Infanticide in Senegal : results from an exploratory mixed-methods study

Este artículo presenta una investigación formativa sobre la práctica del infanticidio, el asesinato intencional o negligencia fatal de un niño menor de un año de edad. Nuestra hipótesis es que la ley del aborto en Senegal, una de las más restrictivas del mundo, contribuye directamente a la incidencia de infanticidio. Realizamos una encuesta cuantitativa a 1016 mujeres en edad reproductiva que viven en Senegal, y entrevistas en profundidad con una submuestra de 28 participantes. Los datos de la encuesta cuantitativa fueron analizados para describir las frecuencias, los medios y los rangos de los datos clave de las variables del resultado. Los datos cualitativos se analizaron utilizando la teoría fundamentada modificada para identificar temas clave en los datos. La conciencia de infanticidio fue moderadamente alta (60.3%) en la muestra de la encuesta, y fue principalmente obtenido a través de la experiencia personal, rumores y / o medios de comunicación. Los participantes describieron dos amplias categorías de infanticidio, incluido el infanticidio pasivo por abandono del lactante, en comparación con el infanticidio por asfixia, ahogamiento u otros medios. Los participantes vieron explícitamente el infanticidio como una resultado directo de las severas restricciones legales sobre el aborto en Senegal, así como las poderosas normas sociales que dicte lo que se considera aceptable frente a la maternidad inaceptable en el país. Los hallazgos apoyan la hipótesis de que las leyes y políticas sobre el aborto contribuyen a la ocurrencia de infanticidio en Senegal, y sugieren la necesidad de investigación adicional y específica para comprender mejor este asunto, y cómo se pueden utilizar los resultados para informar a la reforma política.https://doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2019.162411

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

New strategy for alerting central nervous system toxicity: Integration of blood-brain barrier toxicity and permeability in neurotoxicity assessment

International audienceThe combination of an in vitro BBB model (4d/24w) with a neuronal cell line (SH-SY5Y) provides a convenient approach to explore the importance of BBB permeability in neurotoxicity assessment of compounds. The toxicity of 16 compounds on SH-SY5Y cells was evaluated after 24 h incubation with each compound and compared to their toxicity on SH-SY5Y after passage through the BBB model. Nine out of 16 compounds were found toxic after direct exposure at 100 μM while only three still induced toxicity on SH-SY5Y cells after BBB transport. The BBB permeability values of each compound revealed that in the case of compounds that did not induce toxicity, the amount that crossed the BBB was not enough to exert a toxic effect on the neuronal cells. Since disrupting the BBB may also cause unwanted effect on brain cells, the BBB toxicity of these compounds have been assessed. Our results prompted the importance of BBB permeability assessment in neurotoxicity evaluation, as it allows a better estimation of the actual concentration at the target site

Annual incidence (cases per 100,000 persons) of suspected, probable and laboratory-confirmed meningitis, Burkina Faso, 2011–2015.

<p>Annual incidence (cases per 100,000 persons) of suspected, probable and laboratory-confirmed meningitis, Burkina Faso, 2011–2015.</p

Aggregate and case-based meningitis surveillance data indicators, Burkina Faso, 2011–2015.

<p>Aggregate and case-based meningitis surveillance data indicators, Burkina Faso, 2011–2015.</p

Bacterial meningitis epidemiology and return of <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> serogroup A cases in Burkina Faso in the five years following MenAfriVac mass vaccination campaign

<div><p>Background</p><p>Historically, <i>Neisseria meningitidis</i> serogroup A (NmA) caused large meningitis epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2010, Burkina Faso became the first country to implement a national meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine (MACV) campaign. We analyzed nationwide meningitis surveillance data from Burkina Faso for the 5 years following MACV introduction.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We examined Burkina Faso’s aggregate reporting and national laboratory-confirmed case-based meningitis surveillance data from 2011–2015. We calculated incidence (cases per 100,000 persons), and described reported NmA cases.</p><p>Results</p><p>In 2011–2015, Burkina Faso reported 20,389 cases of suspected meningitis. A quarter (4,503) of suspected meningitis cases with cerebrospinal fluid specimens were laboratory-confirmed as either <i>S</i>. <i>pneumoniae</i> (57%), <i>N</i>. <i>meningitidis</i> (40%), or <i>H</i>. <i>influenzae</i> (2%). Average adjusted annual national incidence of meningococcal meningitis was 3.8 (range: 2.0–10.2 annually) and was highest among infants aged <1 year (8.4). <i>N</i>. <i>meningitidis</i> serogroup W caused the majority (64%) of meningococcal meningitis among all age groups. Only six confirmed NmA cases were reported in 2011–2015. Five cases were in children who were too young (n = 2) or otherwise not vaccinated (n = 3) during the 2010 MACV mass vaccination campaign; one case had documented MACV receipt, representing the first documented MACV failure.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Meningococcal meningitis incidence in Burkina Faso remains relatively low following MACV introduction. However, a substantial burden remains and NmA transmission has persisted. MACV integration into routine childhood immunization programs is essential to ensure continued protection.</p></div

Average adjusted annual incidence of laboratory-confirmed meningitis by pathogen and age group, Burkina Faso, 2011–2015.

<p>Abbreviations: Hi, <i>H</i>. <i>influenzae</i>; NmA, <i>N</i>. <i>meningitidis</i> serogroup A; NmC, <i>N</i>. <i>meningitidis</i> serogroup C; NmW, <i>N</i>. <i>meningitidis</i> serogroup W; NmX, <i>N</i>. <i>meningitidis</i> serogroup X; NmY, <i>N</i>. <i>meningitidis</i> serogroup Y; Sp, <i>S</i>. <i>pneumoniae</i>.</p

Adjusted annual incidence of meningococcal meningitis by serogroup, Burkina Faso, 2011–2015.

<p>Abbreviations: Nm, <i>N</i>. <i>meningitidis</i>; NmA, <i>N</i>. <i>meningitidis</i> serogroup A; NmC, <i>N</i>. <i>meningitidis</i> serogroup C; NmW, <i>N</i>. <i>meningitidis</i> serogroup W; NmX, <i>N</i>. <i>meningitidis</i> serogroup X; NmY, <i>N</i>. <i>meningitidis</i> serogroup Y.</p