Treatment failure among Sub-Sahara African children living with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral treatment failure is a global issue, particularly in developing countries such as Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior research findings were highly variable and inconsistent across areas. As a result, the goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the pooled prevalence of treatment failure among children receiving antiretroviral medication in Sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: To find qualifying papers, we searched databases (such as PubMed, Google Scholar, African Journals Online, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library). The data were retrieved using Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA Version 14 for analysis. To check for publication bias, we employed Egger and Begg's regression tests. A random-effects model was used to assess the pooled prevalence of treatment failure due to high levels of variability. RESULTS: Following the removal of duplicated articles and quality screening, a total of 33 primary articles were determined to be appropriate for inclusion in the final analysis for this study. Overall, the pooled prevalence of treatment failure among HIV-infected children was 25.86% (95% CI: 21.46, 30.26). There is great variety across the included studies, with the majority of them being conducted in Ethiopia. Cameroon had the greatest pooled prevalence of treatment failure among HIV-infected children, at 39.41% (95% CI: 21.54, 57.28), while Ethiopia had the lowest, at 13.77% (95% CI: 10.08, 17.47). CONCLUSIONS: The pooled estimate prevalence of treatment failure among HIV-infected children in Sub-Saharan Africa was high. The implementation of national and international policies and strategies on ART clinic care services should be given special focus in order to reduce treatment failure in children living with HIV/AIDS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO database under the registration number CRD-429011.

HIV incidence and its associated factors among young adults with multiple sexual partners in Maputo, Mozambique: a vaccine preparedness study.

INTRODUCTION: Sub-Saharan Africa has a high burden of HIV, particularly among female sex workers (FSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM). Future clinical trials to evaluate vaccines and other interventions to prevent HIV will need to enroll populations with high HIV incidence. We conducted an observational study of HIV incidence among men and women with multiple sexual partners-including MSM and FSW-in Maputo, Mozambique, in order to prepare the country to conduct future efficacy trials of candidate HIV vaccines and other HIV prevention products. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational HIV incidence study in Maputo, Mozambique, that enrolled adults aged 18-35 years, without HIV, who had two or more sexual partners in the preceding three months. Recruitment strategies prioritized participation of MSM and FSW. Participants were followed for 24 months with HIV-1 testing every 3 months and staff-administered behavioral questionnaires every 6 months. Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for factors potentially associated with HIV acquisition. RESULTS: From January 2014 to October 2017, 505 adults without HIV were enrolled with median age of 21 years (interquartile range:19-24); 41% were female and 82% were single. There were 19 HIV seroconversions (10 female and 9 male) during 943 person-years (PY) of observation (overall HIV incidence 2.02/100PY; 95%CI 1.21-3.15). The highest HIV incidence was observed among sex workers (2.08/100PY; 95%CI 0.25-7.52) and MSM (19.18/100PY; 95%CI 3.96-56.06). Increased hazard of incident HIV was observed among participants who were MSM (HR = 27.95, 95%CI 4.39-117.94), p = 0.0004), reported three or more sexual partners at enrollment (HR = 7.39, 95%CI 1.64-33.25, p = 0.009), and indicated ever having a sexual partner living with HIV (HR = 9.64, 95%CI 2.23-41.71, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Our findings may inform inclusion criteria for upcoming clinical trials of HIV prevention interventions, including vaccine candidates, which may prioritize enrollment of MSM, people with more than three sexual partners, and people with sexual partners who are living with HIV. These same populations are in need of further intervention to reduce HIV incidence.

Overnutrition and associated factors among women of reproductive age in Sub-Saharan Africa: A hierarchical analysis of 2019-2023 standard demographic and health survey data.

OBJECTIVES: Overnutrition, a leading cause of global mortality, has seen a significant rise in low- and middle-income countries, including sub-Saharan Africa. Despite emerging evidence linking overnutrition to non-communicable diseases, limited action has been taken to address this issue. While undernutrition studies have received more attention, research on overnutrition and women's health remains scarce in sub-Saharan Africa. Our study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of overnutrition among reproductive women in this region METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of 2019-2023 Demographic and Health Survey datasets in sub-Saharan Africa. Our study included a weighted sample of 65,161 women aged 15-49 y. Using a multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model, we identified factors associated with overnutrition. The adjusted odds ratio, along with a 95% confidence interval and a significance level of p < 0.05, determined the statistical significance of the explanatory variables. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of overnutrition among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa was 34.79% (95% CI: 34.42-35.16). Specifically, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 21.81% and 12.99%, respectively. Women's educational status, age, media use, household wealth, urbanization, community poverty, and country income level were significantly associated with higher odds of overnutrition. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of overnutrition among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa is relatively high. Key factors associated with this issue include women's educational status, age, media utilization, household wealth, place of residence, community poverty level, and national income status. These multilevel determinants highlight the need for a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to address overnutrition in this population. Effective strategies should target individual behaviors while considering broader social, economic, and environmental contexts. Integrating overnutrition prevention into maternal and reproductive health services, as well as strengthening social protection measures, are recommended steps to tackle this growing challenge in sub-Saharan Africa.

The use of medicine retailers by people of Goma as an alternative healthcare provider: a risky but rational practice.

BACKGROUND: Medicine retailers, considered here as any person or setting dedicated to the sale of retail medicines, fill an important gap in terms of access to healthcare in areas where population are not covered by universal healthcare schemes. In Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, such retailers have proliferated and are consulted as the first port of call by more than half of the population, playing therefore a key role as an alternative source of healthcare for any type of health condition. The objective of this study is to understand people of Goma's rationale for using the medicine retailers over the formal healthcare system. METHODS: Twelve focus groups, gathering 147 participants in total, were conducted in four worship communities, covering the most common faiths practised in Goma. Three focus group discussions were organised per worship community: one with fathers, another with mothers, and another with chronic patients and/or highly vulnerable people. We used a qualitative and inductive approach to analyse the participants' practices and perceptions in terms of their use of medicine retailers. We identified central categories explaining the reasons for using medicine retailers and the choice of a specific medicine retailer. RESULTS: When facing a health problem, most of the participants in our study tended to first buy medicines at medicine retailers because it was cheap, quick, and easily accessible. Most were aware of the risks and limitations of such practices and had developed a number of mitigation strategies in order to reduce those risks: evaluating medicine retailers' expertise; developing a "medical expertise"; and seeking proactively out empathetic care. CONCLUSIONS: People in Goma make a conscious and rational choice when resorting to medicine retailers as it is seen as the least-worst option in a complex situation. In order to reduce the risks, they have developed a number of mitigation strategies. Future research should focus on the organisation of medicine retailers as a professional group to improve their supervision in a sensitive context such as Goma and on modalities to articulate them to the formal health system to guarantee a financial accessibility to healthcare for all.

Understanding the motivations behind deliberate lightening of skin among burkinabe women through a socio-anthropological analysis.

Deliberate lightening of skin among African women is a complex phenomenon that intersects with cultural identity, health, beauty, and societal influence. The scientific literature has scarcely explored a comprehensive approach by interviewing users of skin lightening products. This article aims to analyze, through a comprehensive approach, the motivations underlying the deliberate lightening of skin among Burkinabe women. The research encompasses a narrative literature review and a qualitative field study in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. It targeted 59 women, categorized into current users, former users, and non-users of skin lightening products. Individual interviews and focus groups were utilized to gather qualitative data. The comprehensive approach enabled contextualization of the phenomenon, focusing on personal and collective motivations, while adhering to ethical principles. Participants gived various motivations for deliberate lightening of skin, including the pursuit of beauty, seduction, and social valorization. The majority used fairthese products to achieve a lightly pigmented, equating it with beauty and allure. Some aimed to enhance their seductive capital or improve their social status. Reasons for discontinuing the practice included awareness of health risks, societal pressure, and unmet objectives. Non-users cited reasons such as attachment to their natural skin tone, health concerns, and financial constraints. Deliberate lightening of skin can be viewed as a strategy to increase various forms of capital: aesthetic, seductive, social, and symbolic. This practice reflects socio-cultural dynamics and environmental influences, emphasizing the role of the body as capital in contemporary society. The findings reveal a heightened awareness among women of their body as a multifaceted capital, convertible into other forms of capital under certain conditions.

A survey on the diagnosis and management of neonatal hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in sub-saharan Africa.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the highest burden of neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in the world. However, there are few descriptions of HIE management in SSA and therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is considered controversial. A web-based survey was distributed to doctors across SSA in 2023. Adequate responses were received from 136 doctors across 43 of 48 countries. Therapeutic hypothermia was available in 13 countries, most frequently in private institutions compared to other settings (69% vs. 28%; P = 0.004). Over 90% of respondents who provided TH, appropriately cooled neonates to rectal temperatures of 33.5 °C before age 6 h, for 72 h, and 79% used automated cooling methods. Intubated ventilation and electroencephalograms were more available where TH was used (81% vs. 55%; p = 0.004 and 65% vs. 8%; p < 0.001 respectively). Indicators of intrapartum hypoxia were more frequently defined with TH provision, including early pH (79% vs. 21%; p < 0.001), base deficit (76% vs. 20%; p < 0.001), and ventilation at age 10 min (87% vs. 53%; p = 0.001). Despite the variation in resources and management of HIE, most respondents had standardised protocols (76%). Most respondents who provided TH, followed evidence-based methods, and had stricter criteria and more resources than institutions who did not cool.

Tick-Borne Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review of Pathogens, Research Focus, and Implications for Public Health.

Sub-Saharan Africa, with its hot and humid climate, is a conducive zone for tick proliferation. These vectors pose a major challenge to both animal and human health in the region. However, despite the relevance of emerging diseases and evidence of tick-borne disease emergence, very few studies have been dedicated to investigating zoonotic pathogens transmitted by ticks in this area. To raise awareness of the risks of tick-borne zoonotic diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, and to define a direction for future research, this systematic review considers the trends of research on tick-borne bacteria, parasites, and viruses from 2012 to 2023, aiming to highlight the circulation of these pathogens in ticks, cattle, sheep, goats, and humans. For this purpose, three international databases were screened to select 159 papers fitting designed inclusion criteria and used for qualitative analyses. Analysis of these studies revealed a high diversity of tick-borne pathogens in sub-Saharan Africa, with a total of 37 bacterial species, 27 parasite species, and 14 viruses identified. Among these, 27% were zoonotic pathogens, yet only 11 studies investigated their presence in humans. Furthermore, there is growing interest in the investigation of bacteria and parasites in both ticks and ruminants. However, research into viruses is limited and has only received notable interest from 2021 onwards. While studies on the detection of bacteria, including those of medical interest, have focused on ticks, little consideration has been given to these vectors in studies of parasites circulation. Regarding the limited focus on zoonotic pathogens transmitted by ticks, particularly in humans, despite documented cases of emerging zoonoses and the notable 27% proportion reported, further efforts should be made to fill these gaps. Future studies should prioritize the investigation of zoonotic pathogens, especially viruses, which represent the primary emerging threats, by adopting a One Health approach. This will enhance the understanding of their circulation and impact on both human and animal health. In addition, more attention should be given to the risk factors/drivers associated to their emergence as well as the perception of the population at risk of infection from these zoonotic pathogens.

Characterization of Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica from Produce in the Chobe District of Botswana.

Diarrheal disease is a leading cause of death in children in low- and moderate-income countries. Fresh produce, including fruits and vegetables, may harbor diarrheal disease-causing bacteria including strains of Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profiles of S. enterica and E. coli isolated from produce samples (n = 207) obtained from retail markets in northern Botswana in Chobe District of Botswana in 2022. Samples were enriched in the appropriate selective media: Brilliant Green Bile Broth for E. coli and Rappaport Vassiliadis Broth for S. enterica. E. coli were confirmed by PCR detecting the phoA gene, and classified as potentially pathogenic through screening for the eae, stx, and stx2 and estIb genes. S. enterica isolates were confirmed using invA primers. Isolates were evaluated for resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, chloramphenicol, cefotaxime, doxycycline, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline antibiotic using the Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion method. E. coli was isolated from 15.5% of produce samples (n = 207). The gene eae was detected from 1.5% of samples, while stx1, stx2, and estIb were not detected. Resistance to one or more antibiotics was common (72%) with the majority of the resistant E. coli (n = 32) isolated from fruits (22%) and greens (18%) compared to other types of vegetables. Multidrug resistance (MDR, resistant to 3 or more antibiotics) was identified in 18% of samples. S. enterica was isolated from 3.4% of produce samples (7, n = 207). Resistance was uncommon among the S. enterica isolates (1/7). Overall prevalence of diarrheagenic S. enterica and E. coli was low; however, their presence and that of MDR E. coli in foods commonly consumed raw increases the risk to vulnerable populations. Strategies to reduce contamination of fresh produce and public education on washing and cooking some types of produce may be useful to reduce disease.

Pesticide water pollution, human health risks, and regulatory evaluation: A nationwide analysis in Ethiopia.

Despite the growing concerns about pesticide pollution, a comprehensive global understanding continues to be hampered by a lack of data from less developed countries. Ethiopia, being a typical agricultural country, is one of the top consumers of pesticides in sub-Saharan Africa. This study conducted a nationwide analysis to assess pesticide water pollution and human health risks in Ethiopia based on the available data. Additionally, the study evaluated the effectiveness of the Pesticide Risks in the Tropics for Man, Environment, and Trade (PRIMET) model, which is currently used for pesticide regulatory risk assessment in Ethiopia. The scoring approach was employed to map the site-specific pollution status based on clearly defined individual pesticide concentrations, excluding mixtures (n = 99). The pollution scores varied significantly among sites, with higher scores observed in the Rift Valley region. Acute and chronic health risks were identified for some commonly detected pesticides at their maximum concentrations. Epidemiological studies conducted in Ethiopia also demonstrated that pesticide exposure is associated with acute poisoning, respiratory health problems, neurobehavioral symptoms, and breast cancer. Furthermore, the study found that the existing regulatory framework likely underestimates pesticide risks in 35 % of the cases, raising concerns about the reliability of the PRIMET model in its current version. Overall, the results emphasize the need for increased attention to pesticide regulation and management in Ethiopia and other countries with similar scenarios, including regular monitoring, implementation of residue limits, post-application evaluations, and recalibration of the PRIMET model. This study provides valuable scientific information and insights into pesticide pollution and can serve as a baseline for ensuring agricultural and environmental sustainability.

Illuminating Perspectives: Navigating Eye Care Access in Sub-Saharan Africa Through the Social Determinants of Health.

Ensuring access to proper eye health services is not only a fundamental human right but also crucial for preserving an individual's quality of life, preventing blindness, and promoting overall well-being. This is especially true in low-income countries like Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where recognizing the intricate relationship between access to healthcare and social determinants of health (SDOH ) is crucial to addressing health disparities. The goal of this study was to elucidate and highlight not only the barriers millions face in obtaining eye care but also pave the way for interventions and policies aimed at creating equitable access across diverse populations. To do this, a scoping review was conducted across the Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Embase, and PubMed databases for studies meeting the search terms and inclusion criteria. The results show that intervention strategies that increase vision care must extend beyond the healthcare sector to address the multifaceted challenges. Collaborating with stakeholders involved in addressing broader livelihood issues, such as food security, education, and SDOH, becomes imperative to ensure comprehensive and sustainable improvements in vision care accessibility in SSA.

A new primate community from the earliest Oligocene of the Atlantic margin of Northwest Africa: Systematic, paleobiogeographic, and paleoenvironmental implications.

We report a new Paleogene primate community discovered in the uppermost part of the Samlat Formation outcropping on the continental shore of the Rio de Oro, east of the Dakhla peninsula (in the south of Morocco, near the northern border of Mauritania). Fossils consist of isolated teeth, which were extracted by wet screening of estuarine sediments (DAK C2) dating from the earliest Oligocene (ca. 33.5 Ma). These dental remains testify to the presence of at least eight primate species, documenting distinct families, four of which are among the Anthropoidea (Oligopithecidae [Catopithecus aff. browni], Propliopithecidae [?Propliopithecus sp.], Parapithecidae [Abuqatrania cf. basiodontos], and Afrotarsiidae [Afrotarsius sp.]) and four in the Strepsirrhini (a Djebelemuridae [cf. 'Anchomomys' milleri], a Galagidae [Wadilemur cf. elegans], a possible lorisiform [Orogalago saintexuperyi gen. et sp. nov.], and a strepsirrhine of indeterminate affinities [Orolemur mermozi gen. et sp. nov.]). This record of various primates at Dakhla represents the first Oligocene primate community from Northwest Africa, especially from the Atlantic margin of that landmass. Considering primates plus rodents (especially hystricognaths), the taxonomic proximity at the generic (even specific) level between DAK C2 (Dakhla) and the famous Egyptian fossil-bearing localities of the Jebel Qatrani Formation (Fayum Depression), either dating from the latest Eocene (L-41) or from the early Oligocene, suggests the existence of an east-west 'trans-North African' environmental continuum during the latest Eocene-earliest Oligocene time interval. The particularly diverse mammal fauna from DAK C2, recorded within the time window of global climate deterioration characterizing the Eocene/Oligocene transition, suggests that this tropical region of northwest Africa was seemingly less affected, if at all, by the cooling and associated paleoenvironmental and biotic changes documented at that time or at least that the effects were delayed. The expected densely forested paleoenvironment bordering the western margin of North Africa at the beginning of the early Oligocene probably offered better tropical refugia than higher latitudes or more inland areas during the cooling episode.

Barriers to and facilitators for creating, disseminating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating oral health policies in the WHO African region: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To advance oral health policies (OHPs) in the World Health Organization (WHO) African region, barriers to and facilitators for creating, disseminating, implementing, monitoring and evaluating OHPs in the region were examined. METHODS: Global Health, Embase, PubMed, Public Affairs Information Service Index, ABI/Inform, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, Scopus, Dissertations Global, Google Scholar, WHO's Institutional Repository for Information Sharing (IRIS), the WHO Noncommunicable Diseases Document Repository and the Regional African Index Medicus and African Journals Online were searched. Technical officers at the WHO Regional Office for Africa were contacted. Research studies and policy documents reporting barriers to and facilitators for OHP in the 47 Member States in the WHO African region published between January 2002 and March 2024 in English, French or Portuguese were included. Frequencies were used to summarize quantitative data, and descriptive content analysis was used to code and classify barrier and facilitator statements. RESULTS: Eighty-eight reports, including 55 research articles and 33 policy documents, were included. The vast majority of the research articles and policy documents were country-specific, but they were lacking for most countries. Frequently mentioned barriers across policy at all stages included financial constraints, a limited and poorly organized workforce, deprioritization of oral health, the absence of health information systems, inadequate integration of oral health services within the overarching health system and limited oral health literacy. Facilitators included a renewed commitment to establishing national OHPs, recognition of a need to diversify the oral health workforce, and an increased understanding of the influence of social determinants of health among oral health care providers. CONCLUSIONS: Most countries lack a country-specific body of evidence to assist policymakers in anticipating barriers to and facilitators for OHPs. The barriers and facilitators relevant to disparate subnational, national, and regional conditions and circumstances must be considered to advance the creation, dissemination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of OHPs in the WHO African region.

Maize yields have stagnated in sub-Sahara Africa: a possible transgenic solution to weed, pathogen and insect constraints.

Despite major breeding efforts by various national and international agencies, yields for the ~40 million hectares of maize, the major food crop in sub-Saharan Africa, have stagnated at <2 tons/ha/year for the past decade, one-third the global average. Breeders have succeeded in breeding increased yield with a modicum of tolerance to some single-weed or pathogen stresses. There has been minimal adoption of these varieties because introgressing polygenic yield and tolerance traits into locally adapted material is very challenging. Multiple traits to deal with pests (weeds, pathogens, and insects) are needed for farmer acceptance, because African fields typically encounter multiple pest constraints. Also, maize has no inherent resistance to some of these pest constraints, rendering them intractable to traditional breeding. The proposed solution is to simultaneously engineer multiple traits into one genetic locus. The dominantly inherited multi-pest resistance trait single locus can be bred simply into locally adapted, elite high-yielding material, and would be valuable for farmers, vastly increasing maize yields, and allowing for more than regional maize sufficiency. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Policies and Practices Facilitating Access to and Uptake of HIV Testing Services among Adolescents in Sub-Sahara Africa: A Narrative Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Expanding access to HIV testing services and linking newly diagnosed positive adolescents to antiretroviral therapy is critical to epidemic control. However, testing coverage and treatment initiation rates continue to lag behind adult counterparts. This article synthesizes evidence on facilitative policies and service delivery practices focused on adolescents to inform programming. RECENT FINDINGS: Our narrative review found that national policies are growing more adolescent-inclusive but barriers around the age of consent, waiver frameworks and dissemination constrain translate into practice. Facility-based provider-initiated testing through integrated sexual health services and dedicated youth centres demonstrates uptake effectiveness if confidentiality and youth-friendly adaptations are assured. Supportive policies, youth-responsive adaptations across testing models and strengthening age-disaggregated monitoring are vital to improving adolescents' engagement across the HIV testing and treatment cascade. Further implementation research is imperative to expand the reach of adolescent HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa.

The burden and treatment of non-communicable diseases among healthcare workers in sub-Saharan Africa: a multi-country cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the leading cause of death globally, are estimated to overtake communicable diseases in sub-Sahara Africa, where healthcare workers (HCWs) play a crucial role in prevention and treatment, but are in extreme shortage, thereby increasing the burden of NCDs among this specific population. To provide evidence for policy-making, we assessed the NCD burden, associated factors and treatment among HCWs in four sub-Saharan African countries. Materials and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study across four sub-Saharan African countries [Côte d'Ivoire (CIV), Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Madagascar (MDG), and Nigeria (NIG)] between February and December 2022. In a standardized questionnaire, sociodemographic, chronic disease and treatment data were self-reported. We estimated the prevalence of (1) at least one chronic disease, (2) hypertension, and used backward elimination logistic regression model to identify risk factors. Results: We recruited a total of 6,848 HCWs. The prevalence of at least one chronic disease ranged between 9.7% in NIG and 20.6% in MDG, the prevalence of hypertension between 5.4% in CIV and 11.3% in MDG. At most, reported treatment rates reached 36.5%. The odds of each of both outcomes increased with age (at least one chronic disease adjusted odds ratio: CIV: 1.04; DRC: 1.09; MDG: 1.06; NIG: 1.10; hypertension: CIV: 1.10; DRC: 1.31; MDG: 1.11; NIG: 1.11) and with BMI (at least one chronic disease: CIV: 1.10; DRC: 1.07; MDG: 1.06; NIG: 1.08; hypertension: CIV: 1.10; DRC: 1.66; MDG: 1.13; NIG: 1.07). Odds of both outcomes were lower among males, except in CIV. In NIG, the odds of both outcomes were higher among medical doctors and odds of hypertension were higher among those working in secondary care. In MDG, working in secondary care increased and working as auxiliary staff decreased the odds of at least one chronic disease. Conclusion: The prevalence of self-reported chronic disease varied across the four sub-Saharan countries with potentially very low treatment rates. We identified several individual (age, sex, and BMI) and occupational (profession, level of healthcare) factors that influence the odds of NCDs. These factors should be taken into account when developing interventions addressing the burden and management of NCDs among HCWs.

Neuropsychological tests associated with symptomatic HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) in a cohort of older adults in Tanzania.

OBJECTIVE: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) prevalence is expected to increase in East Africa as treatment coverage increases, survival improves, and this population ages. This study aimed to better understand the current cognitive phenotype of this newly emergent population of older combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-treated people living with HIV (PLWH), in which current screening measures lack accuracy. This will facilitate the refinement of HAND cognitive screening tools for this setting. METHOD: This is a secondary analysis of 253 PLWH aged ≥50 years receiving standard government HIV clinic follow-up in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. They were evaluated with a detailed locally normed low-literacy neuropsychological battery annually on three occasions and a consensus panel diagnosis of HAND by Frascati criteria based on clinical evaluation and collateral history. RESULTS: Tests of verbal learning and memory, categorical verbal fluency, visual memory, and visuoconstruction had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve >0.7 for symptomatic HAND (s-HAND) (0.70-0.72; p < 0.001 for all tests). Tests of visual memory, verbal learning with delayed recall and recognition memory, psychomotor speed, language comprehension, and categorical verbal fluency were independently associated with s-HAND in a logistic mixed effects model (p < 0.01 for all). Neuropsychological impairments varied by educational background. CONCLUSIONS: A broad range of cognitive domains are affected in older, well-controlled, East African PLWH, including those not captured in widely used screening measures. It is possible that educational background affects the observed cognitive impairments in this setting. Future screening measures for similar populations should consider assessment of visual memory, verbal learning, language comprehension, and executive and motor function.

Risk of migration: not all gregarious locust nymphs reach appropriate refuges.

Sedentary animals choose appropriate refuges against predators, while migratory ones may not necessarily do so. In ectotherms, refuge selection is critical during low temperatures, because they cannot actively evade predators. To understand how migratory ectotherms alter their defensive behaviors depending on refuge quality in cold temperatures, we evaluated migratory gregarious desert locust nymphs (Schistocerca gregaria) in the Sahara Desert, where daily thermal constraints occur. We recorded how roosting plant type (bush/shrub) and its height influenced two alternative defense behaviors (dropping/stationary) during cold mornings, in response to an approaching simulated ground predator. Most locusts in bushes dropped within the bush and hid irrespective of their height, whereas those roosting > 2 m height in shrubs remained stationary. These defenses are effective and match with refuge plant types because dynamic locomotion is not required. When nymphs roosted on shrubs < 1.5-m height, which was an unsafe position, nearly half showed both defensive behaviors, indicating that escaping decisions become ambiguous when the refuges are inappropriate. These results suggest that locusts display flexible defensive behaviors when finding appropriate refuges and selecting refuge before daily thermal limitations occur could be critical for migratory ectotherms, which is a risk associated with migration.

Challenges Faced and Lessons Learned: The Journey of a 22-Year-Old Male with a Mechanical Heart Valve Complicated by Ischemic Stroke in a Developing Country: A Sub-Saharan Africa Prospect.

This report reviews an Ethiopian patient who underwent cardiac surgery and had a mechanical heart valve implanted on the mitral valve with tricuspid valve repair for rheumatic heart disease via a local non-profit organization donation later complicated by cardio-embolic stroke, and aims to describe the challenges faced by patients from rural Ethiopia who require cardiac surgery for rheumatic heart disease and narrate the importance of careful follow-up. The lessons to be drawn from this case are that careful follow-up and adherence to prescribed Vitamin K antagonists after surgery for mechanical heart valves are critical and, when such patients are lost to follow-up as was witnessed in this case, it can induce lifelong morbidity. Morbidity that could have been avoided with strict and meticulous follow-up and with standardized patient tracing or contact systems. When patients are lost to follow-up it needs to be top priority to trace them after cardiac surgery and this report highlights the pivotal role of the health education in such populations. Unless we utilize this opportunity to unlock the door and embrace a systemic approach to reforming our risk assessment, referral chain system, and integration of various healthcare professionals in patient follow-up, as well as enhancing health education among our patients in rural Ethiopia and other low-income countries, the consequences could prove to be significant. Preventing such fatal complications is far superior to managing them afterwards, as it not only saves on expenses but also saves lives and enhances quality-of-life.

Cretan HLA genetics supports its early Minoan culture as a link between North Africa and Europe.

HLA studies in Crete show that this population is related to North Africans and also Iberians. This may be a reflection of a common prehistoric first Europeans relationships with North Africans and drying Saharan emigration after 10,000 years BC; it may be specifically represented by a primitive and early cult to the bull in both Cretan (Minoan) and Iberian populations. In the present study, unrelated Cretans representing different Island parts have been studied for class II HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles. The most frequent ones were HLA-DRB1*11:01 and HLA-DRB1*07:01 and HLA-DQB1*03:01 and DQB1*05:01. Also, the Cretan HLA class II haplotype HLA-DBR1*11:01-DQB1*03:01 had the highest frequency and is also common to other Mediterraneans, including Iberians. In addition, DRB1*07:01-DQB1*02:01 and HLA-DRB1*04:02-DQB1*03:02 Cretan haplotypes are shared with North Africans (the latter with Algerians, Tunisians and Moroccans). In summary, Crete was one of the first European classic cultures (Minoan) which was probably an early link, like Iberia, between North Africa /Sahara and Europe,also supported by genetic results.

SCAPS-1D simulated organometallic halide perovskites: A comparison of performance under Sub-Saharan temperature condition.

Photovoltaic technology has been widely recognized as a means to advance green energy solutions in the sub-Saharan region. In the real-time operation of solar modules, temperature plays a crucial role, making it necessary to evaluate the thermal impact on the performance of the solar devices, especially in high-insolation environments. Hence, this paper investigates the effect of operating temperature on the performance of two types of organometallic halide perovskites (OHP) - formamidinium tin iodide (FASnI3) and methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3). The solar cells were evaluated under a typical Nigerian climate in two different cities before and after graphene passivation. Using a one-dimensional solar capacitance simulation software (SCAPS-1D) program, the simulation results show that graphene passivation improved the conversion efficiency of the solar cells by 0.51 % (FASnI3 device) and 3.11 % (MAPbI3 device). The presence of graphene played a vital role in resisting charge recombination and metal diffusion, which are responsible for the losses in OHP. Thermal analysis revealed that the MAPbI3 device exhibited an increased fill factor (FF) in the temperature range of 20-64 °C, increasing the power conversion efficiency (PCE). This ensured that the MAPbI3 solar cell performed better in the city and the season with harsher thermal conditions (Kaduna, dry season). Thus, MAPbI3 solar cells can thrive excellently in environments where the operating temperature is below 65 °C. Overall, this study shows that the application of OHP devices in sub-Saharan climatic conditions is empirically possible with the right material modification.