Predictors of COVID-19 infection among health care workers in Harare City, Zimbabwe, 2021.

Introduction: preventing COVID-19 infection among health workers maintains the health system capacity and reduces secondary transmission. Of 506 health workers tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in Harare City between December 2020 and February 2021 (second wave), 128 (25%) tested positive, affecting service delivery. We investigated factors associated with COVID-19 infection and described breakthrough infections among health workers. Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study in Harare City. Interviews were conducted with 467 health workers to determine behavioral, occupational, and non-occupational factors associated with COVID-19 infection. Fifteen key informants were interviewed to verify responses. Records and line-list were reviewed to verify cases, outcomes, and vaccination status. Observations were done to check adherence to prevention measures. Epi-info generated means, frequencies, proportions and conducted univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis. Statistical significance was at p-value<0.05. Results: we interviewed 467 health workers, 166 (35.5%) had a history of COVID-19 infection. Females were the majority 357 (76.4%), mostly nurses 200 (42.8%). Those not trained on infection control measures in the past six months (aOR=2.13; 95%CI 1.06-4.27; p=0.03), not observing social distance at mealtimes (aOR=6.33; 95%CI 3.36-11.89; p<0.01), having a household COVID-19 case (aOR=9.03; 95%CI 3.93-20.76; p<0.01) and not properly wearing facemasks (aOR=16.68; 95%CI 9.39-29.61; p<0.01) were significantly associated COVID-19 infection. Of 378 health workers fully vaccinated, 39 (10.3%) had breakthrough infections. Most with breakthrough infections, 33 (84.6%) had asymptomatic or mild disease. One death was recorded, a female, not vaccinated, with uncontrolled diabetes. Conclusion: predictors of COVID-19 infection among health workers were, no training on infection and prevention and control (IPC) measures, lack of social distancing at mealtimes, improper use of facemasks, and having a COVID-19 case at household level. We conducted refresher training to strengthen infection control measures.

Virological outcomes and risk factors for non-suppression for routine and repeat viral load testing after enhanced adherence counselling during viral load testing scale-up in Zimbabwe: analytic cross-sectional study using laboratory data from 2014 to 2018.

BACKGROUND: Since the scale-up of routine viral load (VL) testing started in 2016, there is limited evidence on VL suppression rates under programmatic settings and groups at risk of non-suppression. We conducted a study to estimate VL non-suppression (> 1000 copies/ml) and its risk factors using "routine" and "repeat after enhanced adherence counselling (EAC)" VL results. METHODS: We conducted an analytic cross-sectional study using secondary VL testing data collected between 2014 and 2018 from a centrally located laboratory. We analysed data from routine tests and repeat tests after an individual received EAC. Our outcome was viral load non-suppression. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with having VL non-suppression for routine and repeat VL. RESULTS: We analysed 103,609 VL test results (101,725 routine and 1884 repeat test results) collected from the country's ten provinces. Of the 101,725 routine and 1884 repeat VL tests, 13.8% and 52.9% were non-suppressed, respectively. Only one in seven (1:7) of the non-suppressed routine VL tests had a repeat test after EAC. For routine VL tests; males (vs females, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.19, [95% CI 1.14-1.24]) and adolescents (10-19 years) (vs adults (25-49 years), aOR = 3.11, [95% CI 2.9-3.31]) were more at risk of VL non-suppression. The patients who received care at the secondary level (vs primary, aOR = 1.21, [95% CI 1.17-1.26]) and tertiary level (vs primary, aOR = 1.63, [95% CI 1.44-1.85]) had a higher risk of VL non-suppression compared to the primary level. Those that started ART in 2014-2015 (vs < 2010, aOR = 0.83, [95% CI 0.79-0.88]) and from 2016 onwards (vs < 2010, aOR = 0.84, [95% CI 0.79-0.89]) had a lower risk of VL non-suppression. For repeat VL tests; young adults (20-24 years) (vs adults (25-49 years), (aOR) = 3.48, [95% CI 2.16 -5.83]), adolescents (10-19 years) (vs adults (25-49 years), aOR = 2.76, [95% CI 2.11-3.72]) and children (0-9 years) (vs adults (25-49 years), aOR = 1.51, [95% CI 1.03-2.22]) were at risk of VL non-suppression. CONCLUSION: Close to 90% suppression in routine VL shows that Zimbabwe is on track to reach the third UNAIDS target. Strategies to improve the identification of clients with high routine VL results for repeating testing after EAC and ART adherence in subpopulations (men, adolescents and young adolescents) at risk of viral non-suppression should be prioritised.

COVID-19 sample management: experiences of Harare City, 2021.

COVID-19 sample management is pivotal in controlling the pandemic. Results of 28/45 (62.2%) cases identified at a high school COVID-19 outbreak in Harare's Northern district were not reported within the recommended 24 hours of notification. This leads to delayed patient management. We evaluated the sample management system for COVID-19 in Harare City. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Harare City. Health care workers involved in COVID-19 sample management at a high school outbreak in the Northern district namely clinicians, laboratory, environmental and administrative personnel were purposively sampled. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Quantitative data were analyzed using Epi info version 7. Medians and proportions were generated. A 3-point Likert Scale was used to measure knowledge levels of health care workers on COVID-19 sample management. Thirty health care workers were interviewed and females were 20/30 (66%). Participants had not been trained in sample management. Overall knowledge level was good for 7/30 (23%) of the participants. Of the samples collected, 156/451 (34.6%) were wrongly sent to the national microbiology laboratory and 53/156 (34.0%) of the results were received. Sample management of COVID-19 samples in Harare City was found to affect patient management because of poor knowledge of healthcare workers, lack of transportation and communication means. The need for training cadres involved in the management process and availing adequate resources can improve turnaround time of results hence patient management.

Trends of stillbirths in Harare City, Zimbabwe, 2015-2019: a secondary data analysis.

Introduction: in Zimbabwe, perinatal mortality is a major public health problem. Harare City data showed increase in stillbirth rate trend from 4/1000 live births in 2014 to 6/1000 live births in 2018, failing to meet the country's target of reducing stillbirth rate by 40%. We analysed the characteristics of stillbirths from 2015 to 2019 in Harare City. Methods: we conducted a retrospective analytical cross-sectional study using secondary data from Harare City Health Department's 12 baby-delivery polyclinics. Fourteen key informants were interviewed to verify information obtained. Using Epi-info, descriptive summaries and graphs were generated and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was conducted. Statistical significance was considered at a p-value <0.05. Results: a total of 700(74.9%) perinatal death notification records were reviewed. The majority were macerated stillbirths 418(59.7%) followed by fresh stillbirths 189(27.0%). The median age for women who had fresh stillbirths was 26 years (Q1=22; Q2=32). Preterm delivery (aOR= 2.15; 95%CI 1.81- 3.89; p<0.01), having delivered by breech presentation (aOR= 3.32; 95%CI 1.72-6.41; p=<0.01), and being HIV positive (aOR= 1.69; 95%CI 1.02-2.79; p=0.04) were associated with preterm delivery. Conclusion: stillbirths in Harare City were increasing and were due to preventable causes. The younger maternal age group was most affected hence preventive activities should focus on them. Improving the quality of antenatal care, delivery, and new-born care can help reduce stillbirths and early neonatal death.

Efficiency in PrEP Delivery: Estimating the Annual Costs of Oral PrEP in Zimbabwe.

Although oral PrEP is highly effective at preventing HIV acquisition, optimizing continuation among beneficiaries is challenging in many settings. We estimated the costs of delivering oral PrEP to populations at risk of HIV in seven clinics in Zimbabwe. Full annual economic costs of oral PrEP initiations and continuation visits were estimated from the providers' perspective for a six-clinic NGO network and one government SGBV clinic in Zimbabwe (January-December 2018). Disaggregating costs of full initiation and incremental follow-up visits enabled modeling of the impact of duration of continuation on the cost per person-year ($pPY) on PrEP. 4677 people initiated oral PrEP, averaging 2.7 follow-up visits per person. Average cost per person initiated was $238 ($183-$302 across the NGO clinics; $86 in the government facility). The full cost per initiation visit, including central and direct costs, was $178, and the incremental cost per follow-up visit, capturing only additional resources used directly in the follow up visits, was $22. The average duration of continuation was 3.0 months, generating an average $pPY of $943, ranging from $839 among adolescent girls and young women to $1219 in men. Oral PrEP delivery costs varied substantially by scale of initiations and by duration of continuation and type of clinic. Extending the average oral PrEP continuation from 2.7 to 5 visits (about 6 months) would greatly improve service efficiency, cutting the $pPY by more than half.

Retesting for verification of HIV diagnosis before antiretroviral therapy initiation in Harare, Zimbabwe: Is there a gap between policy and practice?

BACKGROUND: WHO recommends retesting of HIV-positive patients before starting antiretroviral therapy (ART). There is no evidence on implementation of retesting guidelines from programmatic settings. We aimed to assess implementation of HIV retesting among clients diagnosed HIV-positive in the public health facilities of Harare, Zimbabwe, in June 2017. METHODS: This cohort study involved analysis of secondary data collected routinely by the programme. RESULTS: Of 1729 study participants, 639 (37%) were retested. Misdiagnosis of HIV was found in six (1%) of the patients retested-all were infants retested with DNA-PCR. There was no HIV misdiagnosis among adults. Among those retested, 95% were retested on the same day and two-thirds were tested by a different provider as per national guidelines. Among those retested and found positive, 95% were started on ART, while none of those with negative retest results were started on ART. Of those not retested, about half (51%) were started on ART. The median (IQR) time to ART initiation from diagnosis was 0 (0-1) d. CONCLUSION: The implementation of HIV-retesting policy in Harare was poor. While most HIV retest positives were started on ART, only half non-retested received ART. Future research is needed to understand the reasons for non-retesting and non-initiation of ART among those not retested.

Enhanced adherence counselling and viral load suppression in HIV seropositive patients with an initial high viral load in Harare, Zimbabwe: Operational issues.

BACKGROUND: In people living with HIV (PLHIV) who are on anti-retroviral therapy (ART), it is essential to identify persons with high blood viral loads (VLs) (≥1000 copies/ml), provide enhanced adherence counselling (EAC) for 3 months and assess for VL suppression (<1000 copies/ml). OBJECTIVE: Our study objectives were to determine the proportion who had a high viral load in those people who underwent viral load testing between 1 August 2016-31 July 2017 at Wilkins Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe. Of those with high viral load to assess; a) the proportion who enrolled for EAC, the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with enrolment for EAC and, b) the proportion who achieved viral load suppression and demographic, clinical characteristics associated with viral load suppression. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using routinely collected programme data. Data was collected from PLHIV who were on ART and had a high viral load from 1 August 2016 to 31 July 2017. RESULTS: Of 5,573 PLHIV on ART between 1 August 2016 and 31 July 2017, 4787 (85.9%) had undergone VL testing and 646 (13.5%) had high VLs. Of these 646, only 489 (75.7%) were enrolled for EAC, of whom 444 (69%) underwent a repeat VL test at ≥ 3 months with 201 (31.2%) achieving VL suppression. The clinical characteristics that were independently associated with higher probability of VL suppression were: a) undergoing 3 sessions of EAC; b) being on 2nd line ART. Initial VL levels >5,000 copies/ml were associated with lower probability of viral suppression. CONCLUSION: The routine VL testing levels were high, but there were major programmatic gaps in enrolling PLHIV with high VLs into EAC and achieving VL suppression. The full potential of EAC on achieving viral load suppression has not been achieved in this setting. The reasons for these gaps need to be assessed in future research studies and addressed by suitable changes in policies/practices.

Antissépticos e desinfetantes: estudo sobre condiçöes dos recipientes, sua manipulaçäo e o tempo de permanência dos líquidos nos recipientes / Antiseptics and desinfectants: study about recipient conditions, their manipulation and the time of permanence of the liquids

O presente estudo sobre antissépticos e desinfetantes teve como objetivo verificar a contaminaçäo dos mesmos, relacionados às condiçöes dos recipientes, tempo de permanência e a manipulaçäo. Utilizou-se o método experimental, submetendo 362 amostras destes líquidos à cultura microbiológica. A partir da análise e discussäo dos resultados, as autoras destacam alguns procedimentos visando a manutençäo dos antissépticos e desinfetantes livres de contaminaçäo através da utilizaçäo de recipientes adequados, tempo de permanência dos líquidos nos recipientes e a manipulaçäo dos mesmos.