scholarly journals Acute respiratory infections in an adult refugee population: an observational study

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Jablonka ◽  
Christian Dopfer ◽  
Christine Happle ◽  
Andree Shalabi ◽  
Martin Wetzke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Refugee Population ◽  
Drug Treatments ◽  
Sub Saharan

AbstractThe presence of acute infectious respiratory diseases (ARD) is one of the main reasons why recently arrived refugees seek medical help. This paper investigates the incidence rates of acute respiratory diseases in an adult refugee population as well as associated sociodemographic factors and drug treatments. We conducted a retrospective observational study of deidentified medical records. The data were collected between 2015 and 2019 in the health care centers of two large German initial reception centers for refugees. Multivariable analyses controlling for sociodemographics were carried out using generalized estimating equations. Out of 10,431 eligible residents, 6965 medical encounters of 2840 adult patients were recorded over 30 months. Of all the adult patients, 34.4% sought medical help for a respiratory symptom or diagnosis at least once. Older patients and patients from Sub-Saharan Africa sought help less often. The occurrence of ARD showed a typical distribution over the course of the year. Facility occupancy was not associated with ARD occurrence. Acute respiratory symptoms are a leading cause for adult refugee patients to seek medical care. The doctor contact rates due to ARD were consistently two to three times higher among refugees than among German residents.

scholarly journals Primary Immunodeficiencies Diseases (Pid) In Senegalese Children: A Cross Sectional Observational Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Awa Kane ◽  
Indou Deme-Ly ◽  
Mame Sokhna Gueye ◽  
Babacar Niang ◽  
Aminata Mbaye-Dieyla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
Primary Immunodeficiencies ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Cutaneous Manifestations ◽  
Common Category ◽  
Clinical Patterns ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Objective: Primary immunodeficiencies are rarely related in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to identify their different clinical patterns, to describe their biological phenotypes and to analyse treatment. A cross-sectional observational study over a period of 4 years and 2 months in 5 Senegalese paediatric departments was conducted. Children were recruited according to the recommendations of African society for immunodeficiencies (ASID) or the 10 warning signs for PID's diagnosis. Biological explorations were performed in these patients. Results: 30 cases of PID were recorded. The sex ratio was 1:1; with a median age at diagnosis of 24 months. The most common clinical patterns were respiratory infections (18 patients) including tuberculosis pneumonia in almost one-third of cases (22%), followed by digestive and then cutaneous manifestations. This signs occurs in a specific context; as inbreeding (36, 7% of cases), death in sibling (30% of cases), or previous hospitalizations (66, 7%). Biological exploration made it possible to obtain immunological confirmation in 10 children, including one genetically confirmed. The most common category of PID was syndromic PID. Treatment was based mainly on antibiotic prophylaxis. PID are a reality in Senegal, but are certainly underestimated. Continue recruitment will enable advocacy for access to certain treatment.

scholarly journals Incidence of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, 2000–2015: The Interplay Between Social Determinants and Behavioral Risk Factors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepa Jahagirdar ◽  
Magdalene Walters ◽  
Avina Vongpradith ◽  
Xiaochen Dai ◽  
Amanda Novotney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Incidence Rate ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Behavioral Risk ◽  
Hiv Incidence ◽  
Hiv Knowledge ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Final Model ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Disease Study

AbstractHIV incidence in sub-Saharan Africa declined substantially between 2000 and 2015. In this analysis, we consider the relative associations of nine structural and individual determinants with this decline. A linear mixed effects model of logged HIV incidence rates versus determinants was used. The data were from mathematical modelling as part of the 2019 Global Burden of Disease Study in 43 sub-Saharan African countries. We used forwards selection to determine a single final model of HIV incidence rate. The association of economic variables and HIV knowledge with incidence was found to be driven by education, while ART coverage had the largest impact on other determinants’ coefficients. In the final model, education years per capita contributed the most to explaining variation in HIV incidence rates; a 1-year increase in mean education years was associated with a 0.39 (− 0.56; − 0.2, t = − 4.48 p < 0.01) % decline in incidence rate while a unit increase in ART coverage was associated with a 0.81 (− 1.34; − 0.28, t = − 3.01, p < 0.01) % decline in incidence rate.

scholarly journals Contraceptive dynamics during COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa: longitudinal evidence from Burkina Faso and Kenya

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjsrh-2020-200944
Author(s):  
Celia Karp ◽  
Shannon N Wood ◽  
Georges Guiella ◽  
Peter Gichangi ◽  
Suzanne O Bell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Unintended Pregnancy ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Contraceptive Services ◽  
Logistic Regressions ◽  
Sub Saharan

IntroductionEvidence from health emergencies suggests COVID-19 will disrupt women’s sexual and reproductive health (SRH). In sub-Saharan Africa, which experiences the highest rates of unintended pregnancy and unsafe abortion globally, COVID-19 is projected to slow recent progress toward universal access to contraceptive services.MethodsWe used longitudinal data collected from women at risk of unintended pregnancy in Burkina Faso (n=1186) and Kenya (n=2784) before (November 2019–February 2020) and during (May–July 2020) COVID-19 to quantify contraceptive dynamics during COVID-19; examine sociodemographic factors and COVID-19 experiences related to contraceptive dynamics; and assess COVID-19-related reasons for contraceptive non-use. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to examine correlates of contraceptive dynamics amid COVID-19.ResultsMost women did not change their contraceptive status during COVID-19 (68.6% in Burkina Faso and 81.6% in Kenya) and those who did were more likely to adopt a method (25.4% and 13.1%, respectively) than to discontinue (6.0% and 5.3%, respectively). Most women who switched contraceptives were using methods as or more effective than their pre-pandemic contraception. Economic instability related to COVID-19 was associated with increased contraceptive protection in Burkina Faso but not in Kenya. Altogether, 14.4% of non-contraceptive users in Kenya and 3.8% in Burkina Faso identified COVID-19-related reasons for non-use.ConclusionsThe vast majority of women at risk of unintended pregnancy did not change their contraceptive status during COVID-19, and more women adopted than discontinued methods. A minority of women reported COVID-19-related reasons for non-use, underscoring the importance of expanding safe modes of service delivery during health crises.

scholarly journals The Basic Surgical Skills Course in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Observational Study of Effectiveness

2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 930-936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart J. Fergusson ◽  
David M. Sedgwick ◽  
Georges Ntakiyiruta ◽  
Faustin Ntirenganya
Keyword(s):  
Observational Study ◽  
Surgical Skills ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan

Virological follow-up of adult patients in antiretroviral treatment programmes in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 155-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roos E Barth ◽  
Maarten F Schim van der Loeff ◽  
Rob Schuurman ◽  
Andy IM Hoepelman ◽  
Annemarie MJ Wensing
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Antiretroviral Treatment ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sub Saharan

scholarly journals The relative importance and stability of disease burden causes over time: summarizing regional trends on disease burden for 290 causes over 28 years

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Dyson ◽  
Raf Van Gestel ◽  
Eddy van Doorslaer
Keyword(s):  
Disease Burden ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Regional Trends ◽  
Disability Adjusted Life ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Causes Of Disease ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Disease Study ◽  
Over Time

Abstract Background Since the Global Burden of Disease study (GBD) has become more comprehensive, data for hundreds of causes of disease burden, measured using Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), have become increasingly available for almost every part of the world. However, undergoing any systematic comparative analysis of the trends can be challenging given the quantity of data that must be presented. Methods We use the GBD data to describe trends in cause-specific DALY rates for eight regions. We quantify the extent to which the importance of ‘major’ DALY causes changes relative to ‘minor’ DALY causes over time by decomposing changes in the Gini coefficient into ‘proportionality’ and ‘reranking’ indices. Results The fall in regional DALY rates since 1990 has been accompanied by generally positive proportionality indices and reranking indices of negligible magnitude. However, the rate at which DALY rates have been falling has slowed and, at the same time, proportionality indices have tended towards zero. These findings are clearest where the focus is exclusively upon non-communicable diseases. Notably, large and positive proportionality indices are recorded for sub-Saharan Africa over the last decade. Conclusion The positive proportionality indices show that disease burden has become less concentrated around the leading causes over time, and this trend has become less prominent as the DALY rate decline has slowed. The recent decline in disease burden in sub-Saharan Africa is disproportionally driven by improvements in DALY rates for HIV/AIDS, as well as for malaria, diarrheal diseases, and lower respiratory infections.

scholarly journals The Relationship Between the Global Burden of Influenza From 2017 to 2019 and COVID-19: Descriptive Epidemiological Assessment (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan David Baral ◽  
Katherine Blair Rucinski ◽  
Jean Olivier Twahirwa Rwema ◽  
Amrita Rao ◽  
Neia Prata Menezes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
World Health ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Modes Of Transmission ◽  
The World ◽  
Influenza Activity ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Health Organization

BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2 and influenza are lipid-enveloped viruses with differential morbidity and mortality but shared modes of transmission. OBJECTIVE With a descriptive epidemiological framing, we assessed whether recent historical patterns of regional influenza burden are reflected in the observed heterogeneity in COVID-19 cases across regions of the world. METHODS Weekly surveillance data reported by the World Health Organization from January 2017 to December 2019 for influenza and from January 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020, for COVID-19 were used to assess seasonal and temporal trends for influenza and COVID-19 cases across the seven World Bank regions. RESULTS In regions with more pronounced influenza seasonality, COVID-19 epidemics have largely followed trends similar to those seen for influenza from 2017 to 2019. COVID-19 epidemics in countries across Europe, Central Asia, and North America have been marked by a first peak during the spring, followed by significant reductions in COVID-19 cases in the summer months and a second wave in the fall. In Latin America and the Caribbean, COVID-19 epidemics in several countries peaked in the summer, corresponding to months with the highest influenza activity in the region. Countries from regions with less pronounced influenza activity, including South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, showed more heterogeneity in COVID-19 epidemics seen to date. However, similarities in COVID-19 and influenza trends were evident within select countries irrespective of region. CONCLUSIONS Ecological consistency in COVID-19 trends seen to date with influenza trends suggests the potential for shared individual, structural, and environmental determinants of transmission. Using a descriptive epidemiological framework to assess shared regional trends for rapidly emerging respiratory pathogens with better studied respiratory infections may provide further insights into the differential impacts of nonpharmacologic interventions and intersections with environmental conditions. Ultimately, forecasting trends and informing interventions for novel respiratory pathogens like COVID-19 should leverage epidemiologic patterns in the relative burden of past respiratory pathogens as prior information.

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