Creating a best practice template for participant communication plans in global health clinical studies.

Background: Clinical trial participants have a right to be informed throughout the entire process of human subject research. As part of this pillar of research ethics, participants and other stakeholders should be made aware of research findings after a trial has been completed. Though participants have both a right, and a desire to be informed of research outcomes, studies show that they rarely receive communication about study findings.

Adding rapid diagnostic tests to community-based programmes for treating malaria.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends parasitological testing of all suspected malaria cases using malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) or microscopy prior to treatment. Some governments have extended this responsibility to community health workers (CHWs) to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality through prompt and appropriate treatment. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2013.

Case fatality risk of diarrhoeal pathogens: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Estimates of the relative contribution of different pathogens to all-cause diarrhoea mortality are needed to inform global diarrhoea burden models and prioritize interventions. We aimed to investigate and estimate heterogeneity in the case fatality risk (CFR) of different diarrhoeal pathogens.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that reported cases and deaths for 15 enteric pathogens published between 1990 and 2019.

Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake amongst Healthcare Workers (HCWs) in Nigeria.

This study applied a behavioral lens to understand drivers of COVID-19 vaccination uptake among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Nigeria. The study used data from an online survey of Nigerian HCWs ages 18 and older conducted in July 2021. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine predictors of getting two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The burden of meningococcal meningitis in the African Meningitis Belt, from 2009 to 2014: a trend analysis.

Introduction: Neisseria meningitides is the leading cause of meningitis in the African Meningitis Belt. The objective of this study was to conduct a trend analysis of the burden of meningococcal meningitis in the African Meningitis Belt countries from 2009 to 2014.

Methods: secondary data on incidence and death cases were collected from the World Health Organization (WHO) and analyzed to determine the trends of meningitis in the African Meningitis Belt countries using Microsoft excel and Stata 14.

A Systematic Review of Interventions to Improve HPV Vaccination Coverage.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Although most HPV infections are transient and asymptomatic, persistent infection with high-risk HPV types may results in diseases. Although there are currently three effective and safe prophylactic HPV vaccines that are used across the world, HPV vaccination coverage remains low.

Cochrane corner: factors that influence compliance by healthcare workers with infection prevention and control guidelines for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.

As rates of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continue rising in Africa, usage of infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies by healthcare workers (HCW) is critical. We highlight a Cochrane review of qualitative evidence that explored barriers and facilitators to HCW compliance with IPC recommendations for COVID-19 and other respiratory infectious diseases. The review found various individual- and organizational- level barriers and facilitators.

A scoping review on research agendas to enhance prevention of epidemics and pandemics in Africa.

Introduction: research is not only needed to prioritise the best possible response during an epidemic and pandemic, it is also understood to be a core pillar of outbreak response. However, few African countries are equipped to perform the needed surveillance and research activities during an outbreak. Therefore, we mapped out research agendas aimed at increased research preparedness towards epidemics or pandemics in Africa.

A systematic review of vaccine availability at the national, district, and health facility level in the WHO African Region.

Introduction: To describe vaccine stock-outs at national, district, and health facility levels in the WHO African region.

Areas Covered: We conducted a systematic review to identify studies reporting on vaccine stock-outs at national, district, and health facility levels in 47 African countries. We searched both published and unpublished literature, including the WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form (JRF), for eligible studies.

Informing the measurement of wellbeing among young people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa for policy evaluations: a mixed-methods systematic review.

Young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are at high risk of having a poor quality of life. Addressing wellbeing explicitly within HIV/AIDS policies could assist mitigation efforts. However, guidance on wellbeing measures to evaluate policies for YPLHIV is scarce.

HIV-1 integrase resistance associated mutations and the use of dolutegravir in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa carries the greatest burden of HIV-infection with increasing drug resistance burden, which requires improved patient management and monitoring. Current WHO recommendations suggest transitioning to dolutegravir-based (adults) or raltegravir-based-regimens (neonates) for initial antiretroviral therapy (ART) and as a suitable alternative in cases of multi-resistance in resource-limited settings. This review aims at synthesizing the current knowledge on dolutegravir use and integrase resistance-associated mutations found before the wide use of dolutegravir-based regimens.

Effectiveness of the female condom in preventing HIV and sexually transmitted infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The effectiveness of female condoms for preventing HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) remains inconclusive. We examined the effects of female condoms on the acquisition of HIV and STIs.

Methods: We searched four databases, two trial registries, and reference lists of relevant publications in October 2018 and updated our search in February 2020.

Social media and HPV vaccination: Unsolicited public comments on a Facebook post by the Western Cape Department of Health provide insights into determinants of vaccine hesitancy in South Africa.

On the 4 February 2019, the Western Cape Department of Health's Facebook page announced the implementation of a school-based vaccination campaign aimed to administer the first doses of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in public schools to Grade 4 girls who are nine years old. This announcement was met with a flurry of social media responses posted on the campaign's Facebook page. This study identifies determinants of vaccine hesitancy amongst responses provided by social media users to this post.

A systematic review of immunogenicity, clinical efficacy and safety of human papillomavirus vaccines in people living with the human immunodeficiency virus.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection worldwide. People living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at high risk of HPV infection. This systematic review evaluates the immunogenicity, clinical efficacy, and safety of prophylactic HPV vaccines in people living with HIV.

A global review of seasonal influenza vaccine introduction: analysis of the WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form.

: Influenza is a highly contagious disease that affects the upper and lower respiratory tract caused by several subtypes of influenza viruses. While vaccination remains the mainstay strategy to protect populations against influenza, there is a global shortage and inequitable access to influenza vaccines. Although influenza vaccine production capacity increased from 500 million doses in 2006 to 1.

New vaccine introductions in Africa before and during the decade of vaccines - Are we making progress?

Vaccines are excellent investments with far-reaching rewards beyond individual and population health, but their introduction into national programs has been historically slow in Africa. We provide an overview of the introduction of new and underutilized vaccines in countries of the WHO African Region by 2017, using data from the WHO-UNICEF Joint Reporting Form. By 2017, all 47 countries had introduced vaccines containing hepatitis B (compared to 11% in 2000 and 98% in 2010) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (compared to 4% in 2000 and 91% in 2010).

Prevalence and dynamics of missed opportunities for vaccination among children in Africa: applying systems thinking in a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV) among children aged 0-23 months attending health-care facilities in Africa and explore the factors responsible for MOV using systems thinking.

Research Design And Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting the proportion MOVs. Five electronic databases were searched.

Rural-urban disparities in missed opportunities for vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa: a multi-country decomposition analyses.

Background: In this study, we aimed to explore the rural-urban disparities in the magnitude and determinants of missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using nationally representative household surveys conducted between 2007 and 2017 in 35 countries across sub-Saharan Africa. The risk difference in MOV between rural or urban dwellers were calculated.

Vaccine hesitancy 'outbreaks': using epidemiological modeling of the spread of ideas to understand the effects of vaccine related events on vaccine hesitancy.

Vaccine hesitancy, a growing global problem which is aggravated by vaccine related rumors and (mis)information, has the potential to reverse the gains from vaccination. Areas covered: We describe a selection of vaccine-related events that have made headlines and highlight the effects that these have had on vaccine acceptance. Drawing on these cases, and an adaptation of an epidemiological modeling of the spread of ideas, we propose that vaccine hesitancy can be grouped into two categories: 'baseline' and 'reactive' vaccine hesitancy.

Burden of seasonal influenza in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review protocol.

Introduction: Measures of epidemiological burdens are an important contribution to estimating disease severity and determining the at-risk populations for seasonal influenza. In the absence of these data, it is extremely difficult for policy-makers to decide on how to distribute limited resources. This systematic review will synthesise the literature on reported burden of seasonal influenza (eg, morbidity and mortality) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Effectiveness of female condom in preventing HIV and sexually transmitted infections: a systematic review protocol.

Introduction: The HIV pandemic continues to evolve with young women being the most vulnerable group to acquire infection. The presence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) further enhances HIV susceptibility and also leads to long-term complications such as infertility and cervical cancer. The female condom is a self-initiated method for STI and HIV prevention but there are controversies on its effects.

Does it really matter where you live? A multilevel analysis of factors associated with missed opportunities for vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa.

There is an urgent need to examine the magnitude and factors responsible for missed opportunities for vaccination, to rapidly achieve national immunization targets. The objective of the study was to examine the influence of individual, neighbourhood and country level socioeconomic position on missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV) in Sub-Saharan Africa. We used multilevel logistic regression analysis on Demographic and Health Survey data collected between 2007 and 2016 in sub-Saharan Africa.

Existence and functionality of national immunisation technical advisory groups in Africa from 2010 to 2016.

We describe the existence and functionality of National Immunisation Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) in Africa between 2010 and 2016, using data from the WHO-UNICEF Joint Reporting Form. The number of African countries with NITAGs increased from 15 (28%) in 2010 to 26 (48%) in 2016. Countries with a functioning NITAG increased from 5(9%) in 2010 to 16 (30%) in 2016.

Decomposing the gap in missed opportunities for vaccination between poor and non-poor in sub-Saharan Africa: A Multicountry Analyses.

Understanding the gaps in missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV) in sub-Saharan Africa would inform interventions for improving immunisation coverage to achieving universal childhood immunisation. We aimed to conduct a multicountry analyses to decompose the gap in MOV between poor and non-poor in SSA. We used cross-sectional data from 35 Demographic and Health Surveys in SSA conducted between 2007 and 2016.