Exploring the inherent resilience of health districts in a context of chronic armed conflict: a case study in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background: In South Kivu (Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC]), health districts (HDs) affected by chronic armed conflicts are devising coping mechanisms to continue offering healthcare services to the population. Nonetheless, this alone does not suffice to make them fully resilient to such conflicts. This study aims to explore the characteristics of these HDs' resilience.

Arm circumference for age, arm circumference and weight-for-height z-score for the evaluation of severe acute malnutrition: a retrospective cohort study in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: Little is known about the use of mid-upper arm circumference for age (MUACZ) for diagnosing of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and its correlation with WHZ (weight-for-height Z-score) in an area endemic for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and with a high prevalence of kwashiorkor. Our study aims to analyze the concordance between the diagnostic criteria of SAM in a region presenting these characteristics.

Methods: We analyzed a database of children admitted from 1987 to 2008 for the management of SAM in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Association between severe acute malnutrition in childhood and hematological disorders in adulthood: the Lwiro follow-up study in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background: Despite growing evidence on the short-term deleterious effects of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in childhood on hematopoiesis, little is known about the long-term hematological effects of SAM in low-income countries (LICs). Our study explored the association between childhood SAM and hematological disorders in adults 11 to 30 years after post-SAM nutritional rehabilitation.

Methods: This follow up study investigated 97 adults (mean age 32 years) treated for SAM during childhood in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 1988 and 2007.

Adherence to '5-2-1-0' guidelines and multiple risky behaviours among adolescents in nine sub-Saharan African countries: evidence from Global School-based Student Health Survey 2012-2017.

Objective: Overweight and obesity constitute a new challenge in low-income and middle-countries. The obesity prevention programme, called '5-2-1-0', promotes healthy eating habits, physical activity and limited screen time among young people.This study aimed to assess adherence to the '5-2-1-0' recommendations and to study multiple risky behaviours among adolescents in nine countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Association between diagnostic criteria for severe acute malnutrition and hospital mortality in children aged 6-59 months in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: the Lwiro cohort study.

Background: Few studies have assessed the relationship between weight-for-height (WHZ) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) with hospital mortality considering confounders. The particularity of MUAC for age (MUACZ) is less documented.

Objective: This study aims to investigate this relationship in a region endemic for severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

Effects of maternal antenatal treatment with two doses of azithromycin added to monthly sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for the prevention of low birth weight in Burkina Faso: an open-label randomized controlled trial.

Background: Exposure during pregnancy to malaria and sexually-transmitted infections is associated with adverse birth outcomes including low birth weight (LBW). This study aimed at assessing if the adjunction of two doses of azithromycin to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for the intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy can reduce LBW.

Methods: A two parallel-groups, open-label randomized controlled trial involving pregnant women (16 to 35 years of age and 12 to 24 weeks of gestation as confirmed by last menstrual period or fundal height) was conducted in rural Burkina Faso.

Adaptive Mechanisms of Health Zones to Chronic Traumatic Events in Eastern DRC: A Multiple Case Study.

Background: The Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been affected by armed conflict for several years. Despite the growing interest in the impact of these conflicts on health service utilisation, few studies have addressed the coping mechanisms of the health system. The purpose of this study is to describe the traumatic events and coping mechanisms used by the health zones (HZs) in conflict settings to maintain good performance.

Effect of personalized home-based support for pregnant women on pregnancy outcomes: a cluster randomized trial.

Background: Anemia during pregnancy has been linked to higher maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of individualized home-based care for pregnant women on pregnancy outcomes.

Methods: This was a cluster-randomized experiment done in Burkina Faso's Sindou health area between 2015 and 2016.

Risk of Chronic Disease after an Episode of Marasmus, Kwashiorkor or Mixed-Type Severe Acute Malnutrition in the Democratic Republic of Congo: The Lwiro Follow-Up Study.

Background: Long-term impact of different forms of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in childhood on the emergence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) is poorly known. Aim: To explore the association between subtypes of SAM during childhood, NCDs, and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) in young adults 11 to 30 years after post-SAM nutritional rehabilitation. Methods: In this follow-up study, we investigated 524 adults (mean age 22 years) treated for SAM during childhood in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 1988 and 2007.

Nutritional and health status of a cohort of school-age children born to mothers treated for severe acute malnutrition in their childhood in The Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: Malnutrition is a public health problem, but outside the theoretical framework, little is known about the concrete intergenerational effects of malnutrition.

Objective: The objective of this study is to compare the nutritional status and health indicators of school children born to mothers who were treated for severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

Methodology: The study took place in Miti-Murhesa health zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Prognostic Factors of the Lethality of Stroke at the Sourô Sanou University Teaching Hospital of Burkina Faso.

Introduction: Stroke is a major public health concern. It is a frequent pathology, 80% of which is of ischemic origin. Approximately 86% of all stroke deaths worldwide occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Malaria and curable sexually transmitted and reproductive tract coinfection among pregnant women in rural Burkina Faso.

Background: Malaria and sexually transmitted/reproductive tract infections (STI/RTI) are leading and preventable causes of low birthweight in sub-Saharan Africa. Reducing their impact on pregnancy outcomes requires efficient interventions that can be easily integrated into the antenatal care package. The paucity of data on malaria and STI/RTI coinfection, however, limits efforts to control these infections.

Human Milk output among mothers previously treated for severe acute malnutrition in childhood in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: Malnutrition is a public health problem, as wasting affects 7.5% of children worldwide. The harmful effects of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) can last a lifetime, but how SAM in childhood affects later breastfeeding ability is not clear.

Prevalence and factors associated with anaemia in pregnant women in Cascades Region of Burkina Faso in 2012.

Introduction: anaemia in pregnancy is a public health concern in Burkina Faso. This study aims at identifying the factors associated with the prevalence of anaemia in pregnant women at a regional level in Burkina Faso.

Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study in the region called "Cascades", located at the Western part of Burkina Faso.

Effect of Personalized Support at Home on the Prevalence of Anemia in Pregnancy in Burkina Faso: A Cluster Randomized Trial.

Burkina Faso has high prevalence of anemia in pregnancy (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL), despite the implementation of the WHO recommended guidelines. This study aimed to test the effects of personalized support for pregnant women at home on the trend of anemia prevalence in pregnancy. A cluster randomized trial was conducted from January 2015 to August 2016 at Sindou health district in Burkina Faso.

Care-Seeking for Fever for Children Under the Age of Five Before and After the Free Healthcare Initiative in Burkina Faso: Evidence from Three Population-Based Surveys.

Background: In 2016, a free healthcare policy (FHP) was implemented in Burkina Faso for children under the age of five. In our study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of care-seeking for a fever in children under the age of five before and after the implementation of the FHP and to analyze the determinants of not seeking care under the FHP.

Methods: The data of three nationally representative surveys were used to evaluate the trends of the prevalence of care-seeking.

Association between severe acute malnutrition during childhood and blood pressure during adulthood in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: the Lwiro cohort study.

Introduction: Little is known about the long-term outcomes of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) during childhood. As such, this study aims to explore the association between childhood SAM and blood pressure (BP) in adulthood in a context without nutrition transition.

Methodology: We identified 524 adults (Median age: 22 years) who were treated for SAM during childhood in Eastern DRC between 1988 and 2007.

Body composition and determinant factors among mother-child pairs (6-8 months) in rural areas of Senegal.

This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the association between selected characteristics and body composition of mothers and children in early life. This study included 213 mother-child pairs 6 to 8 months involving in the cohort study of the Research and Development Project conducted in Kaffrine district. The main outcomes were fat-free mass (FFM) and body fat (BF), measured using deuterium dilution method and anthropometry.

Long-term effects of severe acute malnutrition during childhood on adult cognitive, academic and behavioural development in African fragile countries: The Lwiro cohort study in Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Introduction: Little is known about the outcomes of subjects with a history of severe acute malnutrition (SAM). We therefore sought to explore the long-term effects of SAM during childhood on human capital in adulthood in terms of education, cognition, self-esteem and health-related disabilities in daily living.

Methodology: We traced 524 adults (median age of 22) in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, who were treated for SAM during childhood at Lwiro hospital between 1988 and 2007 (median age 41 months).