Information and Communication Technology to Enhance the Implementation of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the implementation of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) and integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) through a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024517375).

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and gray literature from January 2010 to February 2024, focusing on IMCI/iCCM-related terms () and excluding non-ICT interventions. A meta-analysis synthesized the effect of ICT on clinical assessment, disease classification, therapy, and antibiotic prescription through odds ratio (OR; 95% CI) employing a random effects model for significant heterogeneity (I>50%) and conducting subgroup analyses.

Dynamics in ownership, access and use of long-lasting insecticidal nets in Togo: Evidence from three population-based surveys.

Malaria remains a major public health problem in many countries in Sub Saharan Africa, including Togo, particularly among children under 5 years of age. Therefore, several mass distribution campaigns of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs), which constitute an essential preventive strategy, have been conducted. The aim of this study is to assess progress in terms of equity of ownership, access and use of LLINs in a context of universal coverage among households in Togo.

Embedding risk monitoring in infectious disease surveillance for timely and effective outbreak prevention and control.

Epidemic intelligence efforts aim to predict, timely detect and assess (re-)emerging pathogens, guide and evaluate infectious disease prevention or control. We emphasise the underused potential of integrating the monitoring of risks related to exposure, disease or death, particularly in settings where limited diagnostic capacity and access to healthcare hamper timely prevention/control measures. Monitoring One Health exposures, human behaviour, immunity, comorbidities, uptake of control measures or pathogen characteristics can complement facility-based surveillance in generating signals of imminent or ongoing outbreaks, and in targeting preventive/control interventions or epidemic preparedness to high-risk areas or subpopulations.

Reproductive tract complication risks following infections: a long-term prospective cohort study from 2008 to 2022.

Background: The clinical and public health relevance of widespread testing for asymptomatic (chlamydia) infections is under debate. To address uncertainties in screening programs, we estimate reproductive tract complication risks following asymptomatic and symptomatic chlamydia infections in a long-term prospective cohort.

Methods: A cohort of 5704 reproductive-age women recruited from a chlamydia screening study was followed for up to 14 years.

Mild and moderate COVID-19 during Alpha, Delta and Omicron pandemic waves in urban Maputo, Mozambique, December 2020-March 2022: A population-based surveillance study.

In sub-Saharan Africa, reported COVID-19 numbers have been lower than anticipated, even when considering populations' younger age. The extent to which risk factors, established in industrialised countries, impact the risk of infection and of disease in populations in sub-Saharan Africa, remains unclear. We estimated the incidence of mild and moderate COVID-19 in urban Mozambique and analysed factors associated with infection and disease in a population-based surveillance study.

Antibiotic use by clinical presentation across all healthcare providers in rural Burkina Faso: a healthcare visit exit survey.

Background: To guide antibiotic stewardship interventions, understanding for what indications antibiotics are used is essential.

Methods: In rural Burkina Faso, we measured antibiotic dispensing across all healthcare providers. From October 2021 to February 2022, we surveyed patients in Nanoro district, Burkina Faso, following visits to health centres (3), pharmacies (2), informal medicine vendors (5) and inpatients in health centres.

Geospatial and multilevel clustering of zero-dose children in Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2022.

Zero-dose children remain highly vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases and can sustain transmission even in highly vaccinated populations. The WHO Immunization Agenda 2030 has prioritised reaching out to these children. We assessed the spatial distribution of zero-dose children together with the associated risk factors in a provincial capital in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A genomic appraisal of invasive Salmonella Typhimurium and associated antibiotic resistance in sub-Saharan Africa.

Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) disease manifesting as bloodstream infection with high mortality is responsible for a huge public health burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is the main cause of iNTS disease in Africa.

Healthcare seeking outside healthcare facilities and antibiotic dispensing patterns in rural Burkina Faso: A mixed methods study.

Objective: Optimising antibiotic use is important to limit increasing antibiotic resistance. In rural Burkina Faso, over-the-counter dispensing of antibiotics in community pharmacies and non-licensed medicine retail outlets facilitates self-medication. We investigated its extent, reasons and dispensing patterns.

Care-seeking behaviour among febrile children under five in Togo.

Background: Fever is one of the warning signs of poor health in children. Care-seeking in febrile children is importance in reducing child deaths and morbidity. This care-seeking by parents in children with fever is however relatively low in sub-Sahara Africa.

Drop-offs in the isoniazid preventive therapy cascade among children living with HIV in western Kenya, 2015-2019.

Introduction: Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) can reduce the risk of tuberculosis (TB) in children living with HIV (CLHIV), but data on the outcomes of the IPT cascade in CLHIV are limited.

Methods: We evaluated the IPT cascade among CLHIV aged <15 years and newly enrolled in HIV care in eight HIV clinics in western Kenya. Medical record data were abstracted from September 2015 through July 2019.

Regional heterogeneity of malaria prevalence and associated risk factors among children under five in Togo: evidence from a national malaria indicators survey.

Background: Malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and death among children less than 5 years of age. In Togo, despite intensification of malaria control interventions, malaria remained highly prevalent, with significant heterogeneity from one region to another. The aim of this study is to explore further such regional differences in malaria prevalence and to determine associated risk factors.

Antibiotic use from formal and informal healthcare providers in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a population-based study in two health zones.

Objective: In the Democratic Republic of Congo and other low-resource countries, community-acquired pathogens are increasingly resistant to most locally available antibiotics. To guide efforts to optimize antibiotic use to limit antibiotic resistance, we quantified healthcare provider-specific and community-wide antibiotic use.

Methods: From household surveys, we estimated monthly healthcare visit rates by provider.

Use of WATCH antibiotics prior to presentation to the hospital in rural Burkina Faso.

Background: In low- and middle-income countries, the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasing. To control AMR, WHO recommends monitoring antibiotic use, in particular Watch antibiotics. These are critically important antibiotics, with restricted use because at risk of becoming ineffective due to increasing AMR.

Controversies and evidence on Chlamydia testing and treatment in asymptomatic women and men who have sex with men: a narrative review.

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. CT is mainly asymptomatic. Test-and-treat strategies are widely implemented to prevent transmission and complications.

Causes of death in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children aged under-five years in western Kenya.

Objectives: Describe the causes of death among infants and children less than 5 years stratified by HIV status.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of causes of death ascertained through minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) in the Kenya Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance site.

Methods: We included decedents aged 28 days to less than 5 years, whose death was reported within 36 h, underwent MITS, and had HIV test results and causes of death determined.

Insights into the association of ACEIs/ARBs use and COVID-19 prognosis: a multistate modelling study of nationwide hospital surveillance data from Belgium.

Objectives: The widespread use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) by patients with chronic conditions raised early concerns on the potential exacerbation of COVID-19 severity and fatality. Previous studies addressing this question have used standard methods that may lead to biased estimates when analysing hospital data because of the presence of competing events and event-related dependency. We investigated the association of ACEIs/ARBs' use with COVID-19 disease outcomes using time-to-event data in a multistate setting to account for competing events and minimise bias.

Control of antimicrobial resistance in Cameroon: Feasibility of implementing the National Action Plan.

Objectives: Rising antimicrobial resistance is a major threat worldwide. WHO has developed a Global Action Plan and has urged all countries to develop and implement a National Action Plan. We analysed the implementation of the Cameroon National Action Plan by identifying the prioritised activities and assessing possible challenges which could limit implementation.