Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, syphilis and hepatitis B in sub-Saharan Africa.

Triple elimination is an initiative supporting the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of three diseases - human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, syphilis and hepatitis B. Significant progress towards triple elimination has been made in some regions, but progress has been slow in sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest burden of these diseases. The shared features of the three diseases, including their epidemiology, disease interactions and core interventions for tackling them, enable an integrated health-systems approach for elimination of mother-to-child transmission. Current barriers to triple elimination in sub-Saharan Africa include a lack of policies, strategies and resources to support the uptake of well established preventive and treatment interventions. While much can be achieved with existing tools, the development of new products and models of care, as well as a prioritized research agenda, are needed to accelerate progress on triple elimination in sub-Saharan Africa. In this paper we aim to show that health systems working together with communities in sub-Saharan Africa could deliver rapid and sustainable results towards the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of all three diseases. However, stronger political support, expansion of evidence-based interventions and better use of funding streams are needed to improve efficiency and build on the successes in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Triple elimination is a strategic opportunity to reduce the morbidity and mortality from HIV infection, syphilis and hepatitis B for mothers and their infants within the context of universal health coverage.

La triple élimination est une initiative visant à soutenir l'éradication de la transmission mère-enfant de trois maladies ­ l'infection au virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (VIH), la syphilis et l'hépatite B. Bien que des avancées considérables aient été observées en ce sens dans certaines régions, les progrès demeurent lents en Afrique subsaharienne, pourtant durement touchée par ces maladies. Les caractéristiques communes aux trois affections, notamment leur épidémiologie, les interactions entre elles et les principales interventions nécessaires à leur prise en charge permettent aux systèmes de santé d'adopter une approche intégrée pour éviter la transmission mère-enfant. Plusieurs obstacles entravent actuellement la triple élimination en Afrique subsaharienne, parmi lesquels l'absence de politiques, de stratégies et de ressources pour garantir la disponibilité de traitements préventifs et curatifs bien établis. Les outils existants offrent déjà de nombreuses solutions; mais pour accélérer la progression de cette triple élimination en Afrique subsaharienne, il est indispensable de développer de nouveaux produits et modèles de soins, ainsi qu'un programme de recherche prioritaire. Dans le présent document, nous voulons montrer que si les systèmes de santé collaborent avec les communautés en Afrique subsaharienne, ils pourront obtenir des résultats rapides et durables en vue d'éradiquer la transmission mère-enfant des trois maladies susmentionnées. Néanmoins, une telle démarche implique un soutien politique massif, l'expansion des interventions fondées sur des données scientifiques, et une meilleure utilisation des sources de financement afin d'améliorer l'efficacité et de s'appuyer sur les réussites en matière de prévention de la transmission du VIH de la mère à l'enfant. La triple élimination représente une occasion stratégique de réduire la morbidité et la mortalité liées à l'infection au VIH, à la syphilis et à l'hépatite B, tant chez les mères que chez les nourrissons, dans un contexte de couverture maladie universelle.

La triple eliminación es una iniciativa que apoya la eliminación de la transmisión maternoinfantil de tres enfermedades: la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), la sífilis y la hepatitis B. En algunas regiones se han logrado avances significativos hacia la triple eliminación, pero los progresos se han desarrollado con mayor lentitud en el África subsahariana, la región con la mayor carga de estas enfermedades. Las características comunes de las tres enfermedades, como su epidemiología, las interacciones entre ellas y las intervenciones básicas para combatirlas, permiten un enfoque integrado de los sistemas de salud para la eliminación de la transmisión maternoinfantil. Los obstáculos actuales para la triple eliminación en el África subsahariana incluyen la falta de políticas, estrategias y recursos para apoyar la adopción de intervenciones preventivas y de tratamiento bien establecidas. Aunque se puede lograr mucho con las herramientas existentes, se necesita el desarrollo de nuevos productos y modelos de atención, así como una agenda de investigación prioritaria, para acelerar el progreso de la triple eliminación en el África subsahariana. En este documento pretendemos demostrar que los sistemas de salud que trabajan conjuntamente con las comunidades del África subsahariana podrían obtener resultados rápidos y sostenibles hacia la eliminación de la transmisión maternoinfantil de las tres enfermedades. Sin embargo, se necesita un mayor apoyo político, la ampliación de las intervenciones basadas en la evidencia y un mejor uso de los flujos de financiación para mejorar la eficiencia y aprovechar los éxitos en la prevención de la transmisión maternoinfantil del VIH. La triple eliminación es una oportunidad estratégica para reducir la morbilidad y la mortalidad de la infección por el VIH, la sífilis y la hepatitis B para las madres y sus hijos en el contexto de la cobertura sanitaria universal.

Effect on Neonatal Mortality of Newborn Infection Management at Health Posts When Referral Is Not Possible: A Cluster-Randomized Trial in Rural Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recently provided guidelines for outpatient treatment of possible severe bacterial infections (PSBI) in young infants, when referral to hospital is not feasible. This study evaluated newborn infection treatment at the most peripheral level of the health system in rural Ethiopia. METHODS: We performed a cluster-randomized trial in 22 geographical clusters (11 allocated to intervention, 11 to control). In both arms, volunteers and government-employed Health Extension Workers (HEWs) conducted home visits to pregnant and newly delivered mothers; assessed newborns; and counseled caregivers on prevention of newborn illness, danger signs, and care seeking. Volunteers referred sick newborns to health posts for further assessment; HEWs referred newborns with PSBI signs to health centers. In the intervention arm only, between July 2011 and June 2013, HEWs treated newborns with PSBI with intramuscular gentamicin and oral amoxicillin for 7 days at health posts when referral to health centers was not possible or acceptable to caregivers. Intervention communities were informed of treatment availability at health posts to encourage care seeking. Masking was not feasible. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality of newborns 2-27 days after birth, measured by household survey data. Baseline data were collected between June 2008 and May 2009; endline data, between February 2013 and June 2013. We sought to detect a 33% mortality reduction. Analysis was by intention to treat. (ClinicalTrials.gov registry: NCT00743691). RESULTS: Of 1,011 sick newborns presenting at intervention health posts, 576 (57%) were identified by HEWs as having at least 1 PSBI sign; 90% refused referral and were treated at the health post, with at least 79% completing the antibiotic regimen. Estimated treatment coverage at health posts was in the region of 50%. Post-day 1 neonatal mortality declined more in the intervention arm (17.9 deaths per 1,000 live births at baseline vs. 9.4 per 1,000 at endline) than the comparison arm (14.4 per 1,000 vs. 11.2 per 1,000, respectively). After adjusting for baseline mortality and region, the estimated post-day 1 mortality risk ratio was 0.83, but the result was not statistically significant (95% confidence interval, 0.55 to 1.24; P=.33). INTERPRETATION: When referral to higher levels of care is not possible, HEWs can deliver outpatient antibiotic treatment of newborns with PSBI, but estimated treatment coverage in a rural Ethiopian setting was only around 50%. While our data suggest a mortality reduction consistent with that which might be expected at this level of coverage, they do not provide conclusive results.

Prevalence of symptoms of asthma and allergies in schoolchildren in Gondar town and its vicinity, northwest Ethiopia.

A low level of allergic disorders has been generally reported in children from developing countries. A survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of symptoms of asthma and allergies among schoolchildren in Gondar, northwest Ethiopia. A standardized self-administered questionnaire developed by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) was used. In total, 3,365 children aged 13-14 years were surveyed at school, with a response rate of 98.4%. The female to male ratio was 1.5:1. The 12-month-period prevalences of wheeze (16.2%), rhino-conjunctivitis (14.5%), and eczema (10.9%) were comparable to findings from Addis Ababa, but significantly higher than reported from Jimma. A striking seasonal pattern of rhinitis symptoms is observed during the months of September-December with a peak in November, corresponding with the main pollen season of the area. Overall, about 36% of the children reported symptoms of atopic disorders. However, the prevalence of diagnosed atopic diseases (8.6%) is less than a quarter of the symptom prevalence rate. This may reflect a generally poor awareness and low health service utilization, or underdiagnosis by health facilities. In conclusion, it appears that the prevalence of atopic diseases in Gondar area is high, and there is also wide variation within the country. This calls for further epidemiological studies with more objective assessments of atopy, such as allergen and bronchial hyperresponsiveness tests and ecological analysis.

Evaluation of pre-service training on integrated management of neonatal and childhood illness in ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: The Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness strategy equips health workers with essential knowledge and skills to effectively manage sick children with common neonatal and childhood diseases. Since in-service training is very demanding to achieve the desired coverage of training of health workers, pre-service training is taken as a solution. At the time of the survey, most public and some private health professionals' training institutions were conducting pre-service training. However, several concerns have been expressed on the training. Therefore, this survey was conducted to assess the status of pre-service Integrated Management of New-born and Childhood Illness training. METHODS: A cross sectional survey on health professional training institutes/schools to evaluate pre-service Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness training was conducted in November 2007. Data was collected using pre-tested questionnaires, focused group interviews with teachers and students, observation of students while managing sick children using Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness guidelines, and reviews of pediatric course outlines and other teaching/learning materials. Data was entered in computer and analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 12.0.1. RESULTS: Twenty nine health professionals' training institutions (34 academic programs) which have started pre-service training were included in the survey. Of the 34 programs 22 were diploma nursing, 6 Bachelor of Sciences nursing, 4 health officer and the remaining two medicine. Thirty (88.2%) programs have integrated it in their curriculum. All academic programs had at least one fulltime staff for Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness classroom instruction. Twenty nine (85.3%) programs had staff trained in case management skills. All the 34 academic programs taught health workers skills, 28(82.3%) used mixed approach. Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness was either incorporated for 21 (61.8%) or added to the previous teaching 11 (32.3%). The instructor to student ratio was low for most of the schools. Main challenges encountered in the pre-service teaching were constraints with trained staff and other resources each by 28 (82.3%) programs. Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness was included in student evaluation by all programs (100%). All students and instructors (100%) rated that Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness concept is very relevant or extremely relevant but majority said the time given was short. The over all mean score of students clinical practice was 63.5%. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness was introduced into the teaching programs of most health professional training institutions. The most preferred teaching style was the mixed approach. Group discussion and demonstration were commonly used methods and Integrated Management of Newborn and Childhood Illness questions were included in students' evaluation in almost all programs. Shortage of IMNCI trained staff and teaching materials were major challenges. The use of teaching materials prepared for pre-service training like handbook and model chapter was limited. Instructors and students attitude towards IMNCI was very good. The students overall performance in managing sick child as per the IMNCI guidelines was above average. We recommend that the respective bodies at every level make every effort to strengthen IMNCI pre-service teaching through revisiting curricula, facilitating staff training, availing teaching materials and allocating adequate time. Exploring for an alternative/innovative and sustainable training approach is an assignment for all.