswendé-Serge Yerbanga, Modibo Diarra, Frédéric Niki`ema, Amadou Tapily, Frédéric Sompougdou, Djibrilla Issiaka, Charles Zoungrana, Koualy Sanogo, Alassane Haro, Mahamadou Kaya, Abdoul-Aziz Sienou, Seydou Traore, Almahamoudou Mahamar, Ismaila Thera, Kalifa Diarra, Amagana Dolo, Irene Kuepfer, Paul Snell, Paul Milligan, Christian Ockenhouse, Opokua Ofori-Anyinam, Halidou Tinto, Abdoulaye Djimde, Jean-Bosco Ouédraogo, Alassane Dicko, Brian Greenwood Seasonal malaria vaccination with or without seasonal malaria chemoprevention Journal Article In: N. Engl. J. Med., vol. 385, no. 11, pp. 1005–1017, 2021, ISSN: 1533-4406 0028-4793, (Copyright © 2021 Massachusetts Medical Society. Place: United States PMID: 34432975). Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Amodiaquine/therapeutic use, Antimalarials/adverse effects/therapeutic use, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Combination, Combined Modality Therapy, Double-Blind Method, Drug Combinations, Drug Therapy, Falciparum/epidemiology/mortality/prevention & control, Febrile/etiology, Female, Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Malaria Vaccines/administration & dosage/adverse effects, Male, Mali/epidemiology, Pyrimethamine/therapeutic use, Seasons, Seizures, Sulfadoxine/therapeutic use | Links: @article{Chandramohan2021-qm, BACKGROUND: Malaria control remains a challenge in many parts of the Sahel and sub-Sahel regions of Africa. METHODS: We conducted an individually randomized, controlled trial to assess whether seasonal vaccination with RTS,S/AS01E was noninferior to chemoprevention in preventing uncomplicated malaria and whether the two interventions combined were superior to either one alone in preventing uncomplicated malaria and severe malaria-related outcomes. RESULTS: We randomly assigned 6861 children 5 to 17 months of age to receive sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine (2287 children [chemoprevention-alone group]), RTS,S/AS01E (2288 children [vaccine-alone group]), or chemoprevention and RTS,S/AS01E (2286 children [combination group]). Of these, 1965, 1988, and 1967 children in the three groups, respectively, received the first dose of the assigned intervention and were followed for 3 years. Febrile seizure developed in 5 children the day after receipt of the vaccine, but the children recovered and had no sequelae. There were 305 events of uncomplicated clinical malaria per 1000 person-years at risk in the chemoprevention-alone group, 278 events per 1000 person-years in the vaccine-alone group, and 113 events per 1000 person-years in the combination group. The hazard ratio for the protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01E as compared with chemoprevention was 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84 to 1.01), which excluded the prespecified noninferiority margin of 1.20. The protective efficacy of the combination as compared with chemoprevention alone was 62.8% (95% CI, 58.4 to 66.8) against clinical malaria, 70.5% (95% CI, 41.9 to 85.0) against hospital admission with severe malaria according to the World Health Organization definition, and 72.9% (95% CI, 2.9 to 92.4) against death from malaria. The protective efficacy of the combination as compared with the vaccine alone against these outcomes was 59.6% (95% CI, 54.7 to 64.0), 70.6% (95% CI, 42.3 to 85.0), and 75.3% (95% CI, 12.5 to 93.0), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of RTS,S/AS01E was noninferior to chemoprevention in preventing uncomplicated malaria. The combination of these interventions resulted in a substantially lower incidence of uncomplicated malaria, severe malaria, and death from malaria than either intervention alone. (Funded by the Joint Global Health Trials and PATH; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03143218.). | ||
![]() | Isidore Tiandiogo Traoré, Samiratou Ouedraogo, Dramane Kania, Firmin Nongodo Kaboré, Blahima Konaté, Rachel Médah, Hermann Badolo, Nathalie Rekeneire, Ariane Mamguem Kamga, Armel Poda, Arnaud Eric Diendere, Boukary Ouédraogo, Esperance Ouédraogo, Oumar Billa, Halidou Tinto, Tienhan Sandrine Dabakuyo-Yonli COVID-19 epidemiological, sociological and anthropological investigation: study protocol for a multidisciplinary mixed methods research in Burkina Faso Journal Article In: BMC Infect. Dis., vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 896, 2021, ISSN: 1471-2334, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34479501 PMCID: PMC8414025). Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Clinical epidemiology, COVID-19, Humans, Predictive score, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies, SARS-Cov-2, Sero-epidemiology, Socio-anthropology | Links: @article{Traore2021-vr, BACKGROUND: The world has high hopes of vaccination against COVID-19 to protect the population, boost economies and return to normal life. Vaccination programmes are being rolled out in high income countries, but the pandemic continues to progress in many low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) despite implementation of strict hygiene measures. We aim to present a comprehensive research protocol that will generate epidemiological, sociological and anthropological data about the COVID-19 epidemic in Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa with scarce resources. METHODS: We will perform a multidisciplinary research using mixed methods in the two main cities in Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso). Data will be collected in the general population and in COVID-19 patients, caregivers and health care professionals in reference care centers: (i) to determine cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Burkinabe population using blood samples collected from randomly selected households according to the WHO-recommended protocol; (ii) develop a score to predict severe complications of COVID-19 in persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 using retrospective and prospective data; (iii) perform semi-structured interviews and direct observation on site, to describe and analyze the healthcare pathways and experiences of patients with COVID-19 attending reference care centers, and to identify the perceptions, acceptability and application of preventive strategies among the population. DISCUSSION: This study will generate comprehensive data that will contribute to improving COVID-19 response strategies in Burkina Faso. The lessons learned from the management of this epidemic may serve as examples to the country authorities to better design preventive strategies in the case of future epidemics or pandemics. The protocol was approved by the Ministry for Health (N° 2020-00952/MS/CAB/INSP/CM) and the Health Research Ethics Committee in Burkina Faso (N° 2020-8-140). | ||
![]() | Stephen A Roberts, Loretta Brabin, Halidou Tinto, Sabine Gies, Salou Diallo, Bernard Brabin Seasonal patterns of malaria, genital infection, nutritional and iron status in non-pregnant and pregnant adolescents in Burkina Faso: a secondary analysis of trial data Journal Article In: BMC Public Health, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1764, 2021, ISSN: 1471-2458, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34579679 PMCID: PMC8477466). Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Abnormal vaginal flora, Adolescents, Bacterial vaginosis, Body Mass Index, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Female, Humans, Iron, iron biomarkers, Malaria, Malaria/drug therapy/epidemiology, MUAC, Pregnancy, Seasons, Vagina | Links: @article{Roberts2021-gg, BACKGROUND: Adolescents are considered at high risk of developing iron deficiency. Studies in children indicate that the prevalence of iron deficiency increased with malaria transmission, suggesting malaria seasonally may drive iron deficiency. This paper examines monthly seasonal infection patterns of malaria, abnormal vaginal flora, chorioamnionitis, antibiotic and antimalarial prescriptions, in relation to changes in iron biomarkers and nutritional indices in adolescents living in a rural area of Burkina Faso, in order to assess the requirement for seasonal infection control and nutrition interventions. METHODS: Data collected between April 2011 and January 2014 were available for an observational seasonal analysis, comprising scheduled visits for 1949 non-pregnant adolescents (≤19 years), (315 of whom subsequently became pregnant), enrolled in a randomised trial of periconceptional iron supplementation. Data from trial arms were combined. Body Iron Stores (BIS) were calculated using an internal regression for ferritin to allow for inflammation. At recruitment 11% had low BIS (< 0 mg/kg). Continuous outcomes were fitted to a mixed-effects linear model with month, age and pregnancy status as fixed effect covariates and woman as a random effect. Dichotomous infection outcomes were fitted with analogous logistic regression models. RESULTS: Seasonal variation in malaria parasitaemia prevalence ranged between 18 and 70% in non-pregnant adolescents (P < 0.001), peaking at 81% in those who became pregnant. Seasonal variation occurred in antibiotic prescription rates (0.7-1.8 prescriptions/100 weekly visits, P < 0.001) and chorioamnionitis prevalence (range 15-68%, P = 0.026). Mucosal vaginal lactoferrin concentration was lower at the end of the wet season (range 2-22 μg/ml, P < 0.016), when chorioamnionitis was least frequent. BIS fluctuated annually by up to 53.2% per year around the mean BIS (5.1 mg/kg(2), range 4.1-6.8 mg/kg), with low BIS (< 0 mg/kg) of 8.7% in the dry and 9.8% in the wet seasons (P = 0.36). Median serum transferrin receptor increased during the wet season (P < 0.001). Higher hepcidin concentration in the wet season corresponded with rising malaria prevalence and use of prescriptions, but with no change in BIS. Mean Body Mass Index and Mid-Upper-Arm-Circumference values peaked mid-dry season (both P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis supports preventive treatment of malaria among adolescents 15-19 years to decrease their disease burden, especially asymptomatic malaria. As BIS were adequate in most adolescents despite seasonal malaria, a requirement for programmatic iron supplementation was not substantiated. | ||
![]() | Navideh Noori, Karim Derra, Innocent Valea, Assaf P Oron, Aminata Welgo, Toussaint Rouamba, Palwende Romuald Boua, Athanase M Somé, Eli Rouamba, Edward Wenger, Hermann Sorgho, Halidou Tinto, Andre Lin Ouédraogo Patterns of child mortality in rural area of Burkina Faso: evidence from the Nanoro health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) Journal Article In: BMC Public Health, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 1425, 2021, ISSN: 1471-2458, (© 2021. The Author(s). PMID: 34281547 PMCID: PMC8287796). Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, child mortality, ChildHealth Facilities, Children under 5, Demographic surveillance, HDSS, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Nanoro, Spatial analysis, Travel | Links: @article{Noori2021-te, BACKGROUND: Half of global child deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding child mortality patterns and risk factors will help inform interventions to reduce this heavy toll. The Nanoro Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), Burkina Faso was described previously, but patterns and potential drivers of heterogeneity in child mortality in the district had not been studied. Similar studies in other districts indicated proximity to health facilities as a risk factor, usually without distinction between facility types. METHODS: Using Nanoro HDSS data from 2009 to 2013, we estimated the association between under-5 mortality and proximity to inpatient and outpatient health facilities, seasonality of death, age group, and standard demographic risk factors. RESULTS: Living in homes 40-60 min and > 60 min travel time from an inpatient facility was associated with 1.52 (95% CI: 1.13-2.06) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.27-2.40) greater hazard of under-5 mortality, respectively, than living in homes < 20 min from an inpatient facility. No such association was found for outpatient facilities. The wet season (July-November) was associated with 1.28 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.53) higher under-5 mortality than the dry season (December-June), likely reflecting the malaria season. CONCLUSIONS: Our results emphasize the importance of geographical proximity to health care, distinguish between inpatient and outpatient facilities, and also show a seasonal effect, probably driven by malaria. | ||
![]() | Marie Jaspard, Mamadou Saliou Sow, Sylvain Juchet, Eric Dienderé, Beatrice Serra, Richard Kojan, Billy Sivahera, Caroline Martin, Moumouni Kinda, Hans-Joerg Lang, Fodé Bangaly Sako, Fodé Amara Traoré, Eudoxie Koumbem, Halidou Tinto, Adama Sanou, Apoline Sondo, Flavien Kaboré, Joseph Donamou, Jean-Paul-Yassa Guilavogui, Fanny Velardo, Brice Bicaba, Olivier Marcy, Augustin Augier, Sani Sayadi, Armel Poda, Sakoba Keita, Xavier Anglaret, Denis Malvy, COVISTA group Clinical presentation, outcomes and factors associated with mortality: A prospective study from three COVID-19 referral care centres in West Africa Journal Article In: Int. J. Infect. Dis., vol. 108, pp. 45–52, 2021, ISSN: 1878-3511 1201-9712, (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved. PMID: 34000419 PMCID: PMC8120805). Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Adult, Aged, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Comorbidities, COVID-19, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Male, Mortality, Prospective Studies, Referral and Consultation, SARS-Cov-2, sub-Saharan Africa | Links: @article{Jaspard2021-bl, OBJECTIVES: The overall death toll from COVID-19 in Africa is reported to be low but there is little individual-level evidence on the severity of the disease. This study examined the clinical spectrum and outcome of patients monitored in COVID-19 care centres (CCCs) in two West-African countries. METHODS: Burkina Faso and Guinea set up referral CCCs to hospitalise all symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 carriers, regardless of the severity of their symptoms. Data collected from hospitalised patients by November 2020 are presented. RESULT: A total of 1,805 patients (64% men, median age 41 years) were admitted with COVID-19. Symptoms lasted for a median of 7 days (IQR 4-11). During hospitalisation, 443 (25%) had a SpO2 < 94% at least once, 237 (13%) received oxygen and 266 (15%) took corticosteroids. Mortality was 5% overall, and 1%, 5% and 14% in patients aged <40, 40-59 and $geq$60 years, respectively. In multivariable analysis, the risk of death was higher in men (aOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1; 3.6), people aged $geq$60 years (aOR 2.9, 95% CI 1.7; 4.8) and those with chronic hypertension (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2; 3.4). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 is as severe in Africa as elsewhere, and there must be more vigilance for common risk factors such as older age and hypertension. | ||
![]() | Mariken Wit, Matthew Cairns, Yves Daniel Compaoré, Issaka Sagara, Irene Kuepfer, Issaka Zongo, Amadou Barry, Modibo Diarra, Amadou Tapily, Samba Coumare, Ismaila Thera, Frederic Nikiema, R Serge Yerbanga, Rosemonde M Guissou, Halidou Tinto, Alassane Dicko, Daniel Chandramohan, Brian Greenwood, Jean Bosco Ouedraogo Nutritional status in young children prior to the malaria transmission season in Burkina Faso and Mali, and its impact on the incidence of clinical malaria Journal Article In: Malar. J., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 274, 2021, ISSN: 1475-2875, (PMID: 34158054 PMCID: PMC8220741). Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Acute malnutrition, Antimalarials/administration & dosage, Azithromycin/administration & dosage, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Chronic malnutrition, Female, Humans, Incidence, Infant, Malaria, Malaria/epidemiology/transmission, Male, Nutritional Status, Preschool, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons | Links: @article{De_Wit2021-yi, BACKGROUND: Malaria and malnutrition remain major problems in Sahel countries, especially in young children. The direct effect of malnutrition on malaria remains poorly understood, and may have important implications for malaria control. In this study, nutritional status and the association between malnutrition and subsequent incidence of symptomatic malaria were examined in children in Burkina Faso and Mali who received either azithromycin or placebo, alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention. METHODS: Mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) was measured in all 20,185 children who attended a screening visit prior to the malaria transmission season in 2015. Prior to the 2016 malaria season, weight, height and MUAC were measured among 4149 randomly selected children. Height-for-age, weight-for-age, weight-for-height, and MUAC-for-age were calculated as indicators of nutritional status. Malaria incidence was measured during the following rainy seasons. Multivariable random effects Poisson models were created for each nutritional indicator to study the effect of malnutrition on clinical malaria incidence for each country. RESULTS: In both 2015 and 2016, nutritional status prior to the malaria season was poor. The most prevalent form of malnutrition in Burkina Faso was being underweight (30.5%; 95% CI 28.6-32.6), whereas in Mali stunting was most prevalent (27.5%; 95% CI 25.6-29.5). In 2016, clinical malaria incidence was 675 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 613-744) in Burkina Faso, and 1245 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 1152-1347) in Mali. There was some evidence that severe stunting was associated with lower incidence of malaria in Mali (RR 0.81; 95% CI 0.64-1.02; p = 0.08), but this association was not seen in Burkina Faso. Being moderately underweight tended to be associated with higher incidence of clinical malaria in Burkina Faso (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.98-1.64; p = 0.07), while this was the case in Mali for moderate wasting (RR 1.27; 95% CI 0.98-1.64; p = 0.07). However, these associations were not observed in severely affected children, nor consistent between countries. MUAC-for-age was not associated with malaria risk. CONCLUSIONS: Both malnutrition and malaria were common in the study areas, high despite high coverage of seasonal malaria chemoprevention and long-lasting insecticidal nets. However, no strong or consistent evidence was found for an association between any of the nutritional indicators and the subsequent incidence of clinical malaria. | ||
![]() | Annelies Post, Berenger Kaboré, Mike Berendsen, Salou Diallo, Ousmane Traore, Rob J W Arts, Mihai G Netea, Leo A B Joosten, Halidou Tinto, Jan Jacobs, Quirijn Mast, André Ven Altered ex-vivo cytokine responses in children with asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection in Burkina Faso: An additional argument to treat asymptomatic malaria? Journal Article In: Front. Immunol., vol. 12, pp. 614817, 2021, ISSN: 1664-3224, (Copyright © 2021 Post, Kaboré, Berendsen, Diallo, Traore, Arts, Netea, Joosten, Tinto, Jacobs, de Mast and van der Ven. PMID: 34177883 PMCID: PMC8220162). Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Asymptomatic Diseases, asymptomatic malaria, bacteraemia, Bacteremia, bloodstream infection, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Cells, Child, Cultured, Cytokines/metabolism, Endemic Diseases, Female, Humans, Infant, iNTS, Lipopolysaccharides/immunology, Malaria/epidemiology/immunology, Male, Parasite Load, Plasmodium falciparum/physiology, Preschool, Salmonella | Links: @article{Post2021-oo, Introduction: Patients with clinical malaria have an increased risk for bacterial bloodstream infections. We hypothesized that asymptomatic malaria parasitemia increases susceptibility for bacterial infections through an effect on the innate immune system. We measured circulating cytokine levels and ex-vivo cytokine production capacity in asymptomatic malaria and compared with controls. Methods: Data were collected from asymptomatic participants <5 years old with and without positive malaria microscopy, as well as from hospitalized patients <5 years old with clinical malaria, bacteremia, or malaria/bacteremia co-infections in a malaria endemic region of Burkina Faso. Circulating cytokines (TNF-$alpha$, IFN-$gamma$, IL-6, IL-10) were measured using multiplex assays. Whole blood from asymptomatic participants with and without positive malaria microscopy were ex-vivo stimulated with S. aureus, E. coli LPS and Salmonella Typhimurium; cytokine concentrations (TNF-$alpha$, IFN-$gamma$, IL-1$beta$, IL-6, IL-10) were measured on supernatants using ELISA. Results: Included were children with clinical malaria (n=118), bacteremia (n=22), malaria and bacteremia co-infection (n=9), asymptomatic malaria (n=125), and asymptomatic controls (n=237). Children with either clinical or asymptomatic malaria had higher plasma cytokine concentrations than controls. Cytokine concentrations correlated positively with malaria parasite density with the strongest correlation for IL-10 in both asymptomatic (r=0.63) and clinical malaria (r=0.53). Patients with bacteremia had lower circulating IL-10, TNF-$alpha$ and IFN-$gamma$ and higher IL-6 concentrations, compared to clinical malaria. Ex-vivo whole blood cytokine production to LPS and S. aureus was significantly lower in asymptomatic malaria compared to controls. Whole blood IFN-$gamma$ and IL-10 production in response to Salmonella was also lower in asymptomatic malaria. Interpretation: In children with asymptomatic malaria, cytokine responses upon ex-vivo bacterial stimulation are downregulated. Further studies are needed to explore if the suggested impaired innate immune response to bacterial pathogens also translates into impaired control of pathogens such as Salmonella spp. | ||
![]() | Paul Sondo, Marc Christian Tahita, Toussaint Rouamba, Karim Derra, Bérenger Kaboré, Cheick Sa"id Compaoré, Florence Ouédraogo, Eli Rouamba, Hamidou Ilboudo, Estelle A"issa Bambara, Macaire Nana, Edmond Yabré Sawadogo, Hermann Sorgho, Athanase Mwinessobaonfou Somé, Innocent Valéa, Prabin Dahal, Maminata Traoré/Coulibaly, Halidou Tinto Assessment of a combined strategy of seasonal malaria chemoprevention and supplementation with vitamin A, zinc and Plumpy'Doz™ to prevent malaria and malnutrition in children under 5 years old in Burkina Faso: a randomized open-label trial (SMC-NUT) Journal Article In: Trials, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 360, 2021, ISSN: 1745-6215, (PMID: 34030705 PMCID: PMC8142067). Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Antimalarials/adverse effects, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Chemoprevention, Child, Child Nutrition Disorders, Dietary Supplements, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Malaria/diagnosis/epidemiology/prevention & control, Malnutrition, Malnutrition/diagnosis/drug therapy/prevention & control, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Plumpy’Doz™, Preschool, Randomized controlled trial, Seasonal chemoprevention, Seasons, Vitamin A, Vitamin A/adverse effects, Zinc | Links: @article{Sondo2021-kc, BACKGROUND: Malaria and malnutrition represent major public health concerns worldwide especially in Sub-Sahara Africa. Despite implementation of seasonal malaria chemoprophylaxis (SMC), an intervention aimed at reducing malaria incidence among children aged 3-59 months, the burden of malaria and associated mortality among children below age 5 years remains high in Burkina Faso. Malnutrition, in particular micronutrient deficiency, appears to be one of the potential factors that can negatively affect the effectiveness of SMC. Treating micronutrient deficiencies is known to reduce the incidence of malaria in highly prevalent malaria zone such as rural settings. Therefore, we hypothesized that a combined strategy of SMC together with a daily oral nutrients supplement will enhance the immune response and decrease the incidence of malaria and malnutrition among children under SMC coverage. METHODS: Children (6-59 months) under SMC coverage receiving vitamin A supplementation will be randomly assigned to one of the three study arms (a) SMC + vitamin A alone, (b) SMC + vitamin A + zinc, or (c) SMC + vitamin A + Plumpy'Doz™ using 1:1:1 allocation ratio. After each SMC monthly distribution, children will be visited at home to confirm drug administration and followed-up for 1 year. Anthropometric indicators will be recorded at each visit and blood samples will be collected for microscopy slides, haemoglobin measurement, and spotted onto filter paper for further PCR analyses. The primary outcome measure is the incidence of malaria in each arm. Secondary outcome measures will include mid-upper arm circumference and weight gain from baseline measurements, coverage and compliance to SMC, occurrence of adverse events (AEs), and prevalence of molecular markers of antimalarial resistance comprising Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Pfdhfr, and Pfdhps. DISCUSSION: This study will demonstrate an integrated strategy of malaria and malnutrition programmes in order to mutualize resources for best impact. By relying on existing strategies, the policy implementation of this joint intervention will be scalable at country and regional levels. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04238845 . Registered on 23 January 2020 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04238845. | ||
![]() | Toussaint Rouamba, Sékou Samadoulougou, Mady Ouédraogo, Hervé Hien, Halidou Tinto, Fati Kirakoya-Samadoulougou Asymptomatic malaria and anaemia among pregnant women during high and low malaria transmission seasons in Burkina Faso: household-based cross-sectional surveys in Burkina Faso, 2013 and 2017 Journal Article In: Malar. J., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 211, 2021, ISSN: 1475-2875. Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Adult, Anemia/epidemiology/parasitology, Asymptomatic carriage, Asymptomatic Infections/epidemiology, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Community, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Haemoglobin, Humans, Malaria/epidemiology/parasitology, Parasitic/epidemiology/parasitology, Plasmodium, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Pregnant, Pregnant Women, Prevalence, Young Adult | Links: @article{Rouamba2021-gn, BACKGROUND: Malaria in endemic countries is often asymptomatic during pregnancy, but it has substantial consequences for both the mother and her unborn baby. During pregnancy, anaemia is an important consequence of malaria infection. In Burkina Faso, the intensity of malaria varies according to the season, albeit the prevalence of malaria and anaemia as well as their risk factors, during high and low malaria transmission seasons is underexplored at the household level. METHODS: Data of 1751 pregnant women from October 2013 to March 2014 and 1931 pregnant women from April 2017 to June 2017 were drawn from two cross-sectional household surveys conducted in 24 health districts of Burkina Faso. Pregnant women were tested for malaria in their household after consenting. Asymptomatic carriage was defined as a positive result from malaria rapid diagnostic tests in the absence of clinical symptoms of malaria. Anaemia was defined as haemoglobin level less than 11 g/dL in the first and third trimester and less than 10.5 g/dL in the second trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: Prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in pregnancy was estimated at 23.9% (95% CI 20.2-28.0) during the high transmission season (October-November) in 2013. During the low transmission season, it was 12.7% (95% CI 10.9-14.7) between December and March in 2013-2014 and halved (6.4%; 95% CI 5.3-7.6) between April and June 2017. Anaemia prevalence was estimated at 59.4% (95% CI 54.8-63.8) during the high transmission season in 2013. During the low transmission season, it was 50.6% (95% CI 47.7-53.4) between December and March 2013-2014 and 65.0% (95% CI 62.8-67.2) between April and June, 2017. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that the prevalence of malaria asymptomatic carriage and anaemia among pregnant women at the community level remain high throughout the year. Thus, more efforts are needed to increase prevention measures such as IPTp-SP coverage in order to reduce anaemia and contribute to preventing low birth weight and poor pregnancy outcomes. | ||
![]() | Palpouguini Lompo, Marc Christian Tahita, Hermann Sorgho, William Kaboré, Adama Kazienga, Ashmed Cheick Bachirou Nana, Hamtandi Magloire Natama, Isidore Juste Ouindgueta Bonkoungou, Nicolas Barro, Halidou Tinto Pathogens associated with acute diarrhea, and comorbidity with malaria among children under five years old in rural Burkina Faso Journal Article In: Pan Afr. Med. J., vol. 38, pp. 259, 2021, ISSN: 1937-8688, (Copyright: Palpouguini Lompo et al. PMID: 34104307 PMCID: PMC8164431). Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Abdominal Pain/epidemiology, Acute Disease, bacteria, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Comorbidity, Diarrhea, Diarrhea/epidemiology/microbiology, Female, Fever/epidemiology, Giardiasis/epidemiology, Humans, Infant, infectious, Malaria, Malaria/epidemiology, Male, parasite, pathogens, Preschool, Prevalence, Risk Factors, rotavirus, Rotavirus Infections/epidemiology, Rural Population, Seasons, Vomiting/epidemiology | Links: @article{Lompo2021-sk, INTRODUCTION: acute diarrhea in children under five years is a public health problem in developing countries and particularly in malaria-endemic areas where both diseases co-exist. The present study examined the etiology of childhood diarrhea and its comorbidity with malaria in a rural area of Burkina Faso. METHODS: conventional culture techniques, direct stools examination, and viruses´ detection by rapid tests were performed on the fresh stools and microscopy was used to diagnose malaria. Some risk factors were also assessed. RESULTS: on a total of 191 samples collected, at least one pathogen was identified in 89 cases (46.6%). The proportions of pathogens found on the 89 positive stool samples were parasites 51.69% (46 cases), viruses 39.33% (35 cases), and bacteria 14.61% (13 cases), respectively. The relationship between malaria and infectious diarrhea was significant in viral and parasites causes (p=0.005 and 0.043 respectively). Fever, vomiting and abdominal pain were the major symptoms associated with diarrhea, with 71.51%, 31.72% and 23.66% respectively. The highest viral diarrhea prevalence was reported during the dry season (OR=5.29, 95% CI: 1.74 - 16.07, p=0.001) while parasite diarrhea was more encountered during the rainy season (OR=0.41, 95% CI: 0.33 - 0.87, p=0.011). CONCLUSION: Giardia spp and rotavirus were the leading cause of acute diarrhea in Nanoro, Burkina Faso with a predominance of rotavirus in children less than 2 years. Parasite and viral diarrhea were the most pathogens associated with malaria. However, the high rate of negative stool samples suggests the need to determine other enteric microorganisms. | ||
![]() | Paul Sondo, Biebo Bihoun, Marc Christian Tahita, Karim Derra, Toussaint Rouamba, Seydou Nakanabo Diallo, Adama Kazienga, Hamidou Ilboudo, Innocent Valea, Zekiba Tarnagda, Hermann Sorgho, Thierry Lef`evre, Halidou Tinto Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriage in symptomatic patients shows significant association with genetically diverse infections, anaemia, and asexual stage density Journal Article In: Malar. J., vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 31, 2021, ISSN: 1475-2875, (PMID: 33413393 PMCID: PMC7791700). Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Anemia/epidemiology/parasitology, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Falciparum/epidemiology/parasitology, Gametocyte, Humans, Malaria, msp1, msp2, Multiplicity of infection, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium falciparum/physiology | Links: @article{Sondo2021-at, BACKGROUND: Multi-genotype malaria infections are frequent in endemic area, and people commonly harbour several genetically distinct Plasmodium falciparum variants. The influence of genetic multiplicity and whether some specific genetic variants are more or less likely to invest into gametocyte production is not clearly understood. This study explored host and parasite-related risk factors for gametocyte carriage, and the extent to which some specific P. falciparum genetic variants are associated with gametocyte carriage. METHODS: Gametocytes and asexual forms were detected by light microscopy on thick smears collected between 2010 and 2012 in Nanoro, Burkina Faso. Merozoite surface protein 1 and 2 were genotyped by nested PCR on clinical samples. Associations between gametocyte carriage and factors, including multiplicity of infection, parasite density, patient age, gender, haemoglobin (Hb) level, and body temperature were assessed. The relationship between the presence of a particular msp1 and msp2 genetic variants and gametocyte carriage was also explored. RESULTS: Of the 724 samples positive to P. falciparum and successfully genotyped, gametocytes were found in 48 samples (6.63%). There was no effect of patient gender, age and body temperature on gametocyte carriage. However, the probability of gametocyte carriage significantly increased with increasing values of multiplicity of infection (MOI). Furthermore, there was a negative association between parasite density and gametocyte carriage. MOI decreased with parasite density in gametocyte-negative patients, but increased in gametocyte carriers. The probability of gametocyte carriage decreased with Hb level. Finally, the genetic composition of the infection influenced gametocyte carriage. In particular, the presence of RO33 increased the odds of developing gametocytes by 2 while the other allelic families K1, MAD20, FC27, and 3D7 had no significant impact on the occurrence of gametocytes in infected patients. CONCLUSION: This study provides insight into potential factors influencing gametocyte production in symptomatic patients. The findings contribute to enhance understanding of risk factors associated with gametocyte carriage in humans. Trial registration NCT01232530. | ||
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![]() | Laura Skrip, Karim Derra, Mikaila Kaboré, Navideh Noori, Adama Gansané, Innocent Valéa, Halidou Tinto, Bicaba W Brice, Mollie Van Gordon, Brittany Hagedorn, Hervé Hien, Benjamin M Althouse, Edward A Wenger, André Lin Ouédraogo Clinical management and mortality among COVID-19 cases in sub-Saharan Africa: A retrospective study from Burkina Faso and simulated case analysis Journal Article In: Int. J. Infect. Dis., vol. 101, pp. 194–200, 2020, ISSN: 1878-3511 1201-9712, (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved. PMID: 32987177 PMCID: PMC7518969). Abstract | BibTeX | Tags: Adolescent, Adult, Africa South of the Sahara, Aged, Antiviral Agents/administration & dosage, Asia/epidemiology, Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Child, Clinical management of SARS-CoV-2 infection: convalescent plasma, COVID-19/drug therapy/epidemiology/mortality/therapy, Europe/epidemiology, Female, Health systems strengthening, Humans, Immunization, Infant, Male, Mortality, Oxygen therapy, Pandemics, Passive, Preschool, Retrospective Studies, SARS-CoV-2 infection, SARS-CoV-2/drug effects/physiology, sub-Saharan Africa, Young Adult | Links: @article{Skrip2020-fq, BACKGROUND: Absolute numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths reported to date in the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region have been significantly lower than those across the Americas, Asia and Europe. As a result, there has been limited information about the demographic and clinical characteristics of deceased cases in the region, as well as the impacts of different case management strategies. METHODS: Data from deceased cases reported across SSA through 10 May 2020 and from hospitalized cases in Burkina Faso through 15 April 2020 were analyzed. Demographic, epidemiological and clinical information on deceased cases in SSA was derived through a line-list of publicly available information and, for cases in Burkina Faso, from aggregate records at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Tengandogo in Ouagadougou. A synthetic case population was probabilistically derived using distributions of age, sex and underlying conditions from populations of West African countries to assess individual risk factors and treatment effect sizes. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the adjusted odds of survival for patients receiving oxygen therapy or convalescent plasma, based on therapeutic effectiveness observed for other respiratory illnesses. RESULTS: Across SSA, deceased cases for which demographic data were available were predominantly male (63/103, 61.2%) and aged >50 years (59/75, 78.7%). In Burkina Faso, specifically, the majority of deceased cases either did not seek care at all or were hospitalized for a single day (59.4%, 19/32). Hypertension and diabetes were often reported as underlying conditions. After adjustment for sex, age and underlying conditions in the synthetic case population, the odds of mortality for cases not receiving oxygen therapy were significantly higher than for those receiving oxygen, such as due to disruptions to standard care (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.56-2.75). Cases receiving convalescent plasma had 50% reduced odds of mortality than those who did not (95% CI 0.24-0.93). CONCLUSIONS: Investment in sustainable production and maintenance of supplies for oxygen therapy, along with messaging around early and appropriate use for healthcare providers, caregivers and patients could reduce COVID-19 deaths in SSA. Further investigation into convalescent plasma is warranted until data on its effectiveness specifically in treating COVID-19 becomes available. The success of supportive or curative clinical interventions will depend on earlier treatment seeking, such that community engagement and risk communication will be critical components of the response. |
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