Evaluation of the Diagnostic Performances of the SD-BiolineHBeAg Rapid Test Used Routinely for the Management of HBV-Infected Individuals in Burkina Faso.

Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) is a marker of wild-type hepatitis B virus replication. In resource-limited countries where access to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) remains a challenge, rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) constitute a good alternative. The HBeAg status is employed to evaluate eligibility for antiviral therapy and to prevent the transmission of hepatitis B from mother to child (PMTCT).

Cervical pre-cancer screening by visual inspection of the cervix after application of acetic acid in rural Burkina Faso: evaluation of women's knowledge, screening practice habits, acceptability and prevalence of risk factors and lesions in Boussé health district.

Introduction: cervical cancer is a major public health problem among women in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease can be controlled through early diagnosis through simple cost-effective methods such as visual inspection of the cervix after application of acetic acid or lugol´s iodine. However, screening for cervical cancer is still underused particularly in rural areas of Burkina Faso.

A Multi-Omics and Human Biomonitoring Approach to Assessing the Effectiveness of Fortified Balanced Energy-Protein Supplementation on Maternal and Newborn Health in Burkina Faso: A Study Protocol.

Fortified balanced energy-protein (BEP) supplementation is a promising intervention for improving maternal health, birth outcomes and infant growth in low- and middle-income countries. This nested biospecimen sub-study aimed to evaluate the physiological effect of multi-micronutrient-fortified BEP supplementation on pregnant and lactating women and their infants. Pregnant women (15-40 years) received either fortified BEP and iron-folic acid (IFA) (intervention) or IFA only (control) throughout pregnancy.

Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Domestics and Exotic Animals in Southern France.

Since late 2019, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged as a significant global threat to public health. Responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, this new coronavirus has prompted extensive scientific research to comprehend its transmission dynamics, especially among humans. However, as our understanding deepens, it becomes increasingly clear that SARS-CoV-2's impact goes beyond human populations.

Rift Valley fever in West Africa: A zoonotic disease with multiple socio-economic consequences.

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an arbovirus that causes Rift Valley fever (RVF), a zoonotic disease that mainly affects domestic and wildlife ruminants and humans. The first epidemic in North-Western and West Africa occurred in Senegal and Mauritania in 1987, two countries where RVF is now endemic. Slaughterhouse workers, farmers, herders and veterinarians are at high risk of exposure to RVF.

Short communication-Lessons learnt during the implementation of Unity-aligned SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence studies in Africa.

The WHO Unity Studies initiative engaged low- and middle-income countries in the implementation of standardised SARS-CoV-2 sero-epidemiological investigation protocols and timely sharing of comparable results for evidence-based action. To gain a deeper understanding of the methodological challenges faced when conducting seroprevalence studies in the African region, we conducted unstructured interviews with key study teams in five countries. We discuss the challenges identified: participant recruitment and retention, sampling, sample and data management, data analysis and presentation.

Realistic Evaluation of the Integrated Electronic Diagnosis Approach (IeDA) for the Management of Childhood Illnesses at Primary Health Facilities in Burkina Faso.

Background: In 2014, Terre des Hommes (Tdh) together with the Ministry of Health (MoH) launched the Integrated electronic Diagnosis Approach (IeDA) intervention in two regions of Burkina Faso consisting of supplying every health centre with a digital algorithm. A realistic evaluation was conducted to understand the implementation process, the mechanisms by which the IeDA intervention lead to change.

Methods: Data collection took place between January 2016 and October 2017.

Nutritional status of children under five years and associated factors in 24 districts of Burkina Faso.

Malnutrition in children is a serious health problem, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, with heavy socioeconomic burdens. The prevalence of stunting remains high in Burkina Faso. There is a need to further investigate undernutrition and identify the major factors contributing to its persistence.

One Health Approach to Arbovirus Control in Africa: Interests, Challenges, and Difficulties.

The "One Health" concept considers that human and animal health, and ecosystems are closely related and aims to make a link between ecology and human and veterinary medicine. Due to the explosion in population growth along with the geographic and climatic conditions (equatorial and/or tropical climate), Africa is becoming a major hotspot for various socio-health issues associated with infectious diseases, including arboviruses. The incontestable advantages of a One Health approach in Africa lie in the fight against pathogens, such as arboviruses, and in the preservation of environmental, animal, and human health to ensure that the increasing high needs of this population are met as well as their protection against potential epidemics.

Fetal sex and risk of pregnancy-associated malaria in Plasmodium falciparum-endemic regions: a meta-analysis.

In areas of moderate to intense Plasmodium falciparum transmission, malaria in pregnancy remains a significant cause of low birth weight, stillbirth, and severe anaemia. Previously, fetal sex has been identified to modify the risks of maternal asthma, pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes. One study demonstrated increased risk of placental malaria in women carrying a female fetus.

Incidence rate and predictors of COVID-19 in the two largest cities of Burkina Faso - prospective cohort study in 2021 (ANRS-COV13).

Background: Early data on COVID-19 (based primarily on PCR testing) indicated a low burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. To better understand this, this study aimed to estimate the incidence rate and identify predictors of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in the two largest cities of Burkina Faso. This study is part of the EmulCOVID-19 project (ANRS-COV13).

Do Out-of-Pocket Payments for Care for Children under 5 Persist Even in a Context of Free Healthcare in Burkina Faso? Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Population-Based Survey.

Background: In April 2016, Burkina Faso began free healthcare for children aged from 0 to 5 years. However, its implementation faces challenges, and the goal of this study is to estimate the fees paid for this child care and to determine the causes of these direct payments.

Methods: Data gathering involved 807 children aged from 0 to 5 years who had contact with the public healthcare system.

Spatial modelling of malaria prevalence associated with geographical factors in Houet province of Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Unlabelled: Malaria is a permanent threat to health in western Burkina Faso. Research has shown that geographical variables contribute to the spatial distribution in its transmission. The objective of this study is to assess the relationship between malaria prevalence and potential explanatory geographical variables in the Houet province in Burkina Faso.

Immune response of a two-dose heterologous Ebola vaccine regimen: summary of three African clinical trials using a single validated Filovirus Animal Nonclinical Group enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in a single accredited laboratory.

Background: This analysis evaluated the immune response to the two-dose, heterologous Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo Ebola virus vaccine regimen, administered 56-days apart, from multiple African sites based on results from one analytic laboratory.

Methods: Immunogenicity across three trials (EBL2002, EBL2004/PREVAC, EBL3001) conducted in East and West Africa is summarised.

Infection of the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii with the entomopathogenic bacteria Chromobacterium anophelis sp. nov. IRSSSOUMB001 reduces larval survival and adult reproductive potential.

Background: Vector control tools are urgently needed to control malaria transmission in Africa. A native strain of Chromobacterium sp. from Burkina Faso was recently isolated and preliminarily named Chromobacterium anophelis sp.

: Reflections from innovators' experiences with monitoring, evaluation, and learning systems for Early Childhood Development.

In this review paper, we explore how on-the-ground Early Childhood Development (ECD) innovators are using monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems to guide the design and implementation of ECD programs, as well as how MEL systems can influence policy and support the achievement of impact at scale. We reflect on articles in the series "." The 31 contributions to the series reflect the breadth and depth of complexity that characterizes ECD, including global geographic spread, with studies from Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Residual malaria transmission: Magnitude and drivers of persistent Plasmodium infections despite high coverage of control interventions in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

This study collected baseline data on malaria vectors to characterize the drivers and the factors of persistent malaria transmission in two villages in the western part of Burkina Faso. Mosquitoes were collected in each village using the Human landing catch and pyrethrum spray catch and identified using the morphological keys. Molecular analyses were performed for the identification of An.

Performance of VIDAS Diagnostic Tests for the Automated Detection of Dengue Virus NS1 Antigen and of Anti-Dengue Virus IgM and IgG Antibodies: A Multicentre, International Study.

Dengue is a serious mosquito-transmitted disease caused by the dengue virus (DENV). Rapid and reliable diagnosis of DENV infection is urgently needed in dengue-endemic regions. We describe here the performance evaluation of the CE-marked VIDAS dengue immunoassays developed for the automated detection of DENV NS1 antigen and anti-DENV IgM and IgG antibodies.

No impact of performance-based financing on the availability of essential medicines in Burkina Faso: A mixed-methods study.

Access to safe, effective, and affordable essential medicines (EM) is critical to quality health services and as such has played a key role in innovative health system strengthening approaches such as Performance-based Financing (PBF). Available literature indicates that PBF can improve EM availability, but has not done so consistently in the past. Qualitative explorations of the reasons are yet scarce.

Uptake of prevention of mother-to-child transmission cascade services in Burkina Faso between 2013 and 2020: are we on the right track?

Background: The use of services to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains a serious challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. In the last decade, Burkina Faso has implemented numerous policies to increase the use of PMTCT services by pregnant women and their partners, as well as children. This study assesses trends in the uptake of PMTCT services in Burkina Faso from 2013 to 2020 in order to study the progress and gaps in achieving the national and international targets set for 2020.

Evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 in people coinfected with HIV and/or tuberculosis in low-income countries: study protocol for mixed methods research in Burkina Faso.

Background: An issue of particular concern is the impact of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019 nCOV) on the people coinfected with the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) and/or tuberculosis (TB). Unfortunately, this interaction has not been well explored in African despite the large proportion of these risk populations living with HIV and/or patients and/or tuberculosis (TB) in the African region. This study aims to design a research protocol for assessment of the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on these risk populations in response to COVID-19 strategic plans in Burkina Faso by generating serological, epidemiological, virological, clinical and socio-anthropological evidence-based data.

HIV Replication Increases the Mitochondrial DNA Content of Plasma Extracellular Vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their cargo have been studied intensively as potential sources of biomarkers in HIV infection; however, their DNA content, particularly the mitochondrial portion (mtDNA), remains largely unexplored. It is well known that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and prolonged antiretroviral therapy (ART) lead to mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced mtDNA copy in cells and tissues. Moreover, mtDNA is a well-known damage-associated molecular pattern molecule that could potentially contribute to increased immune activation, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response.