Most common reasons for primary care visits in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.

With the Covid-19 pandemic and the introduction of the WHO's Essential Diagnostics List (EDL), increasing global attention is focused on the crucial role of diagnostics in achieving universal health coverage. To create national EDLs and to aid health system planning, it is vital to understand the most common conditions with which people present at primary care health facilities. We undertook a systematic review of the most common reasons for primary care visits in low- and middle-income countries.

Impact of Introducing Hepatitis B Birth Dose Vaccines into the Infant Immunization Program in Burkina Faso: Study Protocol for a Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial (NéoVac Study).

To achieve global hepatitis elimination by 2030, it is critical to prevent the mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Since 2009, the WHO has recommended administering hepatitis B vaccine to all neonates within 24 h of birth to prevent MTCT. However, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa only provide hepatitis B immunization at the age of 6, 10, and 14 weeks or 8, 12, and 16 weeks using a combined vaccine.

Antibiotic prescription practices in primary care in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The widespread use of antibiotics plays a major role in the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance. However, important knowledge gaps still exist regarding the extent of their use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly at the primary care level. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies conducted in primary care in LMICs to estimate the prevalence of antibiotic prescriptions as well as the proportion of such prescriptions that are inappropriate.

Appointment reminders to increase uptake of HIV retesting by at-risk individuals: a randomized controlled study in Thailand.

Introduction: Frequent HIV testing of at-risk individuals is crucial to detect and treat infections early and prevent transmissions. We assessed the effect of reminders on HIV retesting uptake.

Methods: The study was conducted within a programme involving four facilities providing free-of-charge HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and C testing and counselling in northern Thailand.

Impact of Counseling Methods on HIV Retesting Uptake in At-Risk Individuals: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Systematic face-to-face pre-HIV test counseling is costly and may discourage clients to present for regular testing. In a randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial conducted in four facilities providing free-of-charge anonymous HIV testing in Thailand, participants received either: standard counseling according to national guidelines (reference); computer-assisted counseling: interactive counseling on a tablet computer followed by an invitation to ask questions to the counselor; or on-demand counseling: invitation to ask questions to the counselor. Primary endpoint was a HIV retest within 7 months after enrolment visit.

Correction to: A multicenter, randomized controlled comparison of three renutrition strategies for the management of moderate acute malnutrition among children aged from 6 to 24 months (the MALINEA project).

After publication of the original article [1], the authors have notified us of an additional acknowledgement they wish to bring for their paper.

A multicenter, randomized controlled comparison of three renutrition strategies for the management of moderate acute malnutrition among children aged from 6 to 24 months (the MALINEA project).

Background: The aim of this open-label, randomized controlled trial conducted in four African countries (Madagascar, Niger, Central African Republic, and Senegal) is to compare three strategies of renutrition for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in children based on modulation of the gut microbiota with enriched flours alone, enriched flours with prebiotics or enriched flours coupled with antibiotic treatment.

Methods: To be included, children aged between 6 months and 2 years are preselected based on mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) and are included based on a weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) between - 3 and - 2 standard deviations (SD). As per current protocols, children receive renutrition treatment for 12 weeks and are assessed weekly to determine improvement.

Prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Thailand: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To estimate the number of people living in Thailand with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), a major cause of liver cirrhosis and cancer, in view of the implementation of programs to prevent CHB complications.

Methods: Using PubMed/Medline and ScienceDirect, all studies reporting hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroprevalence estimates conducted in Thailand and published between 1975 and 2015 were reviewed systematically. Pooled prevalence estimates and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and potential sources of heterogeneity investigated.