A New Conceptual Framework for Enhancing Vaccine Efficacy in Malnourished Children.

Background: Malnourished children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often exhibit reduced vaccine efficacy, particularly for oral vaccines like polio and rotavirus, due to impaired immune responses. Nutritional deficiencies, such as in vitamin A and zinc, along with environmental factors like poor sanitation, exacerbate this issue. Existing research has explored the individual impacts of malnutrition on vaccine outcomes, but a comprehensive framework that integrates nutritional, immune, and environmental factors has been lacking.

Nutritional Status Link with Polioseronegativity Among Children from Poliomyelitis Transmission High-Risk Area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Background: Malnutrition is identified as a risk-factor for insufficient polioseroconversion in the context of a vaccine-derived polio virus (VDPV) outbreak prone region. To assess the prevalence of malnutrition and its link to poliovirus insufficient immunity, a cross-sectional household survey was conducted in the regions of Haut- Lomami and Tanganyika, DRC.

Methods: In March 2018, we included 968 healthy children aged 6 to 59 months from eight out of 27 districts.

Prediction Model with Validation for Polioseronegativity in Malnourished Children from Poliomyelitis Transmission High-Risk Area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Background: Malnutrition is identified as a risk factor for insufficient polio seroconversion in the context of a vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) outbreak-prone region. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), underweight decreased from 31% (in 2001) to 26% (in 2018). Since 2004, VDPV serotype 2 outbreaks (cVDPV2) have been documented and were geographically limited around the Haut-Lomami and Tanganyika Provinces.

Area-specific covid-19 effects on health services utilization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo using routine health information system data.

Background: Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has shocked health systems worldwide. This analysis investigated the effects of the pandemic on basic health services utilization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and examined the variability of COVID effects in the capital city Kinshasa, in other urban areas, and in rural areas.

Methods: We estimated time trends models using national health information system data to replicate pre-COVID-19 (i.

"Zero Dose" Children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: How Many and Who Are They?

(1) Background: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is one of the countries with the highest number of never vaccinated or "zero-dose" (ZD) children in the world. This study was conducted to examine the proportion of ZD children and associated factors in the DRC. (2) Methods: Child and household data from a provincial-level vaccination coverage survey conducted between November 2021-February 2021 and 2022 were used.

Impact of a free care policy on routine health service volumes during a protracted Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: In response to the DRC's 10th Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak, the government subsidized routine health services in select health zones with the goal of maintaining routine service volumes. We assess the impact of the initial and revised Free Care Policies (FCP) on total clinic visits, uncomplicated malaria, simple pneumonia, fourth antenatal care clinic visits, and measles vaccinations, testing the hypothesis that routine services would not significantly decrease during the FCP.

Methods And Findings: We used data from the DRC's national health information system spanning January 2017 to November 2020.

Improving the quality of maternal and newborn health outcomes through a clinical mentorship program in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: study protocol.

Background: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) boasts one of the highest rates of institutional deliveries in sub-Saharan Africa (80%), with eight out of every ten births also assisted by a skilled provider. However, the maternal and neonatal mortality are still among the highest in the world, which demonstrates the poor in-facility quality of maternal and newborn care. The objective of this ongoing project is to design, implement, and evaluate a clinical mentorship program in 72 health facilities in two rural provinces of Kwango and Kwilu, DRC.

Facility conditions, obstetric and neonatal care practices, and availability of emergency obstetric and neonatal care in 72 rural health facilities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A cross-sectional study.

Current facility conditions, obstetric and neonatal care practices, and availability of emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) were assessed in the Kwango and Kwilu provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This is an analysis of the baseline survey data from an ongoing clinical mentoring program among 72 rural health facilities in the DRC. Data collectors visited each of the facilities and collected data through a pre-programmed smartphone.

Human resources in health research institutions in sub-Saharan African countries: results of a questionnaire-based survey.

Objective: To describe human capacity and staff movement in national health research institutions in 42 sub-Saharan African countries.

Design: A structured questionnaire was used to solicit information on governance and stewardship from health research institutions.

Setting: Eight hundred and forty-seven health research institutions in 42 sub-Saharan African countries.

Expenditures on health research in sub-Saharan African countries: results of a questionnaire-based survey.

Objective: To estimate the sources of funds for health research (revenue) and the uses of these funds (expenditure).

Design: A structured questionnaire was used to solicit financial information from health research institutions.

Setting: Forty-two sub-Saharan African countries.

Research and its governance in health research institutions in sub-Saharan African countries: results of a questionnaire-based survey.

Objective: To describe governance and stewardship of research in health research institutions in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region. Design: A structured questionnaire was used to solicit information on governance and stewardship from health research institutions. Setting: Forty-two Member States of the WHO African Region.

Overview of national health research systems in sub-Saharan Africa: results of a questionnaire-based survey.

Objective: To assess the state of national health research systems of countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region.

Design: A questionnaire-based survey METHODS: Structured questionnaires were used to solicit health research systems' relevant information from key informants in each country.

Setting: Forty-six Member States of the WHO African Region.

Health information systems in Africa: descriptive analysis of data sources, information products and health statistics.

Objective: To identify key data sources of health information and describe their availability in countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region.

Methods: An analytical review on the availability and quality of health information data sources in countries; from experience, observations, literature and contributions from countries.

Setting: Forty-six Member States of the WHO African Region.

Surveying the knowledge landscape in sub-Saharan Africa: methodology.

Objective: To describe in detail the methods followed in each of the qualitative and quantitative surveys of national health information, research and knowledge systems and research institutions.

Design: Cross-sectional surveys.

Setting: National health information and research systems, and 847 health research institutions in 42 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region.

Resources, indicators, data management, dissemination and use in health information systems in sub-Saharan Africa: results of a questionnaire-based survey.

Objective: To describe the status of health information systems in 14 sub-Saharan African countries of the World Health Organization African Region.

Design: A questionnaire-based survey.

Setting: Fourteen sub-Saharan African countries of the African Region.

Knowledge systems in health in sub-Saharan Africa: results of a questionnaire-based survey.

Objective: To describe the mechanisms and systems of knowledge acquisition, creation, diffusion, application and improvement of knowledge in two layers of the health system: health policy formulation and the provision of clinical services.

Design: A questionnaire-based survey.

Setting: Health research institutions in 46 countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region.

Research ethics policies and practices in health research institutions in sub-Saharan African countries: results of a questionnaire-based survey.

Objective: To describe the state of research ethics policies and practices in health research institutions in sub-Saharan African countries.

Design: A structured questionnaire was used to solicit information on research ethics from health research institutions.

Setting: Forty-two sub-Saharan African countries.

Research output of health research institutions and its use in 42 sub-Saharan African countries: results of a questionnaire-based survey.

Objective: To describe and analyse research output from surveyed national health research institutions in Africa.

Design: The survey used a structured questionnaire to solicit information from 847 health research institutions in 42 countries of the World Health Organization African Region.

Setting: Eight hundred and forty-seven health research institutions in 42 sub-Saharan African countries.

Institutional facilities in national health research systems in sub-Saharan African countries: results of a questionnaire-based survey.

Objective: To describe the current status of institutional facilities and the supporting research infrastructure of surveyed health research institutions in Africa, including information on communication technologies and connectivity, library resources, and laboratory operations and resources.

Design: A structured questionnaire was used to solicit information on institutional facilities at health research institutions.

Setting: Health research institutions in 42 sub-Saharan African countries.

Community-driven interventions can revolutionise control of neglected tropical diseases.

Whether global health interventions target diseases (vertical), systems (horizontal) or both (diagonal), they must address the challenge of delivering services in very remote areas of poor countries with inadequate infrastructure. The primacy of this challenge has been underscored by persistent service-delivery difficulties despite several large financial commitments - the latest, US $363 million in the January 2012 London Declaration. Community-driven approaches, pioneered in river blindness control, show that engaging communities can maximise access and performance.