Anti-filarial antibodies are sensitive indicators of lymphatic filariasis transmission and enable identification of high-risk populations and hotspots.

Objectives: Circulating filarial antigen (Ag) is used by elimination programs to monitor lymphatic filariasis (LF) transmission; however, antifilarial antibodies (Ab) may be more sensitive than Ag for detecting LF. Our objectives were to describe Ab seroprevalence, identify risk factors for Ab seropositivity, investigate age-specific associations between Ag and Ab, and evaluate geographic clustering of seropositivity.

Methods: Community-based serosurveys of participants aged ≥5 years were conducted in 35 primary sampling units (PSUs).

Trends in all-cause and cause-specific mortality by BMI levels in England, 2004-2019: a population-based primary care records study.

Background: In the UK, obesity rates are rising concurrently with declining mortality rates. Yet, there is limited research on the shifts of mortality trends and the impact of obesity-related mortality. In this study, we examine mortality trends and the cause-specific proportional composition of deaths by body mass index.

Person-centred care for older adults living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.

More than a fifth of people living with HIV in the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief-supported programmes are older individuals, defined as aged 50 years and older, yet optimal person-centred models of care for older adults with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, including screening and treatment for geriatric syndromes and common comorbidities associated with ageing, remain undefined. This Position Paper explores the disproportionate burden of comorbidities and geriatric syndromes faced by older adults with HIV, with a special focus on women. We seek to motivate global interest in improving quality of life for older people with HIV by presenting available research and identifying research gaps for common geriatric syndromes, including frailty and cognitive decline, and multimorbidity among older people with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.

Typhoid conjugate vaccine perceptions and coverage among children and adults: Findings from a post-campaign coverage survey - Harare, Zimbabwe, 2019.

Background: In 2019, following a large outbreak of typhoid fever, the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care conducted a typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) vaccination campaign in nine high-risk suburbs of Harare. We aimed to evaluate TCV vaccination coverage, vaccine perceptions, and adverse events reported after vaccination.

Methods: We conducted a two-stage cluster survey to estimate vaccination coverage in the campaign target areas among children aged 6 months-15 years and to classify coverage as either adequate (≥75 % coverage) or inadequate (<75 % coverage) among adults aged 16-45 years in one suburb.

Organophosphate Ester Flame Retardants and Plasticizers in Relation to Fetal Growth in the LIFECODES Fetal Growth Study.

Background: Organophosphate esters (OPEs), used ubiquitously as flame retardants and plasticizers in consumer products, are suspected of having developmental toxicity.

Objectives: Our study aimed to estimate associations between prenatal exposure to OPEs and fetal growth, including both ultrasound (head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length, and estimated fetal weight) and delivery [birth weight -score, small-for-gestational age (SGA), and large-for-gestational age (LGA)] measures of growth.

Methods: In the LIFECODES Fetal Growth Study (2008-2018), an enriched case-cohort of 900 babies born at the small and large ends of the growth spectrum, we quantified OPE biomarkers in three urine samples per pregnant participant and abstracted ultrasound and delivery measures of fetal growth from medical records.

Measuring the Direct Medical Costs of Hospital-Onset Infections Using an Analogy Costing Framework.

Background: The majority of recent estimates on the direct medical cost attributable to hospital-onset infections (HOIs) has focused on device- or procedure-associated HOIs. The attributable costs of HOIs that are not associated with device use or procedures have not been extensively studied.

Objective: We developed simulation models of attributable cost for 16 HOIs and estimated the total direct medical cost, including nondevice-related HOIs in the USA for 2011 and 2015.

Do pregnant persons want influenza vaccines? Knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and practices toward influenza vaccines in 8 low- and middle-income countries.

Background: While vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza infection and adverse outcomes, and despite WHO recommendations to vaccinate pregnant persons, access to seasonal influenza vaccines remains low. We explored knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pregnant persons about seasonal influenza vaccines to inform actions to improve vaccine uptake among this priority population.

Methods: We pooled individual-level data from cross-sectional surveys assessing pregnant persons' attitudes toward seasonal influenza vaccines in eight low- and middle-income countries during 2018-2019.

Facility characteristics preferred by older men seeking medical male circumcision services in Kenya: qualitative findings from the 'Tasco' study (May 2014-June 2016).

Primary healthcare facilities are central to the implementation of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) as points of access to integrated health services in line with the Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework II (2020/21-2024/25). Knowledge of factors that explain men's uptake of VMMC and sexual health services at these facilities and preferences of where to get the services remain poorly understood. Using qualitative methodologies, we examined factors that determined facility choice for VMMC services and reasons for preferring the facility among men aged 25-39 years who previously underwent VMMC.

Use of a toll-free call center for COVID-19 response and continuity of essential services during the lockdown, Greater Kampala, Uganda, 2020: a descriptive study.

Introduction: on March 21, 2020, the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Uganda. A total lockdown was initiated on March 30 which was gradually lifted May 5-June 30. On March 25, a toll-free call center was organized at the Kampala Capital City Authority to respond to public concerns about COVID-19 and the lockdown.

High viral suppression rates among PLHIV on dolutegravir who had an initial episode of viral non-suppression in Uganda September 2020-July 2021.

Background: In 2019, WHO recommended dolutegravir (DTG) as a backbone for first- and second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens for people living with HIV (PLHIV). According to the 2018 Uganda's HIV treatment guidelines, patients with viral non-suppression (≥1,000 copies/mL) should receive intensive adherence counseling (IAC) with repeat viral load (VL) within 6 months. This analysis focused on the prevalence and factors associated with viral suppression following IAC among PLHIV on DTG-based regimens (DBRs) with an initial episode of viral non-suppression (VNS) in Uganda.

Late-Season Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Against Medically Attended Outpatient Illness, United States, December 2022-April 2023.

Background: The 2022-23 US influenza season peaked early in fall 2022.

Methods: Late-season influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against outpatient, laboratory-confirmed influenza was calculated among participants of the US Influenza VE Network using a test-negative design.

Results: Of 2561 participants enrolled from December 12, 2022 to April 30, 2023, 91 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases primarily had A(H1N1)pdm09 (6B.

Alcohol Use Disorder and HIV Risk in a National Survey of Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ukraine.

Background: Problematic alcohol consumption is associated with risk behaviors associated with HIV transmission. Despite the high prevalence of problematic alcohol consumption in Ukraine, however, there are little empirical data examining its association with risk behaviors also associated with HIV transmission in men who have sex with men (MSM), a key population where HIV incidence is increasing, METHOD: Correlates of prevalent HIV infection and their association between drinking severity levels and behaviors also associated with increased likelihood of HIV acquisition were analyzed from a 2017 nationally representative survey (IBBS) of 4938 MSM in Ukraine using bivariate analyses and multivariate regression.

Results: Overall, 42.

Building a way forward: Enabling community voices to forge the path toward successful immunization for all.

Community engagement is vital to the development of people-centered, successful vaccination programs. The diverse Vaccination Acceptance Research Network (VARN) community brings together interdisciplinary professionals from across the immunization ecosystem who play a crucial role in vaccination acceptance, demand, and delivery. Over the course of the VARN2023 conference, researchers and practitioners alike shared ideas and experiences focused on strategies and approaches to building trust between communities and health systems to increase equity in vaccination.

Syndromic Gastrointestinal Panel Diagnostic Tests Have Changed our Understanding of the Epidemiology of -Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 2010-2021.

Background: In the US, yersinosis was understood to predominantly occur in winter and among Black or African American infants and Asian children. Increased use of culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs) has led to marked increases in yersinosis diagnoses.

Methods: We describe differences in the epidemiology of yersiniosis diagnosed by CIDT versus culture in 10 US sites, and identify determinants of health associated with diagnostic method.

Assessing the Relationship between Biomarkers of Exposure and Biomarkers of Potential Harm: PATH Study Wave 1 (2013 to 2014).

Background: The adequacy of biomarkers of potential harm (BOPH) for assessing tobacco products was explored based on their ability to distinguish tobacco use from non-use, change with cessation, and to show biological gradient.

Methods: The sample included individuals with biomarker data in wave 1 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco Health study who never used tobacco, currently smoke cigarettes exclusively, used to smoke cigarettes exclusively (quit in past 12 months), currently use smokeless tobacco exclusively, and currently use e-cigarettes exclusively. We compared BOPH levels between groups and assessed the relationships between log-transformed biomarkers of exposure [BOE; total nicotine equivalents including seven nicotine metabolites (TNE-7), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanonol (NNAL), N-acetyl-S-(2-cyanoethyl)-L-cysteine, 1-hydroxypyrene, cadmium, and serum cotinine (SCOT)], and BOPH [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), fibrinogen, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and 8-isoprostane].

Expanding community case management of malaria to all ages can improve universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment: results from a cluster randomized trial in Madagascar.

Background: Global progress on malaria control has stalled recently, partly due to challenges in universal access to malaria diagnosis and treatment. Community health workers (CHWs) can play a key role in improving access to malaria care for children under 5 years (CU5), but national policies rarely permit them to treat older individuals. We conducted a two-arm cluster randomized trial in rural Madagascar to assess the impact of expanding malaria community case management (mCCM) to all ages on health care access and use.