The relationship between energy provided and growth during severe wasting treatment.

Treatment of severe acute malnutrition aims at producing quick catch-up growth in children to decrease their short-term mortality risk. The extent to which catch-up growth is influenced by the amount of energy provided is unclear. This study assessed whether energy provided at admission is associated with catch-up ponderal growth among children with mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) < 115 mm at admission.

[Complications of female genital mutilation: epidemiology and management of cases at Ouahigouya regional teaching hospital, Burkina Faso].

Background: Female genital mutilation is still common in Burkina Faso, despite decades of struggle against its practice. The northern region of this country has one of the highest prevalence of this practice at the national level with 76% of women mutilated. The objective of our study was to describe the health complications of female genital mutilation treated in the referral hospital in this region.

Nutritional treatment of children 6-59 months with severely low weight-for-age z-score: a study protocol for a 3-arm randomized controlled trial.

Background: Admission criteria that treat children with low mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC), and low weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) are not aligned with the evidence on which children are at risk of mortality. An analysis of community-based cohort data from Senegal found that a combination of weight-for-age (WAZ) and MUAC criteria identified all children at risk of near-term death associated with severe anthropometric deficits. This study will address whether children with WAZ <-3 but MUAC ≥125 mm benefit from therapeutic feeding with ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTF) and whether a simplified protocol is non-inferior to the weight-based standard protocol.

A Comparative Analysis of Maternal Nutrition Decision-Making Autonomy During Pregnancy-An Application of the Food Choice Process Model in Burkina Faso and Madagascar.

Background: Adequate nutrition has been cited as one of the most critical components for optimal health outcomes during pregnancy. Women in Burkina Faso and Madagascar experience high rates of undernutrition due to lack of knowledge, finances, cultural norms, and autonomy. Therefore, this study aimed (1) to describe typical maternal diets during pregnancy in Burkina Faso and Madagascar, (2) to understand the multilevel factors that influence women's nutrition decision-making, and (3) to explore the extent to which women have nutrition decision-making autonomy during pregnancy.

Ivermectin as a novel malaria control tool: Getting ahead of the resistance curse.

Reduction in malaria clinical cases is strongly dependent on the ability to prevent Anopheles infectious bites. Vector control strategies using long-lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying with insecticides have contributed to significantly reduce the incidence of malaria in many endemic countries, especially in the Sub-Saharan region. However, global progress in reducing malaria cases has plateaued since 2015 mostly due to the increased insecticide resistance and behavioral changes in Anopheles vectors.

Intensified Nutrition Interventions in Antenatal Care Services Increased Consumption of Iron and Folic Acid Supplements and Early Breastfeeding Practices in Burkina Faso: Results of a Cluster-Randomized Program Evaluation.

Background: Alive & Thrive supported the Government of Burkina Faso to strengthen the provision of iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation and interpersonal counseling on maternal nutrition and breastfeeding through antenatal care (ANC) services and community-based contacts in 2 regions.

Objectives: We assessed the impacts of intensified nutrition interventions during ANC compared with standard ANC services on intervention coverage and maternal nutrition practices.

Methods: A cluster-randomized evaluation compared 40 health center catchment areas in intervention areas with 40 in control areas.

Post-Recovery Relapse of Children Treated with a Simplified, Combined Nutrition Treatment Protocol in Mali: A Prospective Cohort Study.

The present study aimed to determine the 6-month incidence of relapse and associated factors among children who recovered from acute malnutrition (AM) following mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC)-based simplified combined treatment using the ComPAS protocol. A prospective cohort of 420 children who had reached a MUAC ≥ 125 mm for two consecutive measures was monitored between December 2020 and October 2021. Children were seen at home fortnightly for 6 months.

Molecular epidemiology of human papillomavirus in pregnant women in Burkina Faso.

Introduction: Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is widespread among sexually active individuals. Several factors may contribute to increased risk of infection in pregnant women. The objective of this study was to determine the high-risk (HR-HPV) and low-risk (LR-HPV) oncogenic HPV genotypes among pregnant women in Ouagadougou.

Exploration of the Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Potential of DC and (Schumach.) Milne-Redh, Traditionally Used in the Treatment of Hepatitis in the Hauts-Bassins Region of Burkina Faso.

Inflammation is the supreme biological response to illness. In the Hauts-Bassins region, in traditional medicine, all parts of and are used to treat hepatitis and inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of their aqueous extracts.

Effectiveness of Acute Malnutrition Treatment at Health Center and Community Levels with a Simplified, Combined Protocol in Mali: An Observational Cohort Study.

A simplified, combined protocol was created that admits children with a mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) of <125 mm or edema to malnutrition treatment with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) that involves prescribing two daily RUTF sachets to children with MUAC < 115 mm or edema and one daily sachet to those with 115 mm ≤ MUAC < 125 mm. This treatment was previously shown to result in non-inferior programmatic outcomes compared with standard treatment. We aimed at observing its effectiveness in a routine setting at scale, including via delivery by community health workers (CHWs).

Multiple modifiable maternal, household and health service factors are associated with maternal nutrition and early breastfeeding practices in Burkina Faso.

Low coverage of effective nutrition interventions in many high-burden countries, due to service provision and demand factors, result in poor uptake of recommended practices and nutrition outcomes. We examined the factors that influence maternal nutrition and early breastfeeding practices and determined the extent that the key factors could improve these practices in two regions in Burkina Faso. We used household survey data among pregnant (n = 920) and recently delivered women (n = 1840).

Implementation of maternal and neonatal death surveillance and response in Cameroon.

Objective: To analyze implementation of maternal and neonatal death surveillance and response (MNDSR) in Cameroon to determine to what extent monitoring objectives are being met and highlight the main obstacles and facilitating factors.

Methods: Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study using a qualitative method and routine data on maternal health. Semistructured interviews were conducted with participants involved in MNDSR at the central, regional, and district levels.

Barriers to the implementation of quality maternal death reviews in health districts in Burkina Faso.

Objective: To identify barriers to the implementation of maternal death reviews in health districts in Burkina Faso.

Methods: We conducted a multiple case study in seven health facilities chosen by contrasted purposive sampling. Sampling criteria were based on intrahospital maternal mortality rates and the location of the health facility.

Retrospective Genomic Characterization of a 2017 Dengue Virus Outbreak, Burkina Faso.

Knowledge of contemporary genetic composition of dengue virus (DENV) in Africa is lacking. By using next-generation sequencing of samples from the 2017 DENV outbreak in Burkina Faso, we isolated 29 DENV genomes (5 serotype 1, 16 serotype 2 [DENV-2], and 8 serotype 3). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the endemic nature of DENV-2 in Burkina Faso.

Assessment of the maternal death surveillance and response implementation process in Burkina Faso.

Objective: To evaluate the maternal death surveillance and response (MDSR) implementation process in two health districts in Burkina Faso and identify factors that have affected implementation.

Methods: We conducted a case study in two health districts selected by purposive sampling according to location (rural or urban) during the period 2015-2016. Data gathering consisted of semi-structured interviews with several health personnel involved in the implementation process.

Discontinuation of the maternal death surveillance and response system in the post-conflict context of the Central African Republic.

In the post-conflict context of the Central African Republic, underreporting of maternal deaths in health facilities has occurred. There are no guidelines in place for operational or intermediate levels. There are no review or audit committees within the health facilities, districts, or regions, or at the national level.

Molecular characterization of high-risk humanpapillomavirus genotypes in women with or without cervical lesions at VIA/VILI in Kara, Togo.

Background: Persistent infection with high-risk (HR) papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes plays a central role in the pathogenesis of invasive cervical cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of HR-HPV among women with or without cervical lesions at VIA/VILI in Togo.

Methods: Cervical samples were collected from 238 women with or without cervical lesions at VIA / VILI and[c3] DNA [c4]was extracted and analyzed by real-time multiplex PCR.

Evaluation of the quality of maternal death review cycles in Burkina Faso.

Objective: To assess the quality of the maternal death review (MDR) cycle in selected health facilities in Burkina Faso in accordance with national standards.

Methods: A multiple case study using a qualitative approach performed in five health districts and two regional hospital centers in Burkina Faso. The facilities were chosen by contrasted purposive sampling based on hospital maternal mortality rate and urban or rural location.

A multicenter analytical performance evaluation of a multiplexed immunoarray for the simultaneous measurement of biomarkers of micronutrient deficiency, inflammation and malarial antigenemia.

A lack of comparative data across laboratories is often a barrier to the uptake and adoption of new technologies. Furthermore, data generated by different immunoassay methods may be incomparable due to a lack of harmonization. In this multicenter study, we describe validation experiments conducted in a single lab and cross-lab comparisons of assay results to assess the performance characteristics of the Q-plex™ 7-plex Human Micronutrient Array (7-plex), an immunoassay that simultaneously quantifies seven biomarkers associated with micronutrient (MN) deficiencies, inflammation and malarial antigenemia using plasma or serum; alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein, ferritin, histidine-rich protein 2, retinol binding protein 4, soluble transferrin receptor, and thyroglobulin.

Breast cancer in West Africa: molecular analysis of BRCA genes in early-onset breast cancer patients in Burkina Faso.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Africa after cervical cancer. Even if the epidemiological data are now aligned with those relating to industrialized countries, the knowledge concerning breast cancer in Africa, particularly in Western Africa, still lack clinical data, medical treatments, and the evaluation of genetic and non-genetic factors implicated in the etiology of the disease. The early onset and the aggressiveness of diagnosed breast cancers in patients of African ancestry strongly suggest that the genetic risk factor may be a key component, but so far, very few studies on the impact of germ line mutations in breast cancer in Africa have been conducted, with negative consequences on prevention, awareness and patient management.

Molecular Epidemiology of Human Papillomaviruses, and among Female Sex Workers in Burkina Faso: Prevalence, Coinfections and Drug Resistance Genes.

Viral and bacterial infections represent an occupational risk for female sex workers. This study aimed at determining HPV coinfection with genital pathogens among female sex workers in West and Central Africa and identifying antibiotic resistance genes. A total of 182 samples from female sex workers were analyzed by real-time PCR and classic PCR.

Out-of-pocket costs and time spent attending antenatal care services: a case study of pregnant women in selected rural communities in Zinder, Niger.

Background: Despite an official policy of exemption from health care costs, pregnant women in Niger still face some out-of-pocket costs (OPC) in addition to time costs when they attend antenatal care (ANC) services. We aimed to: 1) assess the OPC for pregnant woman attending ANC, 2) estimate the time spent to attend ANC and the opportunity cost of that time, and 3) assess how OPC and time spent to attend ANC affected ANC attendance.

Methods: Data were obtained from a quasi-experimental descriptive study carried out in the region of Zinder, Niger, which compared pre- and post-intervention cohorts of pregnant women (n = 1736 women who reported attending ANC during their current pregnancy).

Effects of clitoral reconstruction for female genital mutilation on perinatal outcomes: A retrospective case-control study.

Objectives: To investigate the perinatal outcomes of women with a history of female genital mutilation (FGM) who underwent clitoral reconstruction (CR) compared with women with FGM who did not undergo CR.

Material And Methods: Retrospective case-control study at Angers University Hospital, between 2005 and 2017.

Inclusion Criteria: pregnant women >18 years who underwent CR after FGM.