Publications

@article{Dal-Re2021-mr,

title = {Ongoing and future COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials: challenges  and opportunities},

author = {Rafael Dal-R\'{e} and Linda-Gail Bekker and Christian Gluud and S\oren Holm and Vivekanand Jha and Gregory A Poland and Frits R Rosendaal and Brigitte Schwarzer-Daum and Esperanc ca Sevene and Halidou Tinto and Teck Chuan Voo and Nadarajah Sreeharan},

doi = {10.1016/S1473-3099(21)00263-2},

issn = {1474-4457 1473-3099},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-11-01},

urldate = {2021-11-01},

journal = {Lancet Infect. Dis.},

volume = {21},

number = {11},

pages = {e342--e347},

abstract = {Large-scale deployment of COVID-19 vaccines will seriously affect 

 the ongoing phases 2 and 3 randomised placebo-controlled trials 

 assessing SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates. The effect will be 

 particularly acute in high-income countries where the entire 

 adult or older population could be vaccinated by late 2021. 

 Regrettably, only a small proportion of the population in many 

 low-income and middle-income countries will have access to 

 available vaccines. Sponsors of COVID-19 vaccine candidates 

 currently in phase 2 or initiating phase 3 trials in 2021 should 

 consider continuing the research in countries with limited 

 affordability and availability of COVID-19 vaccines. Several 

 ethical principles must be implemented to ensure the equitable, 

 non-exploitative, and respectful conduct of trials in 

 resource-poor settings. Once sufficient knowledge on the 

 immunogenicity response to COVID-19 vaccines is acquired, 

 non-inferiority immunogenicity trials-comparing the immune 

 response of a vaccine candidate to that of an authorised 

 vaccine-would probably be the most common trial design. Until 

 then, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trials will 

 continue to play a role in the development of new vaccine 

 candidates. WHO or the Council for International Organizations of 

 Medical Sciences should define an ethical framework for the 

 requirements and benefits for trial participants and host 

 communities in resource-poor settings that should require 

 commitment from all vaccine candidate sponsors from high-income 

 countries.},

note = {Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PMID: 34019801 

PMCID: PMC8131060},

keywords = {Clinical Trials as Topic, COVID-19 Vaccines/administration \& dosage/immunology, COVID-19/epidemiology/immunology/prevention \& control/virology, Double-Blind Method, Humans, Immunogenicity, Pandemics/prevention \& control, SARS-CoV-2/immunology, Vaccine},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Ouoba2021-ug,

title = {Epidemiologic profile of hepatitis C virus infection and  genotype distribution in Burkina Faso: a systematic review with  meta-analysis},

author = {Serge Ouoba and Jean Claude Romaric Pingdwinde Ouedraogo and Moussa Lingani and Bunthen E and Md Razeen Ashraf Hussain and Ko Ko and Shintaro Nagashima and Aya Sugiyama and Tomoyuki Akita and Halidou Tinto and Junko Tanaka},

doi = {10.1186/s12879-021-06817-x},

issn = {1471-2334},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-11-01},

urldate = {2021-11-01},

journal = {BMC Infect. Dis.},

volume = {21},

number = {1},

pages = {1126},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {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.},

note = {© 2021. The Author(s).

PMID: 34724902 

PMCID: PMC8561994},

keywords = {Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Genotype, Hepacivirus/genetics, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis C/epidemiology, Humans, Prevalence, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Seroprevalence, Systematic review},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Phiri2021-oy,

title = {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 hound\'{e}, Burkina  Faso, and bougouni, Mali},

author = {Mphatso Dennis Phiri and Matthew Cairns and Issaka Zongo and Frederic Nikiema and Modibo Diarra and Rakiswend\'{e} Serge Yerbanga and Amadou Barry and Amadou Tapily and Samba Coumare and Ismaila Thera and Irene Kuepfer and Paul Milligan and Halidou Tinto and Alassane Dicko and Jean Bosco Ou\'{e}draogo and Brian Greenwood and Daniel Chandramohan and Issaka Sagara},

doi = {10.1093/cid/ciaa1905},

issn = {1537-6591 1058-4838},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-10-01},

urldate = {2021-10-01},

journal = {Clin. Infect. Dis.},

volume = {73},

number = {7},

pages = {e2379--e2386},

publisher = {Oxford University Press (OUP)},

abstract = {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.},

note = {© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

PMID: 33417683 

PMCID: PMC8492219},

keywords = {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},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Chandramohan2021-qm,

title = {Seasonal malaria vaccination with or without seasonal malaria  chemoprevention},

author = {Daniel Chandramohan and Issaka Zongo and Issaka Sagara and Matthew Cairns and Rakiswend\'{e}-Serge Yerbanga and Modibo Diarra and Fr\'{e}d\'{e}ric Niki`ema and Amadou Tapily and Fr\'{e}d\'{e}ric Sompougdou and Djibrilla Issiaka and Charles Zoungrana and Koualy Sanogo and Alassane Haro and Mahamadou Kaya and Abdoul-Aziz Sienou and Seydou Traore and Almahamoudou Mahamar and Ismaila Thera and Kalifa Diarra and Amagana Dolo and Irene Kuepfer and Paul Snell and Paul Milligan and Christian Ockenhouse and Opokua Ofori-Anyinam and Halidou Tinto and Abdoulaye Djimde and Jean-Bosco Ou\'{e}draogo and Alassane Dicko and Brian Greenwood},

doi = {10.1056/NEJMoa2026330},

issn = {1533-4406 0028-4793},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-09-09},

urldate = {2021-09-09},

journal = {N. Engl. J. Med.},

volume = {385},

number = {11},

pages = {1005--1017},

publisher = {Massachusetts Medical Society},

abstract = {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.).},

note = {Copyright © 2021 Massachusetts Medical Society.

Place: United States

PMID: 34432975},

keywords = {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},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Traore2021-vr,

title = {COVID-19 epidemiological, sociological and anthropological  investigation: study protocol for a multidisciplinary mixed  methods research in Burkina Faso},

author = {Isidore Tiandiogo Traor\'{e} and Samiratou Ouedraogo and Dramane Kania and Firmin Nongodo Kabor\'{e} and Blahima Konat\'{e} and Rachel M\'{e}dah and Hermann Badolo and Nathalie Rekeneire and Ariane Mamguem Kamga and Armel Poda and Arnaud Eric Diendere and Boukary Ou\'{e}draogo and Esperance Ou\'{e}draogo and Oumar Billa and Halidou Tinto and Tienhan Sandrine Dabakuyo-Yonli},

doi = {10.1186/s12879-021-06543-4},

issn = {1471-2334},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-09-03},

urldate = {2021-09-03},

journal = {BMC Infect. Dis.},

volume = {21},

number = {1},

pages = {896},

abstract = {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).},

note = {© 2021. The Author(s).

PMID: 34479501 

PMCID: PMC8414025},

keywords = {Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Clinical epidemiology, COVID-19, Humans, Predictive score, Prospective Studies, Retrospective Studies, SARS-Cov-2, Sero-epidemiology, Socio-anthropology},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Roberts2021-gg,

title = {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},

author = {Stephen A Roberts and Loretta Brabin and Halidou Tinto and Sabine Gies and Salou Diallo and Bernard Brabin},

doi = {10.1186/s12889-021-11819-0},

issn = {1471-2458},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-09-01},

urldate = {2021-09-01},

journal = {BMC Public Health},

volume = {21},

number = {1},

pages = {1764},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {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.},

note = {© 2021. The Author(s).

PMID: 34579679 

PMCID: PMC8477466},

keywords = {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},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Compaore2021-hg,

title = {'Men are not playing their roles', maternal and child nutrition  in Nanoro, Burkina Faso},

author = {Ad\'{e}la"ide Compaor\'{e} and Kadija Ouedraogo and Palwende R Boua and Daniella Watson and Sarah H Kehoe and Marie-Louise Newell and Halidou Tinto and Mary Barker and Hermann Sorgho and INPreP group},

doi = {10.1017/S1368980020003365},

issn = {1475-2727 1368-9800},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-08-01},

urldate = {2021-08-01},

journal = {Public Health Nutr.},

volume = {24},

number = {12},

pages = {3780--3790},

publisher = {Cambridge University Press (CUP)},

abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To collect context-specific insights into maternal 

 and child health and nutrition issues, and to explore potential 

 solutions in Nanoro, Burkina Faso. DESIGN: Eleven focus groups 

 with men and women from eleven communities, facilitated by local 

 researchers. SETTING: The study took place in the Nanoro Health 

 district, in the West-Central part of Burkina Faso. 

 PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-six men (18-55 years) and women by age 

 group: 18-25; 26-34 and 35-55 years, participated in the group 

 discussions. RESULTS: Participants described barriers to optimal 

 nutrition of mothers and children related to a range of 

 community factors, with gender inequality as central. Major 

 themes in the discussions are related to poverty and challenges 

 generated by socially and culturally determined gender roles. 

 Sub-themes are women lacking access to food whilst pregnant and 

 having limited access to health care and opportunities to 

 generate income. Although communities believe that food 

 donations should be implemented to overcome this, they also 

 pointed out the need for enhancing their own food production, 

 requiring improved agricultural technologies. Given the 

 important role that women could play in reducing malnutrition, 

 these communities felt they needed to be empowered to do so and 

 supported by men. They also felt that this had to be carried out 

 in the context of an enhanced health care system. CONCLUSIONS: 

 Findings reported here highlight the importance of 

 nutrition-sensitive interventions and women's empowerment in 

 improving maternal and child nutrition. There is a need to 

 integrate a sustainable multi-sectorial approach which goes 

 beyond food support.},

note = {Place: England

PMID: 33000717},

keywords = {Burkina Faso, Child, Child nutrition, Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena, Community perceptions, Empowerment, Female, Humans, Male, Maternal nutrition, Mothers, Nutritional Status, Pregnancy, Qualitative research},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Yameogo2021-bb,

title = {Effect of seasonal malaria chemoprevention plus azithromycin on  Plasmodium falciparum transmission: gametocyte infectivity and  mosquito fitness},

author = {Koudraogo Bienvenue Yam\'{e}ogo and Rakiswend\'{e} Serge Yerbanga and Seydou Bienvenu Ouattara and Franck A Yao and Thierry Lef`evre and Issaka Zongo and Frederic Niki`ema and Yves Daniel Compaor\'{e} and Halidou Tinto and Daniel Chandramohan and Brian Greenwood and Adrien M G Belem and Anna Cohuet and Jean Bosco Ou\'{e}draogo},

doi = {10.1186/s12936-021-03855-3},

issn = {1475-2875},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-07-27},

urldate = {2021-07-27},

journal = {Malar. J.},

volume = {20},

number = {1},

pages = {326},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) consists of administration of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) + amodiaquine (AQ) at monthly intervals to children  during the malaria transmission period. Whether the addition of azithromycin (AZ) to  SMC could potentiate the benefit of the intervention was tested through a  double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The effect of SMC and the  addition of AZ, on malaria transmission and on the life history traits of Anopheles  gambiae mosquitoes have been investigated. METHODS: The study included 438 children  randomly selected from among participants in the SMC + AZ trial and 198 children  from the same area who did not receive chemoprevention. For each participant in the  SMC + AZ trial, blood was collected 14 to 21 days post treatment, examined for the  presence of malaria sexual and asexual stages and provided as a blood meal to An.  gambiae females using a direct membrane-feeding assay. RESULTS: The SMC treatment,  with or without AZ, significantly reduced the prevalence of asexual Plasmodium  falciparum (LRT X(2)(2) = 69, P < 0.0001) and the gametocyte prevalence (LRT  X(2)(2) = 54, P < 0.0001). In addition, the proportion of infectious feeds (LRT  X(2)(2) = 61, P < 0.0001) and the prevalence of oocysts among exposed mosquitoes  (LRT X(2)(2) = 22.8, P < 0.001) was reduced when mosquitoes were fed on blood from  treated children compared to untreated controls. The addition of AZ to SPAQ was  associated with an increased proportion of infectious feeds (LRT X(2)(1) = 5.2,  P = 0.02), suggesting a significant effect of AZ on gametocyte infectivity. There  was a slight negative effect of SPAQ and SPAQ + AZ on mosquito survival compared to  mosquitoes fed with blood from control children (LRTX(2)(2) = 330, P < 0.0001).  CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that SMC may contribute to a reduction in human  to mosquito transmission of P. falciparum, and the reduced mosquito longevity  observed for females fed on treated blood may increase the benefit of this  intervention in control of malaria. The addition of AZ to SPAQ in SMC appeared to  enhance the infectivity of gametocytes providing further evidence that this  combination is not an appropriate intervention.},

note = {© 2021. The Author(s).

PMID: 34315475 

PMCID: PMC8314489},

keywords = {Amodiaquine/administration \& dosage, Animals, Antimalarials/administration \& dosage, Chemoprevention, Child, Culicidae/physiology, Drug Combinations, Falciparum/prevention \& control/transmission, Gametocytes, Genetic Fitness, Humans, Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum/physiology, Preschool, Pyrimethamine/administration \& dosage, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, Seasons, Sulfadoxine/administration \& dosage, Transmission},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Noori2021-te,

title = {Patterns of child mortality in rural area of Burkina Faso:  evidence from the Nanoro health and demographic surveillance  system (HDSS)},

author = {Navideh Noori and Karim Derra and Innocent Valea and Assaf P Oron and Aminata Welgo and Toussaint Rouamba and Palwende Romuald Boua and Athanase M Som\'{e} and Eli Rouamba and Edward Wenger and Hermann Sorgho and Halidou Tinto and Andre Lin Ou\'{e}draogo},

doi = {10.1186/s12889-021-11483-4},

issn = {1471-2458},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-07-19},

urldate = {2021-07-19},

journal = {BMC Public Health},

volume = {21},

number = {1},

pages = {1425},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {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.},

note = {© 2021. The Author(s).

PMID: 34281547 

PMCID: PMC8287796},

keywords = {Burkina Faso, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, child mortality, ChildHealth Facilities, Children under 5, Demographic surveillance, HDSS, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Nanoro, Spatial analysis, Travel},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Jaspard2021-bl,

title = {Clinical presentation, outcomes and factors associated with  mortality: A prospective study from three COVID-19 referral  care centres in West Africa},

author = {Marie Jaspard and Mamadou Saliou Sow and Sylvain Juchet and Eric Diender\'{e} and Beatrice Serra and Richard Kojan and Billy Sivahera and Caroline Martin and Moumouni Kinda and Hans-Joerg Lang and Fod\'{e} Bangaly Sako and Fod\'{e} Amara Traor\'{e} and Eudoxie Koumbem and Halidou Tinto and Adama Sanou and Apoline Sondo and Flavien Kabor\'{e} and Joseph Donamou and Jean-Paul-Yassa Guilavogui and Fanny Velardo and Brice Bicaba and Olivier Marcy and Augustin Augier and Sani Sayadi and Armel Poda and Sakoba Keita and Xavier Anglaret and Denis Malvy and COVISTA group},

doi = {10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.024},

issn = {1878-3511 1201-9712},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-07-01},

urldate = {2021-07-01},

journal = {Int. J. Infect. Dis.},

volume = {108},

pages = {45--52},

publisher = {Elsevier BV},

abstract = {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.},

note = {Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

PMID: 34000419 

PMCID: PMC8120805},

keywords = {Adult, Aged, Burkina Faso/epidemiology, Comorbidities, COVID-19, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Male, Mortality, Prospective Studies, Referral and Consultation, SARS-Cov-2, sub-Saharan Africa},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{De_Wit2021-yi,

title = {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},

author = {Mariken Wit and Matthew Cairns and Yves Daniel Compaor\'{e} and Issaka Sagara and Irene Kuepfer and Issaka Zongo and Amadou Barry and Modibo Diarra and Amadou Tapily and Samba Coumare and Ismaila Thera and Frederic Nikiema and R Serge Yerbanga and Rosemonde M Guissou and Halidou Tinto and Alassane Dicko and Daniel Chandramohan and Brian Greenwood and Jean Bosco Ouedraogo},

doi = {10.1186/s12936-021-03802-2},

issn = {1475-2875},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-06-22},

urldate = {2021-06-22},

journal = {Malar. J.},

volume = {20},

number = {1},

pages = {274},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {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.},

note = {PMID: 34158054 

PMCID: PMC8220741},

keywords = {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},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Sondo2021-qe,

title = {Polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and mutations in the resistance genes Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 in Nanoro area, Burkina Faso.},

author = {Paul Sondo and Biebo Bihoun and B\'{e}renger Kabore and Marc Christian Tahita and Karim Derra and Toussaint Rouamba and Seydou Nakanabo Diallo and Adama Kazienga and Hamidou Ilboudo and Innocent Valea and Zekiba Tarnagda and Hermann Sorgho and Thierry Lefevre and Halidou Tinto},

doi = {10.11604/pamj.2021.39.118.26959},

issn = {1937-8688},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-06-10},

urldate = {2021-06-10},

journal = {Pan Afr. Med. J.},

volume = {39},

pages = {118},

publisher = {Pan African Medical Journal},

abstract = {Introduction: from a genetic point of view P. falciparumis 

 extremely polymorphic. There is a variety of parasite strains 

 infesting individuals living in malaria endemic areas. The 

 purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between 

 polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum parasites and Pfcrt and 

 Pfmdr1 gene mutations in Nanoro area, Burkina Faso. Methods: 

 blood samples from plasmodium carriers residing in the Nanoro 

 Health District were genotyped using nested PCR. Parasite gene 

 mutations associated with resistance to antimalarial drugs were 

 detected by PCR-RFLP. Results: samples of 672 patients were 

 successfully genotyped. No msp1and msp2allelic families 

 exhibited an increase in developing mutations in resistance 

 genes. However, mutant strains of these genes were present at 

 greater levels in monoclonal infections than in multi-clonal 

 infections. Conclusion: this study provides an overview of the 

 relationship between polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum 

 parasites and mutations in resistance genes. These data will 

 undoubtedly contribute to improving knowledge of the parasite´s 

 biology and its mechanisms of resistance to antimalarial drugs.},

note = {Copyright: Paul Sondo et al.

PMID: 34512854 

PMCID: PMC8396377},

keywords = {Antimalarials/pharmacology, Burkina Faso, Drug Resistance, Falciparum/drug therapy/parasitology, GeneticRestriction Fragment Length, Genotype, Humans, Malaria, Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics, msp1, msp2, Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins/genetics, Mutation, Pfcrt, Pfmdr1, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects/genetics/isolation \& purification, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Polymorphism, Protozoan Proteins/genetics},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Post2021-oo,

title = {Altered ex-vivo cytokine responses in children with asymptomatic  Plasmodium falciparum infection in Burkina Faso: An additional  argument to treat asymptomatic malaria?},

author = {Annelies Post and Berenger Kabor\'{e} and Mike Berendsen and Salou Diallo and Ousmane Traore and Rob J W Arts and Mihai G Netea and Leo A B Joosten and Halidou Tinto and Jan Jacobs and Quirijn Mast and Andr\'{e} Ven},

doi = {10.3389/fimmu.2021.614817},

issn = {1664-3224},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-06-09},

urldate = {2021-06-09},

journal = {Front. Immunol.},

volume = {12},

pages = {614817},

publisher = {Frontiers Media SA},

abstract = {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.},

note = {Copyright © 2021 Post, Kabor\'{e}, Berendsen, Diallo, Traore, Arts, Netea, Joosten, Tinto, Jacobs, de Mast and van der Ven.

PMID: 34177883 

PMCID: PMC8220162},

keywords = {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},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Sondo2021-kc,

title = {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)},

author = {Paul Sondo and Marc Christian Tahita and Toussaint Rouamba and Karim Derra and B\'{e}renger Kabor\'{e} and Cheick Sa"id Compaor\'{e} and Florence Ou\'{e}draogo and Eli Rouamba and Hamidou Ilboudo and Estelle A"issa Bambara and Macaire Nana and Edmond Yabr\'{e} Sawadogo and Hermann Sorgho and Athanase Mwinessobaonfou Som\'{e} and Innocent Val\'{e}a and Prabin Dahal and Maminata Traor\'{e}/Coulibaly and Halidou Tinto},

doi = {10.1186/s13063-021-05320-7},

issn = {1745-6215},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-05-24},

urldate = {2021-05-24},

journal = {Trials},

volume = {22},

number = {1},

pages = {360},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {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.},

note = {PMID: 34030705 

PMCID: PMC8142067},

keywords = {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},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Bognini2021-mk,

title = {Socioeconomic inequalities in curative healthcare-seeking for  children under five before and after the free healthcare  initiative in Sierra Leone: analysis of population-based survey  data},

author = {Joel D Bognini and Sekou Samadoulougou and Mady Ouedraogo and Tiga David Kangoye and Carine Van Malderen and Halidou Tinto and Fati Kirakoya-Samadoulougou},

doi = {10.1186/s12939-021-01474-7},

issn = {1475-9276},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-05-21},

urldate = {2021-05-21},

journal = {Int. J. Equity Health},

volume = {20},

number = {1},

pages = {124},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic inequalities between and within countries lead to disparities in the use of health services. These disparities could lead to child  mortality in children under 5 years by depriving them of healthcare. Therefore,  initiatives to remove healthcare fees such as the Free Healthcare Initiative (FHCI)  adopted in Sierra Leone can contribute to reducing these inequities in  healthcare-seeking for children. This study aimed to assess the socioeconomic  inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children under 5 years of age before and  after the implementation of the FHCI. METHODS: Data were included on 1207, 2815,  1633, and 1476 children under 5 years of age with fever from the 2008, 2013, 2016,  and 2019 nationwide surveys, respectively. Concentration curves were drawn for the  period before (2008) and after (2013-2019) the implementation of the FHCI to assess  socioeconomic inequalities in healthcare-seeking. Finally, Erreyger's corrected  concentration indices were calculated to understand the magnitude of these  inequalities. RESULTS: Before the implementation of the FHCI, there were  inequalities in healthcare-seeking for children under five (Erreyger's corrected  concentration index (CI) = 0.168, standard error (SE) = 0.049; p < 0.001) in favor  of the wealthy households. These inequalities decreased after the implementation of  the FHCI (CI = 0.061, SE = 0.033; p = 0.06 in 2013, CI = 0.039, SE = 0.04; p = 0.32  in 2016, and CI = - 0.0005, SE = 0.362; p = 0.98 in 2019). Furthermore, before the  implementation of the FHCI, a significant pro-rich inequality in the districts of  Kenema (CI = 0.117, SE = 0.168, p = 0.021), Kono (CI = 0.175, SE = 0.078, p = 0.028)  and Western Area Urban (CI = 0.070, SE = 0.032, p = 0.031) has been observed. After  the implementation of the FHCI in 2019, these disparities were reduced, 11 of the 14  districts had a CI around the value of equality, and only in 2 districts the  pro-rich inequality were significant (Western Area Urban (CI = 0.035, SE = 0.016,  p = 0.039) and Western Area Rural (CI = 0.066, SE = 0.030, p = 0.027)). CONCLUSION:  The results of this study demonstrated that socio-economic inequalities in  healthcare-seeking for children have been considerably reduced after the FHCI in  Sierra Leone. To further reduce these inequalities, policy actions can focus on the  increase of availability of health services in the districts where the  healthcare-seeking remained pro-rich.},

note = {PMID: 34020665 

PMCID: PMC8140517},

keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Child, Children under five, Delivery of Health Care/economics, Female, Health Care Surveys, Healthcare Disparities/economics/statistics \& numerical data, Healthcare utilization, Humans, Infant, Male, Parents/psychology, Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics \& numerical data, Preschool, Sierra Leone, Socioeconomic Factors, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Adoke2021-el,

title = {A randomized, double-blind, phase 2b study to investigate the  efficacy, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of a  single-dose regimen of ferroquine with artefenomel in adults and  children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria},

author = {Yeka Adoke and Rella Zoleko-Manego and Serge Ouoba and Alfred B Tiono and Grace Kaguthi and Juv^encio Eduardo Bonzela and Tran Thanh Duong and Alain Nahum and Marielle Bouyou-Akotet and Bernhards Ogutu and Alphonse Ouedraogo and Fiona Macintyre and Andreas Jessel and Bart Laurijssens and Mohammed H Cherkaoui-Rbati and Cathy Cantalloube and Anne Claire Marrast and Rapha"el Bejuit and David White and Timothy N C Wells and Florian Wartha and Didier Leroy and Afizi Kibuuka and Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma and Daouda Ouattara and Ir`ene Mugenya and Bui Quang Phuc and Francis Bohissou and Denise P Mawili-Mboumba and Fredrick Olewe and Issiaka Soulama and Halidou Tinto and FALCI Study Group},

doi = {10.1186/s12936-021-03749-4},

issn = {1475-2875},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-05-19},

urldate = {2021-05-19},

journal = {Malar. J.},

volume = {20},

number = {1},

pages = {222},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: For uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, 

 highly efficacious single-dose treatments are expected to 

 increase compliance and improve treatment outcomes, and thereby 

 may slow the development of resistance. The efficacy and safety 

 of a single-dose combination of artefenomel (800 mg) plus 

 ferroquine (400/600/900/1200 mg doses) for the treatment of 

 uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were evaluated in Africa 

 (focusing on children $\leq$ 5 years) and Asia. METHODS: The 

 study was a randomized, double-blind, single-dose, multi-arm 

 clinical trial in patients aged > 6 months to 5 years and 20 

 Asian patients. None of the treatment arms met the target 

 efficacy criterion for PCR-adjusted ACPR at Day 28 (lower limit 

 of 95% confidence interval [CI] > 90%). PCR-adjusted ACPR at 

 Day 28 [95% CI] in the PP Set ranged from 78.4% [64.7; 88.7%] 

 to 91.7% [81.6; 97.2%] for the 400 mg to 1200 mg ferroquine 

 dose. Efficacy rates were low in Vietnamese patients, ranging 

 from 20 to 40%. A clear relationship was found between drug 

 exposure (artefenomel and ferroquine concentrations at Day 7) 

 and efficacy (primary endpoint), with higher concentrations of 

 both drugs resulting in higher efficacy. Six distinct kelch-13 

 mutations were detected in parasite isolates from 10/272 African 

 patients (with 2 mutations known to be associated with 

 artemisinin resistance) and 18/20 Asian patients (all C580Y 

 mutation). Vomiting within 6 h of initial artefenomel 

 administration was common (24.6%) and associated with lower 

 drug exposures. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of 

 artefenomel/ferroquine combination was suboptimal in African 

 children aged $\leq$ 5 years, the population of interest, and 

 vomiting most likely had a negative impact on efficacy. Trial 

 registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02497612. Registered 14 Jul 

 2015, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02497612?term=NCT02497612\&draw=2\&rank=1.},

note = {PMID: 34011358 

PMCID: PMC8135182},

keywords = {Adamantane/administration \& dosage/analogs \& derivatives, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aminoquinolines/administration \& dosage, Benin, Burkina Faso, C580Y, Child, Combination treatment, Double-Blind Method, Drug Combinations, Exposure\textendashresponse, Falciparum/prevention \& control, Female, Ferroquine, Ferrous Compounds/administration \& dosage, Gabon, Humans, Infant, Kelch-13 mutation, Kenya, Malaria, Male, Metallocenes/administration \& dosage, Middle Aged, Mozambique, Parasite clearance, Peroxides/administration \& dosage, Pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, Plasmodium falciparum/drug effects, Preschool, resistance, Uganda, Vietnam, Vomiting, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Datoo2021-dk,

title = {Efficacy of a low-dose candidate malaria vaccine, R21 in  adjuvant Matrix-M, with seasonal administration to children in  Burkina Faso: a randomised controlled trial},

author = {Mehreen S Datoo and Magloire H Natama and Athanase Som\'{e} and Ousmane Traor\'{e} and Toussaint Rouamba and Duncan Bellamy and Prisca Yameogo and Daniel Valia and Moubarak Tegneri and Florence Ouedraogo and Rachidatou Soma and Seydou Sawadogo and Faizatou Sorgho and Karim Derra and Eli Rouamba and Benedict Orindi and Fernando Ramos Lopez and Amy Flaxman and Federica Cappuccini and Reshma Kailath and Sean Elias and Ekta Mukhopadhyay and Andres Noe and Matthew Cairns and Alison Lawrie and Rachel Roberts and Innocent Val\'{e}a and Hermann Sorgho and Nicola Williams and Gregory Glenn and Louis Fries and Jenny Reimer and Katie J Ewer and Umesh Shaligram and Adrian V S Hill and Halidou Tinto},

doi = {10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00943-0},

issn = {1474-547X 0140-6736},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-05-15},

urldate = {2021-05-15},

journal = {Lancet},

volume = {397},

number = {10287},

pages = {1809--1818},

publisher = {Elsevier BV},

abstract = {BACKGROUND: Stalled progress in controlling Plasmodium 

 falciparum malaria highlights the need for an effective and 

 deployable vaccine. RTS,S/AS01, the most effective malaria 

 vaccine candidate to date, demonstrated 56% efficacy over 12 

 months in African children. We therefore assessed a new 

 candidate vaccine for safety and efficacy. METHODS: In this 

 double-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2b trial, the 

 low-dose circumsporozoite protein-based vaccine R21, with two 

 different doses of adjuvant Matrix-M (MM), was given to children 

 aged 5-17 months in Nanoro, Burkina Faso-a highly seasonal 

 malaria transmission setting. Three vaccinations were 

 administered at 4-week intervals before the malaria season, with 

 a fourth dose 1 year later. All vaccines were administered 

 intramuscularly into the thigh. Group 1 received 5 $mu$g R21 

 plus 25 $mu$g MM, group 2 received 5 $mu$g R21 plus 50 $mu$g 

 MM, and group 3, the control group, received rabies 

 vaccinations. Children were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to groups 

 1-3. An independent statistician generated a random allocation 

 list, using block randomisation with variable block sizes, which 

 was used to assign participants. Participants, their families, 

 and the local study team were all masked to group allocation. 

 Only the pharmacists preparing the vaccine were unmasked to 

 group allocation. Vaccine safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy 

 were evaluated over 1 year. The primary objective assessed 

 protective efficacy of R21 plus MM (R21/MM) from 14 days after 

 the third vaccination to 6 months. Primary analyses of vaccine 

 efficacy were based on a modified intention-to-treat population, 

 which included all participants who received three vaccinations, 

 allowing for inclusion of participants who received the wrong 

 vaccine at any timepoint. This trial is registered with 

 ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03896724. FINDINGS: From May 7 to June 

 13, 2019, 498 children aged 5-17 months were screened, and 48 

 were excluded. 450 children were enrolled and received at least 

 one vaccination. 150 children were allocated to group 1, 150 

 children were allocated to group 2, and 150 children were 

 allocated to group 3. The final vaccination of the primary 

 series was administered on Aug 7, 2019. R21/MM had a favourable 

 safety profile and was well tolerated. The majority of adverse 

 events were mild, with the most common event being fever. None 

 of the seven serious adverse events were attributed to the 

 vaccine. At the 6-month primary efficacy analysis, 43 (29%) of 

 146 participants in group 1, 38 (26%) of 146 participants in 

 group 2, and 105 (71%) of 147 participants in group 3 developed 

 clinical malaria. Vaccine efficacy was 74% (95% CI 63-82) in 

 group 1 and 77% (67-84) in group 2 at 6 months. At 1 year, 

 vaccine efficacy remained high, at 77% (67-84) in group 1. 

 Participants vaccinated with R21/MM showed high titres of 

 malaria-specific anti-Asn-Ala-Asn-Pro (NANP) antibodies 28 days 

 after the third vaccination, which were almost doubled with the 

 higher adjuvant dose. Titres waned but were boosted to levels 

 similar to peak titres after the primary series of vaccinations 

 after a fourth dose administered 1 year later. INTERPRETATION: 

 R21/MM appears safe and very immunogenic in African children, 

 and shows promising high-level efficacy. FUNDING: The European 

 \& Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership, Wellcome 

 Trust, and National Institute for Health Research Oxford 

 Biomedical Research Centre.},

note = {Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights  reserved.

PMID: 33964223 

PMCID: PMC8121760},

keywords = {Adjuvants, Burkina Faso, Double-Blind Method, Falciparum/prevention \& control, Female, Hepatitis B Surface Antigens, Humans, Immunogenicity, Immunologic/administration \& dosage, Infant, Malaria, Malaria Vaccines/therapeutic use, Malaria/prevention \& control, Male, Nanoparticles/administration \& dosage, Proportional Hazards Models, Protozoan Proteins/immunology, Saponins/administration \& dosage, Treatment Outcome, Vaccine, Vaccines, Virus-Like Particle/therapeutic use},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Rouamba2021-gn,

title = {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},

author = {Toussaint Rouamba and S\'{e}kou Samadoulougou and Mady Ou\'{e}draogo and Herv\'{e} Hien and Halidou Tinto and Fati Kirakoya-Samadoulougou},

doi = {10.1186/s12936-021-03703-4},

issn = {1475-2875},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-05-01},

urldate = {2021-05-01},

journal = {Malar. J.},

volume = {20},

number = {1},

pages = {211},

publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media LLC},

abstract = {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.},

keywords = {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},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Gies2021-aw,

title = {Risk of malaria in young children after periconceptional iron  supplementation},

author = {Sabine Gies and Stephen A Roberts and Salou Diallo and Olga M Lompo and Halidou Tinto and Bernard J Brabin},

doi = {10.1111/mcn.13106},

issn = {1740-8709 1740-8695},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-04-01},

urldate = {2021-04-01},

journal = {Matern. Child Nutr.},

volume = {17},

number = {2},

pages = {e13106},

publisher = {Wiley},

abstract = {This study in Burkina Faso investigated whether offspring of young mothers who had received weekly periconceptional iron supplementation in a randomised controlled  trial were at increased risk of malaria. A child safety survey was undertaken in the  peak month of malaria transmission towards the end of the trial to assess child iron  biomarkers, nutritional status, anaemia and malaria outcomes. Antenatal iron  biomarkers, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and placental pathology for  malaria and chorioamnionitis were assessed. Data were available for 180 babies  surviving to the time of the survey when their median age was 9 months. Prevalence  of maternal iron deficiency in the last trimester based on low body iron stores was  16%. Prevalence of active placental malaria infection was 24.8%, past infection 59%  and chorioamnionitis 55.6%. Babies of iron supplemented women had lower median  gestational age. Four out of five children ≥ 6 months were iron deficient, and 98%  were anaemic. At 4 months malaria prevalence was 45%. Child iron biomarkers, anaemia  and malaria outcomes did not differ by trial arm. Factors associated with childhood  parasitaemia were third trimester C-reactive protein level (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.1-3.9),  active placental malaria (OR 5.8; 1.0-32.5, P = 0.042) and child body iron stores  (OR 1.13; 1.04-1.23, P = 0.002). Chorioamnionitis was associated with reduced risk  of child parasitaemia (OR 0.4; 0.1-1.0, P = 0.038). Periconceptional iron  supplementation of young women did not alter body iron stores of their children.  Higher child body iron stores and placental malaria increased risk of childhood  parasitaemia.},

note = {© 2020 The Authors. Maternal \& Child Nutrition published by John Wiley \& Sons Ltd.

PMID: 33236840 

PMCID: PMC7988873},

keywords = {Burkina Faso, child iron, Dietary Supplements/analysis, Female, Folic Acid, Humans, Infant, Malaria, Newborn, periconceptional, placenta, Pregnancy, Premature Birth, Preschool},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{Nonterah2021-pc,

title = {Adiposity phenotypes and subclinical atherosclerosis in adults  from sub-Saharan Africa: An H3Africa AWI-gen study},

author = {Engelbert A Nonterah and Michiel L Bots and Abraham Oduro and Godfred Agongo and Cassandra C Soo and Lisa K Micklesfield and Felistas Mashinya and Palwend\'{e} R Boua and Shukri F Mohamed and Alisha N Wade and Catherine Kyobutungi and Halidou Tinto and Shane A Norris and Stephen M Tollman and Mich`ele Ramsay and Diederick E Grobbee and Kerstin Klipstein-Grobusch and Nigel J Crowther and AWI-Gen and H3Africa Consortium},

doi = {10.5334/gh.863},

issn = {2211-8179 2211-8160},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-03-19},

urldate = {2021-03-19},

journal = {Glob. Heart},

volume = {16},

number = {1},

pages = {19},

publisher = {Ubiquity Press, Ltd.},

abstract = {Background: Obesity and adipose tissue distribution contribute 

 to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 

 promoting atherosclerosis. This association has been poorly 

 studied in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) despite the rising 

 prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Objectives: We determined 

 the association between various adiposity phenotypes and carotid 

 intima-media thickness (CIMT), a proxy of subclinical 

 atherosclerosis, in a large SSA population. Methods: A 

 population-based cross-sectional study was performed from 

 2013-2016 in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. Body 

 mass index (BMI), waist (WC), hip circumferences (HC), visceral 

 (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) using B-mode 

 ultrasound were measured. Ultrasonography of left and right far 

 wall CIMT of the common carotid artery was used as an indicator 

 of subclinical atherosclerosis. Individual participant data 

 meta-analyses were used to determine the associations between 

 adiposity phenotypes and CIMT in the pooled sample while 

 adjusted multivariable linear regression analyses were used for 

 site specific analyses. Results: Data were obtained from 9,010 

 adults (50.3% women and a mean age of 50$pm$ 6years). Men had 

 higher levels of visceral fat than women while women had higher 

 BMI, waist and hip circumference and subcutaneous fat than men 

 at all sites except Burkina Faso. In the pooled analyses, BMI 

 ($beta$-value [95% CIs]: 19.5 [16.8, 22.3] $mu$m) showed the 

 strongest relationship with CIMT followed by VAT (5.86 [4.65, 

 7.07] $mu$m), SCAT (5.00 [2.85, 7.15] $mu$m), WC (1.27 [1.09, 

 1.44] $mu$m) and HC (1.23 [1.04, 1.42] $mu$m). Stronger 

 associations were observed in men than in women. Conclusion: 

 Obesity within SSA will likely result in higher levels of 

 atherosclerosis and promote the occurrence of cardio- and 

 cerebrovascular events, especially in males, unless addressed 

 through primary prevention of obesity in both rural and urban 

 communities across Africa. The inverse association of VAT with 

 CIMT in Burkina Faso and Ghana requires further investigation. 

 Highlights: All adiposity phenotypes were positively associated 

 with common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in the entire 

 cohort (pooled analyses).BMI had the strongest association with 

 CIMT compared to other phenotypes.The magnitude of association 

 between adiposity phenotypes and CIMT was higher in men than in 

 women.Subcutaneous adipose tissue was inversely associated with 

 CIMT only in women.An unexpected finding was the inverse 

 association of visceral adipose tissue with CIMT in Burkina Faso 

 and Ghana.},

note = {Copyright: © 2021 The Author(s).

PMID: 33833943 

PMCID: PMC7977036},

keywords = {adiposity, Adult, Body Mass Index, cardiovascular   disease, Carotid intima-media thickness, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Ghana, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, obesity, Obesity/complications/epidemiology, Phenotype, Risk Factors, sub-Saharan Africa, subclinical   atherosclerosis},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}