Global Prevalence and Neonatal Outcome of PPROM in Sub-saharan Africa

Poor maternal, newborn and child health remains a significant problem in developing countries. Worldwide, 358,000 women die during pregnancy and childbirth every year and an estimated 7.6 million children die under the age of five [1,2]. while maternal and child mortality has declined in the last two decades, progress remains insufficient to achieve Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. A child’s risk of dying is highest during the first 28 days of life when about 40% of under-five deaths take place, translating into three million deaths [2]. Up to one half of all newborn deaths occur within the first 24 hours of life and 75% occur in the first week. Globally, the main causes of neonatal death are preterm birth, severe infections and asphyxia. Children in low-income countries are nearly 18 times more likely to die before the age of five than children in high-income countries [3].

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Global, Regional, and National Prevalence and Trends in Infant Breastfeeding Status in 204 Countries and Territories, 1990–2019

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa054_064 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 992-992

Author(s):

William Gardner ◽

Nicholas Kassebaum

Keyword(s):

Latin America ◽

Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽

Gaussian Process Regression ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Food Diary ◽

Global Prevalence ◽

Funding Sources ◽

Spatio Temporal ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Gates Foundation

Abstract Objectives To estimate prevalence of breastfeeding (exclusive, predominant, partial, and none) and trends for infants under six months of age for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019. Methods We conducted a systematic review for data on breastfeeding status for children under six months of age. We used survey and food diary data to categorize breastfeeding status into exclusive, predominant, partial, and none. Using a 3-step spatio-temporal Gaussian process regression, we modeled the prevalence of each breastfeeding category in 204 countries and territories, 1990 to 2019. Results Global prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in infants less than six months of age was 43.5% (95% CI 42.7–44.3) in 2019, up from 34.0% (32.7–35.3) in 1990. Globally, non-exclusive breastfeeding was distributed 30.5% (29.8–31.1) predominant, 16.6% (16.2–17.0) partial, and 9.4% (8.9–10.0) no breastfeeding in 2019. Each of these categories experienced a decline in prevalence since 1990, when non-exclusive breastfeeding was 37.0% (36.0–38.1) predominant, 18.7% (18.1–19.4) partial, and 10.2% (9.5–11.0%) no breastfeeding. Exclusive breastfeeding was highest in Andean Latin America (59.7% [57.4–61.9]), Oceania (56.8% [53.2–60.0]), and South Asia (53.9% [53.2–60.0]). There was marked geographic variation in the distribution of non-exclusive breastfeeding types. Predominant breastfeeding was highest in Western Sub-Saharan Africa (51.5% [49.8–53.2]) and Central Asia (47.2% [45.3–49.0), partial breastfeeding was highest in Southern Latin America (31.1% [28.4–34.0]) and the Caribbean (29.3% [27.6–31.1]), and no breastfeeding was highest in High-income North America (36.7% [31.0–42.5]) and Australasia (32.4% [26.3–36.4]). Conclusions Since 1990, global prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding has increased nearly 10 percentage points. Nonetheless, many countries are not on track to meet the WHO Global Nutrition Target of at least 50% of infants under 6 months exclusively breastfeeding. These cross-nationally comparable estimates of current levels and trends in breastfeeding status provide useful data for targeting interventions to improve breastfeeding practices and to help alleviate the associated global burden of infant malnutrition. Funding Sources Funding for this research was provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

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Schistosomal appendicitis: Case series and systematic literature review

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0009478 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (6) ◽

pp. e0009478

Author(s):

Mateus Zacarias ◽

Damiano Pizzol ◽

Helder de Miranda ◽

Anna Claudia Colangelo ◽

Nicola Veronese ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Literature Review ◽

Case Series ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Global Prevalence ◽

Wide Range ◽

The Mean ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Possible Cause

Background Globally, schistosomiasis affects at least 240 million people each year with a high proportion of cases in sub-Saharan Africa. The infection presents a wide range of symptoms mainly at the gastrointestinal and urogenital level. Cases of schistosomiasis-related appendicitis are seldom reported. The aim of the present study is to identify the prevalence of schistosomiasis-related appendicitis in Beira, Mozambique and compare to global prevalence. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all cases of appendicitis recorded from January 2017 to March 2020 at a single pathology department located in Beira in order to assess the prevalence of schistosomiasis. Moreover, we performed a systematic review on the prevalence of schistosomiasis-related appendicitis in all countries. Findings A total of 145 appendicitis cases in Beira showed a 13.1% prevalence of schistosomal-related appendicitis. The mean age of patients was 29.1 years, and 14 (73.7%) were male. The systematic review identified 20 studies with 34,790 inpatients with schistosomiasis-related appendicitis with a global prevalence of 1.31% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.72 to 2.06); a high heterogeneity (I2 = 96.0%) was observed. Studies carried out in Africa reported a significantly higher prevalence of schistosomiasis-related appendicitis (2.75%; 95% CI: 1.28 to 4.68) than those in Middle East (0.49%; 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.95) (p for interaction < 0.0001). Conclusions Schistosomiasis infection should be considered as possible cause of appendicitis not only in endemic areas but also in developed countries. Considering that prevention is the best way to control the infection, more efforts should be put in place in order to increase the prevention coverage and avoid the cascading implications for health. This is even more so important in this Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) era where the majority of attention and funds are used to fight the pandemic.

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RTS,S/AS01, a vaccine targeting pre-erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum

Emerging Topics in Life Sciences ◽

10.1042/etls20170101 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 1 (6) ◽

pp. 533-537

Author(s):

Lorenz von Seidlein ◽

Borimas Hanboonkunupakarn ◽

Podjanee Jittmala ◽

Sasithon Pukrittayakamee

Keyword(s):

Protective Efficacy ◽

Age Groups ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Phase Iii ◽

European Medicines Agency ◽

Older Children ◽

Pivotal Phase ◽

Malaria Epidemiology ◽

Maximum Benefit ◽

Sub Saharan

RTS,S/AS01 is the most advanced vaccine to prevent malaria. It is safe and moderately effective. A large pivotal phase III trial in over 15 000 young children in sub-Saharan Africa completed in 2014 showed that the vaccine could protect around one-third of children (aged 5–17 months) and one-fourth of infants (aged 6–12 weeks) from uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The European Medicines Agency approved licensing and programmatic roll-out of the RTSS vaccine in malaria endemic countries in sub-Saharan Africa. WHO is planning further studies in a large Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme, in more than 400 000 young African children. With the changing malaria epidemiology in Africa resulting in older children at risk, alternative modes of employment are under evaluation, for example the use of RTS,S/AS01 in older children as part of seasonal malaria prophylaxis. Another strategy is combining mass drug administrations with mass vaccine campaigns for all age groups in regional malaria elimination campaigns. A phase II trial is ongoing to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the RTSS in combination with antimalarial drugs in Thailand. Such novel approaches aim to extract the maximum benefit from the well-documented, short-lasting protective efficacy of RTS,S/AS01.

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Mortality and Society in Sub-Saharan Africa

Population Studies ◽

10.1080/0032472031000147416 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 555-556

Author(s):

Lado Ruzicka

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Sub-Saharan Africa

The Military Balance ◽

10.1080/04597228708459635 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 87 (1) ◽

pp. 118-142

Keyword(s):

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sub Saharan

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Adolescent Suicidality as Seen in Rural Northeastern Uganda

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000059 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 43-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Eugene Kinyanda ◽

Ruth Kizza ◽

Jonathan Levin ◽

Sheila Ndyanabangi ◽

Catherine Abbo

Keyword(s):

Low Socioeconomic Status ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Psychosocial Risk ◽

Psychiatric Nurses ◽

Health Concern ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Low Socioeconomic ◽

Dsm Iv ◽

Sub Saharan

Background: Suicidal behavior in adolescence is a public health concern and has serious consequences for adolescents and their families. There is, however, a paucity of data on this subject from sub-Saharan Africa, hence the need for this study. Aims: A cross-sectional multistage survey to investigate adolescent suicidality among other things was undertaken in rural northeastern Uganda. Methods: A structured protocol administered by trained psychiatric nurses collected information on sociodemographics, mental disorders (DSM-IV criteria), and psychological and psychosocial risk factors for children aged 3–19 years (N = 1492). For the purposes of this paper, an analysis of a subsample of adolescents (aged 10–19 years; n = 897) was undertaken. Results: Lifetime suicidality in this study was 6.1% (95% CI, 4.6%–7.9%). Conclusions: Factors significantly associated with suicidality included mental disorder, the ecological factor district of residence, factors suggestive of low socioeconomic status, and disadvantaged childhood experiences.

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