The fight against COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa-a threat to the continuous management of HIV patients: application of the action areas of the Ottawa charter for health promotion

IntroductionArts-based approaches to health promotion have been used widely across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly in public health responses to HIV/AIDS. Such approaches draw on deep-rooted historical traditions of indigenous groups in combination with imported traditions which emerged from colonial engagement. To date, no review has sought to map the locations, health issues, art forms and methods documented by researchers using arts-based approaches in SSA.MethodsUsing scoping review methodology, 11 databases spanning biomedicine, arts and humanities and social sciences were searched. Researchers screened search results for papers using predefined criteria. Papers included in the review were read and summarised using a standardised proforma. Descriptive statistics were produced to characterise the location of the studies, art forms used or discussed, and the health issues addressed, and to determine how best to summarise the literature identified.ResultsSearches identified a total of 59 794 records, which reduced to 119 after screening. We identified literature representing 30 (62.5%) of the 48 countries in the SSA region. The papers covered 16 health issues. The majority (84.9%) focused on HIV/AIDS-related work, with Ebola (5.0%) and malaria (3.3%) also receiving attention. Most studies used a single art form (79.0%), but a significant number deployed multiple forms (21.0%). Theatre-based approaches were most common (43.7%), followed by music and song (22.6%), visual arts (other) (9.2%), storytelling (7.6%) and film (5.0%).ConclusionsArts-based approaches have been widely deployed in health promotion in SSA, particularly in response to HIV/AIDS. Historically and as evidenced by this review, arts-based approaches have provided a platform to facilitate enquiry, achieved significant reach and in some instances supported demonstrable health-related change. Challenges relating to content, power relations and evaluation have been reported. Future research should focus on broadening application to other conditions, such as non-communicable diseases, and on addressing challenges raised in research to date.

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Feasibility of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) screening for cervical cancer in Tanzania with emphasis on special populations.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2019.37.15_suppl.5527 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 37 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. 5527-5527 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Justine Chinn ◽

Ava Runge ◽

Andreea Dinicu ◽

Jenny Chang ◽

Argyrios Ziogas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Medical Center ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Local Health ◽

Hiv Patients ◽

Chi Square ◽

Hiv Rapid Testing ◽

Sub Saharan

5527 Background: Following the report that VIA screening reduced cervical cancer mortality by 31% in India (ASCO LBA2 2013; Shastri SS, et al JNCI 2014), the W.H.O. endorsed VIA guidelines for Africa, where the global disease burden is highest. In Tanzania, cervical cancer is a major source of morbidity and mortality, with nearly 10,000 new cases and 7,000 deaths annually. Due to lack of resources, therapies are limited and patient outcomes are further confounded by the relatively high prevalence of concurrent HIV infection. We report on the feasibility of VIA screening in Tanzania with emphasis on unique populations. Methods: Our two 5-day VIA screen-and-treat workshops in Buzuruga and Sangabuye Health Centres in Mwanza, Tanzania were approved by the University of California, Irvine IRB and local health authorities. Participants were recruited from surrounding communities and offered free cervical VIA screening, cryotherapy when indicated, and HIV rapid testing. Acetowhite lesions and/or abnormal vascular markings were VIA+. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were performed with statistical significance assigned at 0.05. Results: During July 2018, 825 of 917 registered participants underwent VIA screening and 25.1% (n=207) were VIA+. 147 VIA+ non-pregnant women received same day cryotherapy and 15 (1.8%) with lesions suspicious for cancer were referred to Bugando Medical Center. In the subanalysis of 64 HIV+ patients (23 diagnosed at the workshops, 41 with prior diagnosis on ART), HIV infection was not associated with VIA positivity (p=0.497). Additionally, a non-significant trend of higher VIA+ screens among newly diagnosed untreated HIV patients (27.7%) vs patients with known HIV on ART (17.5%) was observed (p=0.556). Conclusions: VIA screening for cervical cancer, while feasible in Tanzania, will require follow-up and repetitive screening. Although cervical cancer is an AIDS-defining illness, lack of correlation between HIV infection and VIA-positivity may reflect the availability of W.H.O.-subsidized ART in sub-Saharan Africa to attenuate HPV-mediated neoplastic transformation, as previously reported by others. Further study of this phenomenon is warranted.

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Is the Sexual Behaviour of HIV Patients on Antiretroviral therapy safe or risky in Sub-Saharan Africa? Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression

AIDS Research and Therapy ◽

10.1186/1742-6405-9-14 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 14 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Asres Berhan ◽

Yifru Berhan

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Sexual Behaviour ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Hiv Patients ◽

Meta Regression ◽

Sub Saharan

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School-based Health Promotion Intervention to Prevent or Delay Type 2 Diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa

Acta Scientific Nutritional Health ◽

10.31080/asnh.2019.03.0536 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (12) ◽

pp. 78-82

Author(s):

Sophonie Ndahayo

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Health Promotion ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Health Promotion Intervention ◽

School Based ◽

Sub Saharan

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From HIV prevention to non-communicable disease health promotion efforts in sub-Saharan Africa

AIDS ◽

10.1097/qad.0000000000001879 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

pp. S63-S73 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Kenneth Juma ◽

Michael Reid ◽

Monika Roy ◽

Susan Vorkoper ◽

Tecla M. Temu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Hiv Prevention ◽

Communicable Disease ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Non Communicable Disease

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Factors Impacting Sustainability of Community Health Worker Programming in rural Uganda: A Qualitative Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-16098/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Scholastic Ashaba ◽

Manasseh Tumuhimbise ◽

Esther Beebwa ◽

Francis Oriokot ◽

Jennifer L Brenner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Health System ◽

Community Health ◽

Health Worker ◽

Child Mortality ◽

Community Health Worker ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Team Approach ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

And Training

Abstract Background Despite significant global progress towards decreased child mortality over the past decades, over 5 million children died before reaching their fifth birthday in 2018. Additionally, the number of women dying during pregnancy and childbirth was 295, 000 in 2017. Majority of these deaths occurred in sub Saharan Africa yet these deaths are preventable with known interventions. A huge global investment has been made in initiating community health work (CHW) programs which play a critical role in health promotion with increasing scale up in sub Saharan Africa. The government of Uganda continues to identify maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) programming as a priority and national policies continue to encourage community-based approaches for health promotion through the Village Health Team approach to reduce maternal and child mortality. However, sustaining of CHWs programs remains a challenge and less is known about if and how these CHW networks can be maintained. Methods A sustainability-focused qualitative evaluation was conducted five years following a district-wide comprehensive MNCH intervention that involved selection and training of a large CHW network (n =2626) in 2 rural districts in southwest Uganda. Focus Group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted to gain insights into the factors affecting CHW program sustainability. Interviews were digitally recorded then translated and transcribed directly into English. Data was managed using NVivo software (version 12, QSR International, Burlington Mass.). Thematic content analysis was done to identify themes relevant to sustainability. Results Enablers and barriers to CHW sustainability identified by study participants included health system effectiveness (availability of supplies, medicines and services and availability of facility health providers), community health worker program factors (CHW selection and training, CHW recognition and incentives, CHW supervision and CHW refresher trainings), community attitudes and beliefs, and stakeholder engagement (alignment with district priorities and programs and local government involvement). Conclusion Effectiveness of health systems and human resources were major factors in sustainability for this community health intervention. Sustainability could be strengthened through increased community member involvement during implementation and improved support for general health system effective functioning.

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The power of narrative health communication: Exploring possible effects of first-hand experiential stories on cancer awareness amongst university students

The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa ◽

10.4102/td.v17i1.1008 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Karabo Sitto ◽

Elizabeth Lubinga ◽

Molemi Geya

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Health Communication ◽

Cancer Prevention ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Cancer Awareness ◽

Health Campaign ◽

Middle Income ◽

University Departments ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Self Examination

Narrative health communication has the potential for effective health promotion about cancer amongst youth from low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa experiences a rising cancer-related disease burden with predicted increase of over 85% by 2030. Whilst promotion through communication, of cancer prevention strategies targeting 18–29 year olds remains scanty, it is crucial for cancer prevention behaviour before the disease develops. The study aimed at examining how narrative storytelling can create cancer awareness amongst students at the University of Johannesburg. A qualitative approach was adopted. During October 2019, an awareness session that formed part of a month-long health campaign involving various activities for students, promoted preventative behaviour leading to early cancer detection. Campus Health Services in collaboration with other University departments invited six cancer survivors and experts to share stories about their various cancer experiences with students and staff. Many of the participants aged between 18 and 49 years, indicated that they did not know how to engage in self-examination of their bodies and had never taken any cancer tests. Most of the participants expressed a willingness to engage in frequent self-examination and visiting health facilities to receive regular professional tests as a result of storytelling. Results may assist health promotion organisations with the construction of effective cancer health messaging especially for hard-to-reach groups such as youth in developing countries.

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