Indoor Air Pollution and Delayed Measles Vaccination Increase the Risk of Severe Pneumonia in Children: Results from a Case-Control Study in Mwanza, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Mortality due to severe pneumonia during childhood in resource-constrained settings is high, but data to provide basis for interventions to improve survival are limited. The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors for severe pneumonia in children aged under five years old in Mwanza, Tanzania. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study of children aged 2 to 59 months at Sekou-Toure regional hospital in Mwanza City, north-western, Tanzania from May 2013 to March 2014. Cases were children with severe pneumonia and controls were children with other illnesses. Data on demography, social-economical status, nutritional status, environmental factors, vaccination status, vitamin A supplementation and deworming, and nasopharyngeal carriage were collected and analysed using logistic regression. RESULTS: 117 patients were included in the study. Of these, 45 were cases and 72 controls. Cases were younger than controls, but there were no differences in social-economic or nutritional status between the two groups. In multiple regression, we found that an increased risk of severe pneumonia was associated with cooking indoors (OR 5.5, 95% CI: 1.4, 22.1), and delayed measles vaccination (OR 3.9, 95% CI: 1.1, 14.8). The lack of vitamin A supplementation in the preceding six month and Enterobacter spp nasopharyngeal carriage were not associated with higher risk of severe pneumonia. Age ≥24 months (OR 0.2, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.8) and not receiving antibiotics before referral (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1, 0.9) were associated with lower risk for severe pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS: Indoor air pollution and delayed measles vaccination increase the risk for severe pneumonia among children aged below five years. Interventions to reduce indoor air pollution and to promote timely administration of measles vaccination are urgently needed to reduce the burden of severe pneumonia in children in Tanzania

The prevalence and incidence of HIV in the ART era (2006-2016) in North West Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan countries bear a disproportionate percentage of HIV infections and HIV-related deaths despite the efforts to strengthen HIV prevention and treatments services, including ART. It is important to demonstrate how these services have contributed to reducing the epidemic using available population data. METHODS: We estimated the prevalence and incidence rates from a cohort running over 23 years in Magu District, Mwanza Region-North West Tanzania. Adults 15 years and over who were residents of the Kisesa observational HIV cohort study between 2006 and 2016 were eligible for inclusion. Survival analysis was used to calculate person-time at risk, incidence rates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Cox regression models were used for the risk factor analyses disaggregated by sex and age group. RESULTS: The HIV prevalence in the sero-surveys decreased from 7.2% in 2006/07 to 6.6% in 2016, with a notable decrease of over 50% for both men and women aged 15-24 years. The incidence rate for HIV was estimated to be 5.5 (95% CI 4.6-6.6) per 1,000 person-years in women compared to 4.6 (95% CI 3.5-5.8) in men, with a decrease over time. Despite the availability of ART services, the uptake is still small. CONCLUSIONS: New infections are still occurring, with high HIV incidence in individuals aged below 45 years. With new guidelines and the 95-95-95 UNAIDS target, prevalence and incidence must be adequately assessed. In addition, there is a need for additional efforts to assess the impact of HIV/AIDS prevention programmes and intervention services, especially in these areas where resources are limited

Fetal growth and birth weight are independently reduced by malaria infection and curable sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections in Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi: A pregnancy cohort study

Objective Malaria and sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections (STIs/RTIs) are highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa and associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. We investigated the individual and combined effects of malaria and curable STIs/RTIs on fetal growth in Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi. Methods This study was nested within a randomized trial comparing monthly intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine versus dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, alone or combined with azithromycin. Fetal weight gain was assessed by serial prenatal ultrasound. Malaria was assessed monthly, and Treponema pallidum, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis and bacterial vaginosis at enrolment and in the third trimester. The effect of malaria and STIs/RTIs on fetal weight/birthweight Z-scores was evaluated using mixed-effects linear regression. Results 1,435 pregnant women had fetal/birth weight assessed 3,950 times. Compared to women without malaria or STIs/RTIs (n=399), malaria-only (n=267), STIs/RTIs-only (n=410) or both (n=353) were associated with reduced fetal growth (adjusted mean difference in fetal/birth weight Z-score [95% CI]: malaria=-0.18 [-0.31,-0.04], p=0.01]; STIs/RTIs=-0.14 [-0.26,-0.03], p=0.01]; both=-0.20 [-0.33,-0.07], p=0.003). Paucigravidae experienced the greatest impact. Conclusion Malaria and STIs/RTIs are associated with poor fetal growth especially among paucigravidae women with dual infections. Integrated antenatal interventions are needed to reduce the burden of both malaria and STIs/RTIs

Indoor Air Pollution and Delayed Measles Vaccination Increase the Risk of Severe Pneumonia in Children: Results from a Case-Control Study in Mwanza, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND:Mortality due to severe pneumonia during childhood in resource-constrained settings is high, but data to provide basis for interventions to improve survival are limited. The objective of this study was to determine the risk factors for severe pneumonia in children aged under five years old in Mwanza, Tanzania. METHODS:We conducted a case-control study of children aged 2 to 59 months at Sekou-Toure regional hospital in Mwanza City, north-western, Tanzania from May 2013 to March 2014. Cases were children with severe pneumonia and controls were children with other illnesses. Data on demography, social-economical status, nutritional status, environmental factors, vaccination status, vitamin A supplementation and deworming, and nasopharyngeal carriage were collected and analysed using logistic regression. RESULTS:117 patients were included in the study. Of these, 45 were cases and 72 controls. Cases were younger than controls, but there were no differences in social-economic or nutritional status between the two groups. In multiple regression, we found that an increased risk of severe pneumonia was associated with cooking indoors (OR 5.5, 95% CI: 1.4, 22.1), and delayed measles vaccination (OR 3.9, 95% CI: 1.1, 14.8). The lack of vitamin A supplementation in the preceding six month and Enterobacter spp nasopharyngeal carriage were not associated with higher risk of severe pneumonia. Age ≥24 months (OR 0.2, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.8) and not receiving antibiotics before referral (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1, 0.9) were associated with lower risk for severe pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS:Indoor air pollution and delayed measles vaccination increase the risk for severe pneumonia among children aged below five years. Interventions to reduce indoor air pollution and to promote timely administration of measles vaccination are urgently needed to reduce the burden of severe pneumonia in children in Tanzania

Comparison of baseline characteristics of 117 patients recruited into the study as cases and controls¹.

<p>Comparison of baseline characteristics of 117 patients recruited into the study as cases and controls<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0160804#t001fn001" target="_blank">¹</a>.</p

Univariate logistic regression analysis of risk factors for severe pneumonia among children aged below five years in Mwanza.

<p>Univariate logistic regression analysis of risk factors for severe pneumonia among children aged below five years in Mwanza.</p

Clinical characteristics of 117 patients recruited into the study as cases and controls¹^, ².

<p>Clinical characteristics of 117 patients recruited into the study as cases and controls<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0160804#t002fn001" target="_blank">¹</a>^, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0160804#t002fn002" target="_blank">²</a>.</p

Multiple logistic regression analysis of risk factors for severe pneumonia among children aged below five years in Mwanza¹.

<p>Multiple logistic regression analysis of risk factors for severe pneumonia among children aged below five years in Mwanza<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0160804#t004fn001" target="_blank">¹</a>.</p

Fetal growth and birth weight are independently reduced by malaria infection and curable sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections in Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi: A pregnancy cohort study

Objective: Malaria and sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections (STIs/RTIs) are highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa and associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. We investigated the individual and combined effects of malaria and curable STIs/RTIs on fetal growth in Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi. Methods: This study was nested within a randomized trial comparing monthly intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnancy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine versus dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine, alone or combined with azithromycin. Fetal weight gain was assessed by serial prenatal ultrasound. Malaria was assessed monthly, and Treponema pallidum, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis and bacterial vaginosis at enrolment and in the third trimester. The effect of malaria and STIs/RTIs on fetal weight/birthweight Z-scores was evaluated using mixed-effects linear regression. Results: 1,435 pregnant women had fetal/birth weight assessed 3,950 times. Compared to women without malaria or STIs/RTIs (n=399), malaria-only (n=267), STIs/RTIs-only (n=410) or both (n=353) were associated with reduced fetal growth (adjusted mean difference in fetal/birth weight Z-score [95% CI]: malaria=-0.18 [-0.31,-0.04], p=0.01]; STIs/RTIs=-0.14 [-0.26,-0.03], p=0.01]; both=-0.20 [-0.33,-0.07], p=0.003). Paucigravidae experienced the greatest impact. Conclusion Malaria and STIs/RTIs are associated with poor fetal growth especially among paucigravidae women with dual infections. Integrated antenatal interventions are needed to reduce the burden of both malaria and STIs/RTIs

Effect of monthly intermittent preventive treatment with dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine with and without azithromycin versus monthly sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine on adverse pregnancy outcomes in Africa: a double-blind randomised, partly placebo-controlled trial

Background Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) with dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine is more effective than IPTp with sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine at reducing malaria infection during pregnancy in areas with high-grade resistance to sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine by Plasmodium falciparum in east Africa. We aimed to assess whether IPTp with dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine, alone or combined with azithromycin, can reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes compared with IPTp with sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine. Methods We did an individually randomised, double-blind, three-arm, partly placebo-controlled trial in areas of high sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine resistance in Kenya, Malawi, and Tanzania. HIV-negative women with a viable singleton pregnancy were randomly assigned (1:1:1) by computer-generated block randomisation, stratified by site and gravidity, to receive monthly IPTp with sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine (500 mg of sulfadoxine and 25 mg of pyrimethamine for 1 day), monthly IPTp with dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine (dosed by weight; three to five tablets containing 40 mg of dihydroartemisinin and 320 mg of piperaquine once daily for 3 consecutive days) plus a single treatment course of placebo, or monthly IPTp with dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine plus a single treatment course of azithromycin (two tablets containing 500 mg once daily for 2 consecutive days). Outcome assessors in the delivery units were masked to treatment group. The composite primary endpoint was adverse pregnancy outcome, defined as fetal loss, adverse newborn baby outcomes (small for gestational age, low birthweight, or preterm), or neonatal death. The primary analysis was by modified intention to treat, consisting of all randomised participants with primary endpoint data. Women who received at least one dose of study drug were included in the safety analyses. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03208179. Findings From March-29, 2018, to July 5, 2019, 4680 women (mean age 25·0 years [SD 6·0]) were enrolled and randomly assigned: 1561 (33%; mean age 24·9 years [SD 6·1]) to the sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine group, 1561 (33%; mean age 25·1 years [6·1]) to the dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine group, and 1558 (33%; mean age 24·9 years [6.0]) to the dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine plus azithromycin group. Compared with 335 (23·3%) of 1435 women in the sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine group, the primary composite endpoint of adverse pregnancy outcomes was reported more frequently in the dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine group (403 [27·9%] of 1442; risk ratio 1·20, 95% CI 1·06–1·36; p=0·0040) and in the dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine plus azithromycin group (396 [27·6%] of 1433; 1·16, 1·03–1·32; p=0·017). The incidence of serious adverse events was similar in mothers (sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine group 17·7 per 100 person-years, dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine group 14·8 per 100 person-years, and dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine plus azithromycin group 16·9 per 100 person-years) and infants (sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine group 49·2 per 100 person-years, dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine group 42·4 per 100 person-years, and dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine plus azithromycin group 47·8 per 100 person-years) across treatment groups. 12 (0·2%) of 6685 sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine, 19 (0·3%) of 7014 dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine, and 23 (0·3%) of 6849 dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine plus azithromycin treatment courses were vomited within 30 min. Interpretation Monthly IPTp with dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine did not improve pregnancy outcomes, and the addition of a single course of azithromycin did not enhance the effect of monthly IPTp with dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine. Trials that combine sulfadoxine–pyrimethamine and dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine for IPTp should be considered