Immunologic assessment of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine booster doses on humoral immunity: a cross-sectional study in morocco.

To assess the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 booster dose on the immune response against COVID-19, we conducted a cross-sectional study in the Casablanca-Settat region of Morocco. The study included 2,802 participants from 16 provinces, all of whom had received three doses of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. IgG antibodies targeting the S1 RBD subunit of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were quantified using the SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant assay and measured on the Abbott Architect i2000SR instrument.

COVID-19 and indirect health implications in Africa: Impact, mitigation measures, and lessons learned for improved disease control.

Seth Inzaule and co-authors discuss implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for health in African countries.

Never-Smoking Adolescents' Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in Africa.

Introduction: Though Africa is in Stage 1 of the tobacco epidemic, lack of effective public smoking laws or political will implies that secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure may be high in youth. The study objective is to estimate prevalence and identify determinants of SHS exposure among never-smoker adolescents in Africa and make cross-country comparisons.

Methods: Pooled data from the Global Youth Tobacco Surveys conducted in 25 African countries during 2006-2011 were used.

Age of smoking initiation among adolescents in Africa.

Objectives: To estimate prevalence and identify correlates of age of smoking initiation among adolescents in Africa.

Methods: Data (n = 16,519) were obtained from nationally representative Global Youth Tobacco Surveys in nine West African countries. Study outcome was adolescents' age of smoking initiation categorized into six groups: ≤7, 8 or 9, 10 or 11, 12 or 13, 14 or 15 and never-smoker.

How effective has tobacco tax increase been in the Gambia? A case study of tobacco control.

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to evaluate how effective tobacco tax increase has been in increasing price of tobacco products and reducing tobacco consumption in the Gambia. In addition, it tests the hypothesis that tobacco tax revenue grows while tobacco consumption decreases as a result of tax and price increase.

Setting: The study is designed at the macroeconomic level to examine the import of tobacco products and revenue collected from tobacco taxation in a low-income setting.

Prevalence and correlates of tobacco use among school-going adolescents in Madagascar.

Approximately 90% of adults start smoking during adolescence, with limited studies conducted in low-and-middle-income countries where over 80% of global tobacco users reside. The study aims to estimate prevalence and identify predictors associated with adolescents' tobacco use in Madagascar. We utilized tobacco-related information of 1184 school-going adolescents aged 13-15 years, representing a total of 296,111 youth from the 2008 Madagascar Global Youth Tobacco Survey to determine the prevalence of tobacco use.

Secondhand smoke exposure among never-smoking youth in 168 countries.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among never-smoking adolescents and identify key factors associated with such exposure.

Methods: Data were obtained from nationally representative Global Youth Tobacco Surveys conducted in 168 countries during 1999-2008. SHS exposure was ascertained in relation to the location-exposure inside home, outside home, and both inside and outside home, respectively.

The odd man out in Sub-Saharan Africa: understanding the tobacco use prevalence in Madagascar.

Background: The tobacco industry has globalized and tobacco use continues to increase in low- and middle-income countries. Yet, the data and research to inform policy initiatives for addressing this phenomenon is sparse. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of adult tobacco use in 17 Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, and to identify key factors associated with adult tobacco consumption choices (smoked, smokeless tobacco and dual use) in Madagascar.