Interactions and potential implications of Plasmodium falciparum-hookworm coinfection in different age groups in south-central Côte d'Ivoire

BACKGROUND: Given the widespread distribution of Plasmodium and helminth infections, and similarities of ecological requirements for disease transmission, coinfection is a common phenomenon in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere in the tropics. Interactions of Plasmodium falciparum and soil-transmitted helminths, including immunological responses and clinical outcomes of the host, need further scientific inquiry. Understanding the complex interactions between these parasitic infections is of public health relevance considering that control measures targeting malaria and helminthiases are going to scale.METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional survey was carried out in April 2010 in infants, young school-aged children, and young non-pregnant women in south-central Côte d'Ivoire. Stool, urine, and blood samples were collected and subjected to standardized, quality-controlled methods. Soil-transmitted helminth infections were identified and quantified in stool. Finger-prick blood samples were used to determine Plasmodium spp. infection, parasitemia, and hemoglobin concentrations. Iron, vitamin A, riboflavin, and inflammation status were measured in venous blood samples.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Multivariate regression analysis revealed specific association between infection and demographic, socioeconomic, host inflammatory and nutritional factors. Non-pregnant women infected with P. falciparum had significantly lower odds of hookworm infection, whilst a significant positive association was found between both parasitic infections in 6- to 8-year-old children. Coinfected children had lower odds of anemia and iron deficiency than their counterparts infected with P. falciparum alone.CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings suggest that interaction between P. falciparum and light-intensity hookworm infections vary with age and, in school-aged children, may benefit the host through preventing iron deficiency anemia. This observation warrants additional investigation to elucidate the mechanisms and consequences of coinfections, as this information could have important implications when implementing integrated control measures against malaria and helminthiases

Conducting Violence and Mental Health Research with Female Sex Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Ethical Considerations, Challenges, and Lessons Learned from the Maisha Fiti Study in Nairobi, Kenya.

Conducting violence and mental health research during the COVID-19 pandemic with vulnerable groups such as female sex workers (FSWs) required care to ensure that participants and the research team were not harmed. Potential risks and harm avoidance needed to be considered as well as ensuring data reliability. In March 2020, COVID-19 restrictions were imposed in Kenya during follow-up data collection for the Maisha Fiti study (n = 1003); hence data collection was paused. In June 2020, the study clinic was re-opened after consultations with violence and mental health experts and the FSW community. Between June 2020 and January 2021, data were collected in person and remotely following ethical procedures. A total of 885/1003 (88.2%) FSWs participated in the follow-up behavioural-biological survey and 47/47 (100%) participated in the qualitative in-depth interviews. A total of 26/885 (2.9%) quantitative surveys and 3/47 (6.4%) qualitative interviews were conducted remotely. Researching sensitive topics like sex work, violence, and mental health must guarantee study participants' safety and privacy. Collecting data at the height of COVID-19 was crucial in understanding the relationships between the COVID-19 pandemic, violence against women, and mental health. Relationships established with study participants during the baseline survey-before the pandemic-enabled us to complete data collection. In this paper, we discuss key issues involved in undertaking violence and mental health research with a vulnerable population such as FSWs during a pandemic. Lessons learned could be useful to others researching sensitive topics such as violence and mental health with vulnerable populations

Effet De La Conservation Sur La Qualite Et La Securite Des Grains De Cereales Dans Le District De Tharaka, Kenya.

The contribution of grains to food security is limited by deterioration during storage and as such it was necessary to document the effect of storage on their quality and safety. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of storage on the quality and safety of grains in Maragua and Gikingo locations, Tharaka District, Kenya. Proximate composition and aflatoxin content were used as indicators of quality and safety respectively, and their determination was done on a total of 36 samples of grains that were randomly collected from different storage methods at two time periods, two months after storage (T1) and seven months after storage (T2). The moisture content of the grains was below the maximum moisture content for safe storage of cereals and legumes (<13%). There was an increase in moisture content in all the grains analysed between T1 and T2, except in cowpeas, where there was a decrease. However, only sorghum and green grams showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in the increase. Only green grams showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in increase in protein content between T1 and T2. There was a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the fat content between T1 and T2 in millet, sorghum and green grams. In cowpeas, the decrease was not significant (p>0.05). The fibre content showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in all grains, except in green grams that showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease. There was also a significant (p<0.05) increase in the ash content of all the grain samples. However, there was a decrease in the available carbohydrates in all grains analysed between T1 and T2, except in cowpeas that showed a significant (p<0.05) increase. Similarly, the energy content showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in all the grains, except cowpeas. There was an increase in the aflatoxin content in millet (from 0 to 0.35 μg/kg), green grams (from 0 to 0.35 μg/kg) and sorghum (from 0 to 0.48 μg/kg) grains with duration of storage. This increase was significant (p<0.05) only in sorghum. In conclusion, storage caused a decrease in the fat, carbohydrate and energy contents. The aflatoxin content increased during storage while apparent increases were noted in the protein, fibre and ash contents. These results suggest an association between the variation in nutrient composition in the storage duration and the storage methods and type of grain stored.La contribution des céréales à la sécurité alimentaire est limitée par la détérioration qui s&apos;opère au cours de la conservation ; c&apos;est pourquoi il a été nécessaire de publier l&apos;effet de la conservation sur leur qualité et leur sécurité. L&apos;objectif de cette étude était de déterminer l&apos;effet de la conservation sur la qualité et la sécurité des grains de céréales dans les localités de Maragua et de Gikingo, dans le District de Tharaka au Kenya. La composition approximative et la teneur en aflatoxine ont été utilisées comme indicateurs de la qualité et de la sécurité respectivement, et leur détermination a été faite sur un total de 36 échantillons de céréales qui ont été collectés au hasard au moyen de différentes méthodes de conservation pendant deux périodes, deux mois après le temps de conservation (T1) et sept mois après le temps de conservation (T2). Le degré d&apos;humidité des grains de céréales était au-dessous du degré maximum d&apos;humidité pour la conservation des céréales et des légumineuses (<13%). Il y a eu une augmentation du degré d&apos;humidité dans toutes les céréales analysées entre T1 et T2, sauf dans les petits pois où il y avait une diminution. Cependant, seuls le sorgho et les pois chiches verts ont montré une grande différence (p<0,05) dans l&apos;augmentation. Seuls les pois chiches verts ont montré une grande différence (p<0,05) dans l&apos;augmentation de la teneur en protéines entre T1 et T2. Il y avait une forte réduction (p<0,05) de la teneur en graisses entre T1 et T2 dans le millet, le sorgho et les pois chiches verts. Dans les petits pois, la diminution n&apos;était pas considérable (p>0,05). La teneur en fibres a montré une forte augmentation (p<0,05) dans toutes les céréales, sauf dans les pois chiches verts qui ont montré une grande diminution (p<0,05). Il y avait également une grande augmentation (p<0,05) dans la teneur en cendres dans toutes les céréales prises comme échantillons. Néanmoins, il y a eu une diminution dans les glucides disponibles dans toutes les céréales analysées entre T1 et T2, sauf dans les petits pois qui ont montré une forte augmentation (p<0,05). D&apos;une manière similaire, la teneur en énergie a montré une grande diminution (p<0,05) dans toutes les céréales, sauf dans les petits pois. Une augmentation de la teneur en aflatoxine s&apos;est manifestée avec la durée de conservation dans les grains de millet (de 0 à 0,35 μg/kg), dans les pois chiches verts (de 0 à 0,35 μg/kg) et dans les grains de sorgho (de 0 à 0,48 μg/kg). Cette augmentation n&apos;était considérable (p<0,05) que dans le sorgho. En conclusion, la conservation a causé une diminution dans les teneurs en graisses, en glucides et en énergie. La teneur en aflatoxine a augmenté pendant la conservation tandis que des augmentations apparentes ont été remarquées dans les teneurs en protéines, en fibres et en cendres. Ces résultats suggèrent une association entre la variation dans la composition des nutriments pendant la durée de la conservation et les méthodes de conservation et le type de céréales conservées

Effect of Storage on the Quality and Safety of Grains in Tharaka District, Kenya

The contribution of grains to food security is limited by deterioration during storage and as such it was necessary to document the effect of storage on their quality and safety. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of storage on the quality and safety of grains in Maragua and Gikingo locations, Tharaka District, Kenya. Proximate composition and aflatoxin content were used as indicators of quality and safety respectively, and their determination was done on a total of 36 samples of grains that were randomly collected from different storage methods at two time periods, two months after storage (T1) and seven months after storage (T2). The moisture content of the grains was below the maximum moisture content for safe storage of cereals and legumes