Restless legs syndrome among blood donors: A systemic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Objectives: Restless legs syndrome (RLS), with adverse health outcomes, has been linked to blood donation, but evidence published thus far has not been rigorously analysed. This systematic review aggregates existing evidence on RLS among blood donors and identifies associated factors worthy of further investigation.

Materials And Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for articles published through 16 December 2023.

The impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on neonatal health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To assess the relationship between COVID-19 mitigation measures and stillbirth, low birth weight (LBW), and preterm birth (PTB) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Study Design: Systematic review/meta-analysis.

Methods: We searched six databases for literature indexed from January 2020 to December 2022 for studies examining COVID-19 policies and neonatal outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Learning from over ten years of implementing the One Health approach in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A qualitative study.

Background: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has faced emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola, Mpox and Yellow fever, and antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern. To address these issues, in 2011 the country embarked on implementing the One Health (OH) approach at the national and provincial levels. This study investigates OH institutionalization and implementation in the DRC, describes the process of OH decentralization, and identifies the opportunities and challenges of sustaining these efforts.

Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes Are Among the Main Underlying Causes of Death in Twenty Healthcare Facilities Across Two Cities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Introduction: The mortality rates associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes exhibit disparities by region, with Central Africa ranking fourth globally in terms of mortality rate. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) does not possess mortality data pertaining to these specific underlying causes of death. This study aimed to determine the death rate attributable to CVD and diabetes in two cities in the DRC.

Household Food Insecurity During the COVID-19 Pandemic Between Slum and Non-Slum Areas in Kinshasa, DR Congo: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Food insecurity is a vital issue, especially in places such as Kinshasa. Additionally, food insecurity has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Thus, this study examined food insecurity in Kinshasa after the peak of the pandemic to understand the impact of post-pandemic recovery efforts as well as the heterogeneity of this problem according to the residence of respondent (slum vs.

Promoting Antiviral Access and Adherence in the Expansion of Hepatitis B Prevention Programs: Insights From the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) antiviral administration and adherence are essential to reach the World Health Organization's 2030 hepatitis elimination goals. As HBV treatment guidelines are now simplified and expanded, adherence to treatment will be critical, but challenges to adherence are poorly studied. After introducing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) monotherapy to expectant mothers with high-risk HBV in Kinshasa, DRC, we conducted semi-structured interviews to understand medication adherence behaviors, to complement pill counts and measurement of TDF metabolite levels.

Coping Strategies Among Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Cultural Exploration.

Purpose: To identify the patterns of stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescents living in different cultural settings and to explore how adolescents cope with such stressors, particularly by type of stressor, site, and gender.

Methods: The study was based on focus group discussion data from 9 urban poor communities in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo), Blantyre (Malawi), Shanghai (China), Semarang and Denpasar (Indonesia), New Orleans (USA), Ghent (Belgium), São Paulo (Brazil), and Santiago (Chile). Translated transcripts from the focus group discussions were uploaded into ATLAS.

Understanding Trajectories of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Among Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From China and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Purpose: This study aims to assess anxiety trends over the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate how pandemic-related adversities modify trajectories among underprivileged adolescents from two distinct settings.

Methods: Data came from the Shanghai, China and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo sites of the Global Early Adolescent Study. Data were collected three times over approximately two years: prior to the pandemic (T1) and during the pandemic (T2, T3).

Understanding Whether Economic Instability and Food Insecurity During COVID-19 Moderate the Change in Emotional Abuse and Emotional Neglect Over Time: A Longitudinal Pre- and During COVID-19 Analysis From China, Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, and Malawi.

Purpose: This study explores whether economic instability or food insecurity moderates the changes in emotional abuse and neglect over time.

Methods: We used data from the Global Early Adolescent Study, a longitudinal study among adolescents ages 13-18 years (10-14 during pre-COVID-19 round) from poor urban communities in China (n = 387), the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (n = 285), Indonesia (n = 400), and Malawi (n = 320). Data were collected before (2017 to March 2020) and during the pandemic (June to November 2020).

Close female friendships and knowledge of recommended abortion methods in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo among a representative sample of reproductive-aged women.

Introduction: There is a high incidence of unsafe abortion among women in Nigeria and the DRC. Low knowledge of recommended abortion methods [i.e.

Global trends in CD4 count measurement and distribution at first antiretroviral treatment initiation.

Background: While people with HIV (PWH) start antiretroviral treatment (ART) regardless of CD4 count, CD4 measurement remains crucial for detecting advanced HIV disease and evaluating ART programmes. We explored CD4 measurement (proportion of PWH with a CD4 result available) and prevalence of CD4 <200 cells/µL at ART initiation within the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) global collaboration.

Methods: We included PWH at participating ART programmes who first initiated ART at age 15-80 years during 2005-2019.

Antibiotic use in infants in the 6 weeks after delivery in seven low- and middle-income countries: findings from the A-PLUS trial.

Objectives: Antibiotic use is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC); however, few studies have examined the rates of use in a population. The use of antibiotics for liveborn infants in LMIC was examined.

Design: The study, a planned prospective, observational secondary analysis of the A-PLUS randomised controlled trial of azithromycin, was conducted in Global Network sites in seven countries: Bangladesh, Pakistan, India (two sites), Kenya, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guatemala.

Political engagement: a key pillar in revitalisation of polio and routine immunisation programmes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Immunisation is a high priority for improving health outcomes. Yet, in many low-income and middle-income countries, achieving coverage targets independently is hindered by lack of domestic resources and reliance on partners' support. Both the 2001 Abuja Declaration and 2016 Addis Declaration were key political commitments to improving immunisation coverage; however, many signatories have yet to meet international targets.

Trajectories of personal agency by gender and pubertal development among adolescents in Kinshasa: Longitudinal evidence from the GlobalEarly Adolescent Study.

Background: Empowerment research has largely focused on adult women with little focus on younger adolescents. Additionally, despite recognition that empowerment is a process, few studies have longitudinally explored its development.

Methods: We used secondary data from four waves of the Global Early Adolescent Study to explore trajectories in the development of three domains of agency (i.

Guardians under pressure, a spotlight on hypertension among healthcare workers in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Hypertension is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease impacting over a billion people worldwide. Work environment factors could adversely affect workers' cardiovascular health, including contributing to hypertension. Healthcare workers who treat patients are also affected.

State of the maternal healthcare continuum in Guinea, awaiting the next Demographic and Health Survey: the case of the five communes of Conakry in 2022.

Background: The continuum of maternal health care ensures consistency in the delivery of care from pregnancy to the postnatal period. It recommends a minimum of 4 antenatal visits, skilled birth attendance, and 42 days of postnatal care. This approach helps reduce maternal deaths.

Dynamic Progression of Hypertension and Diabetes in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2019 to 2023.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) does not have national prevalence data for arterial hypertension (HTN) or diabetes (type I and II combined) to aid evidence-based decision-making, despite the assumption of epidemiological transition in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to estimate a proxy of prevalence for HTN and diabetes. This study used routine monthly reported data pertaining to HTN and diabetes from the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2), spanning 2019-2023.

Immunogenicity of a Birth Dose of Hepatitis B Vaccine in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: A Randomised, Controlled Trial.

The WHO recommends hepatitis B birth-dose vaccination (HepB-BD), but it is not routinely given in most sub-Saharan African countries. We aimed to assess the immunogenicity of HepB-BD in addition to the existing hepatitis B vaccine (HepB3) schedule in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo among HBV-unexposed and HBV-exposed infants. Using an open-label, randomised, controlled design, HBV-unexposed infants were randomised (1:1) to receive the standard HepB3 vaccine series (group U3), or to receive HepB-BD in addition to HepB3 (group U4).

Development of new real-time PCR assays for detection and species differentiation of Plasmodium ovale.

Background: The parasite species Plasmodium ovalecurtisi (P. ovalecurtisi) and Plasmodium ovalewallikeri (P. ovalewallikeri), formerly known as Plasmodium ovale, are endemic across multiple African countries.