Global Financing Facility investments for vulnerable populations: content analysis regarding maternal and newborn health and stillbirths in 11 African countries, 2015 to 2019.

BACKGROUND: The Global Financing Facility (GFF) was launched in 2015 to catalyse increased domestic and external financing for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health, and nutrition. Half of the deaths along this continuum are neonatal deaths, stillbirths or maternal deaths; yet these topics receive the least aid financing across the continuum. OBJECTIVES: To conduct a policy content analysis of maternal and newborn health (MNH), including stillbirths, in GFF country planning documents, and assess the mortality burden related to the investment. METHODS: Content analysis was conducted on 24 GFF policy documents, investment cases and project appraisal documents (PADs), from 11 African countries. We used a systematic data extraction approach and applied a framework for analysis considering mindset, measures, and money for MNH interventions and mentions of mortality outcomes. We compared PAD investments to MNH-related deaths by country. RESULTS: For these 11 countries, USD$1,894 million of new funds were allocated through the PADs, including USD$303 million (16%) from GFF. All documents had strong content on MNH, with particular focus on pregnancy and childbirth interventions. The investment cases commonly included comprehensive results frameworks, and PADs generally had less technical content and fewer indicators. Mortality outcomes were mentioned, especially for maternal. Stillbirths were rarely included as targets. Countries had differing approaches to funding descriptions. PAD allocations are commensurate with the burden. CONCLUSIONS: The GFF country plans present a promising start in addressing MNH. Emphasising links between investments and burden, explicitly including stillbirth, and highlighting high-impact packages, as appropriate, could potentially increase impact

Long-term effect of forest and landscape restoration practices on soil organic carbon stock in semi-arid Burkina Faso

In semi-arid areas, forest and landscape restoration (FLR) practices are being implemented to reverse the land degradation process. The objective of this study was to investigate the long-term effect of FLR practices on soil organic carbon stock (SOCs) under different land uses in the semi-arid region of Burkina Faso. The study was conducted on degraded land under rehabilitation practices for 45, 27, 18 and 11 years, which were compared to similar land without specific rehabilitation measures. The soil was collected in 2018 in 35 sampling plots of 30 m x 30 m. Soil analysis concerned bulk density, soil particle size, soil pH, soil organic carbon content, and respiratory activity of microorganisms. SOCs increased by 150%, 98% and 29% over 0-10 cm depth in 45-, 27- and 11-year of FLR practices, and decreased by 6% in 18-year of FLR practices compared to their respective control. SOCs were not linearly increased with the duration of the implementation of FLR practices because the variation of SOCs depends on several other parameters such as soil texture, and types of combination of FLR practices. The highest SOCs were recorded for 27 years (9.5 t.ha-1) and 45 years (8.5 t.ha-1) of FLR practices. This study revealed the importance of including Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) as one of the combined FLR practices, for improvement of SOCs

Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria provides substantial protection against malaria in children already protected by an insecticide-treated bednet in Burkina Faso: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in children (IPTc) is a promising new approach to the control of malaria in areas of seasonal malaria transmission but it is not known if IPTc adds to the protection provided by an insecticide-treated net (ITN). METHODS AND FINDINGS: An individually randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of seasonal IPTc was conducted in Burkina Faso in children aged 3 to 59 months who were provided with a long-lasting insecticide-treated bednet (LLIN). Three rounds of treatment with sulphadoxine pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine or placebos were given at monthly intervals during the malaria transmission season. Passive surveillance for malaria episodes was established, a cross-sectional survey was conducted at the end of the malaria transmission season, and use of ITNs was monitored during the intervention period. Incidence rates of malaria were compared using a Cox regression model and generalized linear models were fitted to examine the effect of IPTc on the prevalence of malaria infection, anaemia, and on anthropometric indicators. 3,052 children were screened and 3,014 were enrolled in the trial; 1,505 in the control arm and 1,509 in the intervention arm. Similar proportions of children in the two treatment arms were reported to sleep under an LLIN during the intervention period (93%). The incidence of malaria, defined as fever or history of fever with parasitaemia ≥ 5,000/µl, was 2.88 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.70-3.06) per child during the intervention period in the control arm versus 0.87 (95% CI 0.78-0.97) in the intervention arm, a protective efficacy (PE) of 70% (95% CI 66%-74%) (p<0.001). There was a 69% (95% CI 6%-90%) reduction in incidence of severe malaria (p = 0.04) and a 46% (95% CI 7%-69%) (p = 0.03) reduction in the incidence of all-cause hospital admissions. IPTc reduced the prevalence of malaria infection at the end of the malaria transmission season by 73% (95% CI 68%-77%) (p<0.001) and that of moderately severe anaemia by 56% (95% CI 36%-70%) (p<0.001). IPTc reduced the risks of wasting (risk ratio [RR] = 0.79; 95% CI 0.65-1.00) (p = 0.05) and of being underweight (RR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.72-0.99) (p = 0.03). Children who received IPTc were 2.8 (95% CI 2.3-3.5) (p<0.001) times more likely to vomit than children who received placebo but no drug-related serious adverse event was recorded. CONCLUSIONS: IPT of malaria provides substantial protection against malaria in children who sleep under an ITN. There is now strong evidence to support the integration of IPTc into malaria control strategies in areas of seasonal malaria transmission. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.govNCT00738946. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary

No evidence for association with APOL1 kidney disease risk alleles and Human African Trypanosomiasis in two Ugandan populations:

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) manifests as an acute form caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (Tbr) and a chronic form caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (Tbg). Previous studies have suggested a host genetic role in infection outcomes, particularly for APOL1. We have undertaken a candidate gene association studies (CGAS) in a Ugandan Tbr and a Tbg HAT endemic area, to determine whether polymorphisms in IL10, IL8, IL4, HLAG, TNFA, TNX4LB, IL6, IFNG, MIF, APOL1, HLAA, IL1B, IL4R, IL12B, IL12R, HP, HPR, and CFH have a role in HAT

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Facteurs de fragmentation et stratégies de gestion des massifs forestiers au Burkina Faso.

Objectif : Les massifs forestiers sont soumis à des pressions diverses liées à la combinaison des facteurs économiques, politiques, démographiques. Leur dégradation constitue une préoccupation majeure pour la préservation de l’environnement. La présente recherche est une contribution pour une meilleure gestion des entités forestières.Méthodologie et résultats : Elle intègre à la fois la collecte des données, le traitement des images satellites, l’analyse des données climatiques, démographiques, socioéconomiques, et juridiques. Les résultats montrent la répartition des unités d’occupation des terres et l’état de dégradation des massifs forestiers, marquées par la présence d’espaces cultivés et divers niveaux de fragmentation. Les tailles moyennes des tâches varient entre 4,35 et 78, 15 ha, en lien avec les densités de population qui atteignent 99,11 hbts/km2 à certains endroits, ainsi que les pratiques agricoles et pastorales. Les précipitations situées entre 624,39 et 918,79 mm/an en moyenne, ont une influence sur les types de formations végétales dans les entités forestières.Conclusion et application des résultats : Les modes de gestion en cours, n’ont pas réussi à exclure entièrement l’influence de l’homme sur l’évolution des forêts. Il est encore nécessaire de renforcer les stratégies de préservation des ressources forestières par les aménagements, une meilleure implication des populations locales et un plus grand respect des textes législatifs et règlementaires. Mots clés : Déterminants-Biophysique-Socioéconomique-Gestion-Forêt-Burkina FasoObjectives: Forest areas are subject to various pressures due to the combination of economic, political and demographic factors. Their degradation is a major concern for environment preservation. The actual research is to contribute for a better management of forest entities.Methodology and results: It integrates both data collection, satellite image processing, as well as climate, demographic, socio-economic, and legal data analysis. The results shows out the distribution of land cover units and forests degradation, marked by a large cultivated areas and differents levels of fragmentation. Average sizes of tasks are ranged between 4.35 and 78, 15 ha, caused by high population densities which reach 99.11 hbts / km2 in some places, as well as agricultural and pastoral practices. The vegetation types are influenced by average rainfall between 624.39 and 918.79 mm / year.Conclusion and application of results: Management methods used actually does not yet completely excludehuman influence on the forests. There is still necessity to strengthen stratégies to preserve forest resourcesthrough area arrangements, local communities participation and greater respect for laws and regulations.Keywords: Determinants-Biophysical-Socioeconomic-Forest-Management-Burkina Fas

INACTIVITE PHYSIQUE ET QUALITE DE VIE DES PERSONNES AGEES DANS LA VILLE DE OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO / PHYSICAL INACTIVITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF OLDER PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO

Objectif : La croissance du nombre des personnes âgées (PA) ou encore le phénomène de vieillissement de la population touche à présent les pays à revenu faible. Notre travail a pour objectif d’analyser la relation entre le niveau d’activités physique des PA et leur qualité de vie. Matériel et méthode : nous avons réalisé une étude transversale descriptive et analytique par questionnaire auto-administré. L’enquête a été réalisée au moyen de questionnaires validés d’activité physique de Dijon et du WHOQUOL-BREF (OMS) auprès des sujets d’au moins 60 ans choisis de façon raisonnée dans les lieux de culte, les grains de jeux de société et les associations des PA dans la ville de Ouagadougou. Les logiciels CSPRO 7.0 et STATA 14 ont été utilisés pour la saisie et l’analyse des données. Un modèle de régression multiple a été utilisé pour déterminer la relation entre l’activité physique des personnes âgées et leur qualité de vie. Résultats : Au total 356 sujets d’au moins 60 ans ont été inclus dans notre étude. La tranche d’âge de 60 à 75 ans était la plus représentée (71,91%) et 66,57% des sujets étaient de sexe masculin. Les sujets mariés représentaient 65,17 % de l’échantillon. Les 2/3 des sujets avaient une bonne qualité de vie et moins du tiers avait un niveau d’activité faible. Le modèle final de régression logistique montrait que la qualité de vie augmente avec le niveau d’activité physique ajustée sur certaines variables (OR moyen= 4,88 [1,94-12,23] ; OR élevé=4,70 [2,51-8,80] par rapport au niveau faible). Conclusion : Ces résultats révèlent des scores d’activité physique et de qualité de vie faibles et un état de santé très morbide. L’activité physique est un outil déterminant de la qualité de vie chez les PA au Burkina Faso. Objective: The growth in the number of elderly people or the phenomenon of population aging is now affecting low-income countries. Our work aims to analyze the relationship between the level of physical activity of the elderly and their quality of life. Material and method: We carried out a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study by self-administered questionnaire. The survey was carried out using validated Dijon and WHOQUOL-BREF physical activity questionnaires among subjects aged at least 60 years selected in a reasoned manner in places of worship, board game centers and associations of the elderly in the city of Ouagadougou. CSPRO 7.0 and STATA 14 software were used for data entry and analysis. A multiple regression model was used to determine the relationship between the physical activity of the elderly and their quality of life. Results: A total of 356 subjects at least 60 years old were included in our study. The age range of 60 to 75 years was the most represented (71.91%) and 66.57% of the subjects were male. Married subjects represented 65.17% of the sample. Two thirds of the subjects had a good quality of life and less than one third had a low activity level. The final logistic regression model showed that quality of life increased with activity level adjusted for certain variables (mean OR=4.88 [1.94-12.23]; high OR=4.70 [2.51-8.80] vs low level). Conclusion: These results reveal low physical activity and quality of life scores and a highly morbid health status. Physical activity is a determinant of quality of life in the elderly in Burkina Faso. Article visualizations