Co-occurrence of and factors associated with health risk behaviors among adolescents: a multi-center study in sub-Saharan Africa, China, and India.

Background: Despite lifelong and detrimental effects, the co-occurrence of health risk behaviors (HRBs) during adolescence remains understudied in low- and middle-income countries. This study examines the co-occurrence of HRBs and its correlates among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, China, and India. Methods: A multi-country cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021-2022, involving 9697 adolescents (aged 10-19 years) from eight countries, namely Burkina Faso, China, Ethiopia, India, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda. A standardized questionnaire was administered to examine five types of HRBs - physical inactivity, poor dietary habits, smoking, alcohol consumption, and risky sexual behavior. Latent class analysis was employed to identify clustering patterns among the behaviors, and logistic regression was used to identify the correlates of these patterns. Findings: Three clusters of HRBs were identified, with Cluster 1 (27.73%) characterized by the absence of any specific risky behavior, Cluster 2 (68.16%) characterized by co-occurrence of physical inactivity and poor dietary habits, and Cluster 3 (4.11%) characterized by engagement in smoking, alcohol consumption, and risky sexual behavior. Relative to Cluster 1, being in Cluster 2 was associated with being female (aOR 1.20, 95% CI 1.09-1.32), not enrolled in education (aOR 0.84, 95% CI 0.71-0.99), and not engaged in paid work (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.08-1.41). Compared with those Cluster 1, adolescents in Cluster 3 were less likely to be female (aOR 0.41, 95% CI 0.32-0.54), be engaged in paid work (aOR 0.54, 95% CI 0.41-0.71), more likely to be older (aOR 7.56, 95% CI 5.18-11.03), not be enrolled in educational institution (aOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.27-2.38), and more likely to live with guardians other than parents (aOR 1.56, 95% CI 1.19-2.05). Interpretation: The significant clustering patterns of HRBs among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, China, and India highlights the urgent need for convergent approaches to improve adolescent health behaviors. Early life and school-based programs aimed at promoting healthy behaviors and preventing risky and unhealthy behaviors should be prioritized to equip adolescents with the tools and skills for lifelong well-being. Funding: Fondation Botnar (Grant #INV-037672) and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, partially funded this study.

Relative effects of climate factors and malaria control interventions on changes of parasitaemia risk in Burkina Faso from 2014 to 2017/2018.

BACKGROUND: In Burkina Faso, the prevalence of malaria has decreased over the past two decades, following the scale-up of control interventions. The successful development of malaria parasites depends on several climatic factors. Intervention gains may be reversed by changes in climatic factors. In this study, we investigated the role of malaria control interventions and climatic factors in influencing changes in the risk of malaria parasitaemia. METHODS: Bayesian logistic geostatistical models were fitted on Malaria Indicator Survey data from Burkina Faso obtained in 2014 and 2017/2018 to estimate the effects of malaria control interventions and climatic factors on the temporal changes of malaria parasite prevalence. Additionally, intervention effects were assessed at regional level, using a spatially varying coefficients model. RESULTS: Temperature showed a statistically important negative association with the geographic distribution of parasitaemia prevalence in both surveys; however, the effects of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) use was negative and statistically important only in 2017/2018. Overall, the estimated number of infected children under the age of 5 years decreased from 704,202 in 2014 to 290,189 in 2017/2018. The use of ITNs was related to the decline at national and regional level, but coverage with artemisinin-based combination therapy only at regional level. CONCLUSION: Interventions contributed more than climatic factors to the observed change of parasitaemia risk in Burkina Faso during the period of 2014 to 2017/2018. Intervention effects varied in space. Longer time series analyses are warranted to determine the differential effect of a changing climate on malaria parasitaemia risk.

Corrigendum to "Counting adolescents in: the development of an adolescent health indicator framework for population-based settings".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102067.].

School-based supplementation with iron-folic acid or multiple micronutrient tablets to address anemia among adolescents in Burkina Faso: a cluster-randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Iron-deficiency anemia is a leading cause of morbidity among adolescents (aged 10-19 y), especially in low- and middle-income settings. Few policies and programs have targeted adolescent health. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of school-based supplementation with iron-folic acid (IFA) or multiple micronutrient supplements (MMSs) in addressing anemia among adolescents in Burkina Faso. METHODS: In this cluster-randomized trial, 3123 secondary school students aged 10 to 18 y in Burkina Faso were either supplemented with weekly IFA, daily MMSs, or received standard nutrition education as controls. Supplementation occurred between April 2021 and April 2022 over 2 supplementation periods (10 wk, then 16 wk) separated by a gap of 20 wk without supplementation. Hemoglobin was evaluated 4 times: at baseline prior to each supplementation period and at the end of each period. Anemia was categorized by the World Health Organization hemoglobin level cutoffs as none, mild, moderate, or severe. Associations between treatment arm and anemia or continuous hemoglobin (g/dL) were assessed using multilevel mixed effects generalized linear models with schools as a random effect, controlling for baseline hemoglobin or anemia status. RESULTS: Baseline anemia prevalence was similar across study arms, with 32.7% in IFA, 31.2% in MMS, and 29.5% in the control arm. Over the full study period, adolescents provided IFA had hemoglobin levels higher than those in the control arm (adjusted ß: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.62). No significant associations were observed for MMS or for anemia outcomes; however, the direction and magnitude of nonsignificant associations indicate potential protective effects of IFA and MMSs on anemia. CONCLUSIONS: The results do not provide strong evidence that weekly IFA or daily MMS alone is effective, but supplementation may play a role in addressing adolescent anemia if combined with cointerventions. Additional research is required to determine the best strategy to address anemia. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04657640.

Counting adolescents in: the development of an adolescent health indicator framework for population-based settings.

Changing realities in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in terms of inequalities, urbanization, globalization, migration, and economic adversity shape adolescent development and health, as well as successful transitions between adolescence and young adulthood. It is estimated that 90% of adolescents live in LMICs in 2019, but inadequate data exist to inform evidence-based and concerted policies and programs tailored to address the distinctive developmental and health needs of adolescents. Population-based data surveillance such as Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) and school-based surveys provide access to a well-defined population and provide cost-effective opportunities to fill in data gaps about adolescent health and well-being by collecting population-representative longitudinal data. The Africa Research Implementation Science and Education (ARISE) Network, therefore, systematically developed adolescent health and well-being indicators and a questionnaire for measuring these indicators that can be used in population-based LMIC settings. We conducted a multistage collaborative and iterative process led by network members alongside consultation with health-domain and adolescent health experts globally. Seven key domains emerged from this process: socio-demographics, health awareness and behaviors; nutrition; mental health; sexual and reproductive health; substance use; and healthcare utilization. For each domain, we generated a clear definition; rationale for inclusion; sub-domain descriptions, and a set of questions for measurement. The ARISE Network will implement the questionnaire longitudinally (i.e., at two time-points one year apart) at ten sites in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa and two countries in Asia. Integrating the questionnaire within established population-based data collection platforms such as HDSS and school settings can provide measured experiences of young people to inform policy and program planning and evaluation in LMICs and improve adolescent health and well-being.

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine readiness and hesitancy among adults in sub-Saharan Africa.

There is very limited data on the extent and determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adults living in sub-Saharan Africa since the global roll-out of vaccines began in 2021. This multi-country survey sought to investigate COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and other predictors of readiness to get vaccinated. We conducted surveys among adults residing in nine urban and rural areas in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania in late 2021. Log binomial regression models were used to identify prevalence and factors associated with vaccine hesitancy and beliefs around COVID-19 misinformation. We completed a total of 2,833 interviews. Among all respondents, 9% had never heard of a COVID-19 vaccine, 12% had been vaccinated, and 20% knew someone else who had been vaccinated. The prevalence of vaccine hesitancy varied by country (Ethiopia 29%, Burkina Faso 33%, Nigeria 34%, Ghana 42%, Tanzania 65%), but not by rural or urban context. People who did not think the vaccine was safe or effective, or who were unsure about it, were more likely to be vaccine hesitant. Those who reported they did not have a trusted source of information about the vaccine (aPR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.18,1.31) and those who thought the vaccine would not be made available to them within the year were more likely to be vaccine hesitant. Women were more likely to be vaccine hesitant (aPR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.19,1.43) and believe COVID-19 falsehoods (aPR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02,1.08). The most commonly believed falsehoods were that the vaccine was developed too fast and that there was not enough information about whether the vaccine was effective or not. Educational campaigns targeted at misinformation and tailored to suit each country are recommended to build trust in COVID-19 vaccines and reduce hesitancy.

Scaling-up high-impact micronutrient supplementation interventions to improve adolescents' nutrition and health in Burkina Faso and Tanzania: protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Adolescence is a critical time for growth and development, but this age group is often neglected in research and development of nutrition interventions. Despite recommendations from the WHO to provide nutrient supplements to adolescents, evidence remains scarce on the most effective supplementation strategy. This study aims to compare weekly iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation with daily multiple micronutrient supplements (MMSs) in prevention of anaemia and improvement of school outcomes among adolescents in Burkina Faso and Tanzania. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A three-arm cluster-randomised, school-based supplementation trial will be conducted among 84 schools (42 schools per site) and roughly 4500 students aged 10-17. Schools will be matched on three characteristics: number of students, school ranking profile, distance to main road (Tanzania) or distance to city council (Burkina Faso). Each school will be randomised to receive either weekly IFA, daily MMSs or serve as a control. Supplements will be delivered to students by teachers, who will provide monitoring data to the study team. Baseline and endline surveys will be conducted prior to and after each supplementation cycle (12 weeks in Burkina Faso; 1 year in Tanzania) to assess haemoglobin, anthropometry and sociodemographic variables. The primary outcome of haemoglobin will be analysed continuously using linear regression, and anaemia status will be analysed using logistic or multinomial regression, depending on categorisation level of the outcome. Secondary analyses of school performance indicators will also be conducted with either logistic or linear regression. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health (IRB20-1108) and the Research Ethics Committees for the Ministries of Health in Tanzania (Zanzibar) and Burkina Faso. Results will be disseminated during meetings with the Ministries of Health and the participating communities as well as through peer-reviewed publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04657640; NCT05104554.

The Continued Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Education and Mental Health Among Sub-Saharan African Adolescents.

PURPOSE: This multicountry survey assessed the levels and the determinants of the impacts of the pandemic on education and mental health among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa and the potential factors that may exacerbate these adverse impacts. METHODS: A phone survey was conducted among adolescents in nine diverse areas in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania between July and December 2021. Approximately 300 adolescents per area and 2,803 adolescents in total were included. The survey collected information on adolescents' sociodemographic characteristics, current COVID-19 preventive measures, and the impacts of the pandemic on daily activities, education, and mental health. Log-binomial models were used to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) for determinants of education and mental health outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 17% of the adolescents were not receiving any education. Compared to boys, girls were 15% more likely than boys to lack fully in-person education (aPR: 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02, 1.30). Rural residence was associated with 2.7 times the prevalence of not currently receiving any education (aPR: 2.68; 95% CI: 2.23, 3.22). Self-reported experience of the current impacts of the pandemic on daily activities was associated with a higher prevalence of possible psychological distress (aPR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.55, 2.24), high anxiety level (aPR: 3.37; 95% CI: 2.25, 5.06), and high depression level (aPR: 3.01; 95% CI: 2.05, 4.41). DISCUSSION: The COVID-19 pandemic presents continued challenges to adolescents' education and mental health. Multisectoral efforts are needed to ensure that adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa do not fall further behind due to the pandemic.

Gut Microbiome among Children with Uncomplicated Severe Acute Malnutrition in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Azithromycin versus Amoxicillin.

Antibiotics are routinely used as part of the management of severe acute malnutrition and are known to reduce gut microbial diversity in non-malnourished children. We evaluated gut microbiomes in children participating in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of azithromycin versus amoxicillin for severe acute malnutrition. Three hundred one children aged 6 to 59 months with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition (mid-upper arm circumference < 11.5 cm and/or weight-for-height Z-score < -3 without clinical complications) were enrolled in a 1:1 RCT of single-dose azithromycin versus a 7-day course of amoxicillin (standard of care). Of these, 109 children were randomly selected for microbiome evaluation at baseline and 8 weeks. Rectal swabs were processed with metagenomic DNA sequencing. We compared alpha diversity (inverse Simpson's index) at 8 weeks and evaluated relative abundance of microbial taxa using DESeq2. Of 109 children enrolled in the microbiome study, 95 were followed at 8 weeks. We found no evidence of a difference in alpha diversity between the azithromycin and amoxicillin groups at 8 weeks controlling for baseline diversity (mean difference -0.6, 95% CI -1.8 to 0.6, P = 0.30). Gut microbiomes did not diversify during the study. Differentially abundant genera at the P < 0.01 level included Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp., both of which were overabundant in the azithromycin compared with amoxicillin groups. We found no evidence to support an overall difference in gut microbiome diversity between azithromycin and amoxicillin among children with uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition, but potentially pathogenic bacteria that can cause invasive diarrhea were more common in the azithromycin group. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03568643.

COVID-19 Preventive Practices, Psychological Distress, and Reported Barriers to Healthcare Access during the Pandemic among Adult Community Members in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Phone Survey.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had serious negative health and economic impacts in sub-Saharan Africa. Continuous monitoring of these impacts is crucial to formulate interventions to minimize the consequences of COVID-19. This study surveyed 2,829 adults in urban and rural sites among five sub-Saharan African countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Ghana. Participants completed a mobile phone survey that assessed self-reported sociodemographics, COVID-19 preventive practices, psychological distress, and barriers to healthcare access. A modified Poisson regression model was used to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% CIs to investigate potential factors related to psychological distress and barriers to reduced healthcare access. At least 15.6% of adults reported experiencing any psychological distress in the previous 2 weeks, and 10.5% reported that at least one essential healthcare service was difficult to access 2 years into the pandemic. The majority of participants reported using several COVID-19 preventive methods, with varying proportions across the sites. Participants in the urban site of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (aPR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.74-3.03) and in the rural site of Kintampo, Ghana (aPR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.21-2.34) had a higher likelihood of experiencing any psychological distress compared with those in the rural area of Nouna, Burkina Faso. Loss of employment due to COVID-19 (aPR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.47-2.11) was also associated with an increased prevalence of psychological distress. The number of children under 5 years in the household (aPR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.14-1.33) and participant self-reported psychological distress (aPR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.48-2.27) were associated with an increased prevalence of reporting barriers to accessing health services, whereas wage employment (aPR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.49-0.90) was associated with decreased prevalence of reporting barriers to accessing health services. Overall, we found a high prevalence of psychological distress and interruptions in access to healthcare services 2 years into the pandemic across five sub-Saharan African countries. Increased effort and attention should be given to addressing the negative impacts of COVID-19 on psychological distress. An equitable and collaborative approach to new and existing preventive measures for COVID-19 is crucial to limit the consequences of COVID-19 on the health of adults in sub-Saharan Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic and its prolonged impacts on food prices, food consumption and diet quality in sub-Saharan Africa

BackgroundSub-Saharan Africa faces prolonged COVID-19 related impacts on economic activity, livelihoods, nutrition, and food security, with recovery slowed down by lagging vaccination progress. ObjectiveThis study investigated the economic impacts of COVID-19 on food prices, consumption and dietary quality in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania. MethodsWe conducted a repeated cross-sectional study and used a mobile platform to collect data. Data collected from round 1 (July-November, 2020) and round 2 (July-December, 2021) were considered. We assessed participants dietary intake of 20 food groups over the previous seven days. The studys primary outcome was the Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS), with higher scores indicating better dietary quality. We used linear regression and generalized estimating equations to assess factors associated with diet quality during COVID-19. ResultsMost of the respondents were male and the mean age ({+/-}SD) was 42.4 ({+/-}12.5) years. Mean PDQS ({+/-}SD) was low at 19.1 ({+/-}3.8) before COVID-19, 18.6({+/-}3.4) in Round 1, and 19.4({+/-}3.8) in Round 2. A majority of respondents (80%) reported higher than expected prices for all food groups during the pandemic. Secondary education or higher (estimate: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.32, 1.15), older age (estimate: 30-39 years: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.35, 1.19, or 40 years or older: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.30, 1.13), and medium wealth status (estimate: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.81) were associated with higher PDQS. Farmers and casual laborers (estimate: -0.60, 95% CI: -1.11, - 0.09), lower crop production (estimate: -0.87, 95% CI: -1.28, -0.46) and not engaged in farming (estimate: -1.38, 95% CI: -1.74, -1.02) associated with lower PDQS. ConclusionDiet quality which had declined early in the pandemic had started to improve. However, consumption of healthy diets remained low, and food prices remained high. Efforts should continue to improve diet quality for sustained nutrition recovery through mitigation measures, including social protection.

Continued disruptions in health care services and mental health among health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic in five sub-Saharan African countries.

Background: Continuous monitoring of the pandemic's impact on health service provision and mental health, COVID-19 perceptions, and compliance with prevention measures among health care providers (HCPs) can help with mitigating the pandemic's negative effects. Methods: A computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) survey was conducted among 1499 HCPs in Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou), Ethiopia (Addis Ababa), Nigeria (Lagos and Ibadan), Tanzania (Dar es Salaam), and Ghana (Kintampo). Self-reported mental health, perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and prevention measures available in the workplace were assessed. HCPs' responses to questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 on nine essential health services were summed into a score; high service disruption was defined as a score higher than the total average score across all sites. Modified Poisson regression was used to identify potential factors related to high service disruption. Results: Overall, 26.9% of HCPs reported high service disruption, with considerable differences across sites (from 1.6% in Dar es Salaam to 45.0% in Addis Ababa). A considerable proportion of HCPs reported experiencing mild psychological distress (9.4%), anxiety (8.0%), and social avoidance or rejection (13.9%) due to their profession. Participants in Addis Ababa (absolute risk ratio (ARR) = 2.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.59-2.74), Lagos (ARR = 1.65; 95% CI = 1.24-2.17), and Kintampo (ARR = 2.61; 95% CI = 1.94-3.52) had a higher likelihood of reporting high service disruption compared to those in Ouagadougou. Reporting ever-testing for COVID-19 (ARR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.69-0.97) and the presence of COVID-19 guidelines in the workplace (ARR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.53-0.77) were both associated with lower reported health service disruption among HCPs. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt essential health services and present a challenge to HCPs' mental health, with important differences across countries and settings; interventions are needed to mitigate these negative effects of the pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its determinants among sub-Saharan African adolescents.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescents poses a challenge to the global effort to control the pandemic. This multi-country survey aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa between July and December 2021. The survey was conducted using computer-assisted telephone interviewing among adolescents in five sub-Saharan African countries, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania. A rural area and an urban area were included in each country (except Ghana, which only had a rural area), with approximately 300 adolescents in each area and 2662 in total. Sociodemographic characteristics and perceptions and attitudes on COVID-19 vaccines were measured. Vaccine hesitancy was defined as definitely not getting vaccinated or being undecided on whether to get vaccinated if a COVID-19 vaccine were available. Log-binomial models were used to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between potential determinants and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. The percentage of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was 14% in rural Kersa, 23% in rural Ibadan, 31% in rural Nouna, 32% in urban Ouagadougou, 37% in urban Addis Ababa, 48% in rural Kintampo, 65% in urban Lagos, 76% in urban Dar es Salaam, and 88% in rural Dodoma. Perceived low necessity, concerns about vaccine safety, and concerns about vaccine effectiveness were the leading reasons for hesitancy. Healthcare workers, parents or family members, and schoolteachers had the greatest impacts on vaccine willingness. Perceived lack of safety (aPR: 3.52; 95% CI: 3.00, 4.13) and lack of effectiveness (aPR: 3.46; 95% CI: 2.97, 4.03) were associated with greater vaccine hesitancy. The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescents is alarmingly high across the five sub-Saharan African countries, especially in Tanzania. COVID-19 vaccination campaigns among sub-Saharan African adolescents should address their concerns and misconceptions about vaccine safety and effectiveness.

Reported Barriers to Healthcare Access and Service Disruptions Caused by COVID-19 in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria: A Telephone Survey.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have short-term and long-term impacts on health services across sub-Saharan African countries. A telephone survey in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria was conducted to assess the effects of the pandemic on healthcare services from the perspectives of healthcare providers (HCPs) and community members. A total of 900 HCPs (300 from each country) and 1,797 adult community members (approximately 600 from each country) participated in the study. Adjusted risk ratios (ARRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using modified Poisson regression. According to the HCPs, more than half (56%) of essential health services were affected. Child health services and HIV/surgical/other services had a slightly higher percentage of interruption (33%) compared with maternal health services (31%). A total of 21.8%, 19.3%, and 7.7% of the community members reported that their family members and themselves had difficulty accessing childcare services, maternal health, and other health services, respectively. Nurses had a lower risk of reporting high service interruptions than physicians (ARR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.56-0.95). HCPs at private facilities (ARR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59-0.84) had a lower risk of reporting high service interruptions than those at governmental facilities. Health services in Nigeria were more likely to be interrupted than those in Burkina Faso (ARR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.19-1.59). Health authorities should work with multiple stakeholders to ensure routine health services and identify novel and adaptive approaches to recover referral services, medical care, maternal and child health, family planning, immunization and health promotion, and prevention during the COVID-19 era.

COVID-19 Knowledge, Perception, Preventive Measures, Stigma, and Mental Health Among Healthcare Workers in Three Sub-Saharan African Countries: A Phone Survey.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented public health crisis globally. Understanding healthcare providers' (HCPs') knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 is crucial to identifying effective strategies to improve their ability to respond to the pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa. A phone-based survey of 900 HCPs in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria (300 per country) was conducted to assess knowledge, perceptions, COVID-19 prevention measures, stigma, and mental health of HCPs. Modified Poisson regression models were used to evaluate predictors of knowledge, perceptions, and prevention measures; adjusted risk ratios (ARRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Three-fourths of the HCPs had adequate knowledge, and over half had correct perceptions of risk and high levels of self-reported prevention measures. The majority of the HCPs (73.7%) reported self-perceived social stigma. There was relatively low prevalence of depression (6.6%), anxiety (6.6%), or psychological distress (18%). Compared with doctors, being a nurse was associated with lower levels of knowledge (ARR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.77-0.90) and was also negatively associated with having correct perceptions toward COVID-19 (AOR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.73-0.92). HCPs treating COVID-19 patients had higher likelihood of having high levels of prevention measures (AOR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.23-1.53). Despite high levels of knowledge among HCPs in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a need to improve COVID-19 perceptions and compliance with prevention measures as well as address social stigma toward HCPs to better ensure their safety and prepare them to deliver health services.

The COVID-19 Pandemic and Adolescents' Experience in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Country Study Using a Telephone Survey.

The public health measures instituted by governments to combat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may cause developmental and educational losses to adolescents. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and its mitigation strategies on adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa are unclear. This study aimed to examine adolescents' knowledge, perceptions, and practices related to COVID-19 and the impacts of the pandemic on the daily lives of adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. The survey was conducted in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria using computer-assisted telephone interviews to enable rapid and remote data collection. Two sites were included in each country, with approximately 300 adolescents per site and 1,795 adolescents in total. Variations across the six sites were noted for the proportions of the adolescents who could correctly identify all key COVID-19 symptoms (4-25%), transmission methods (16-59%), and prevention approaches (33-79%). Most (> 72%) of the adolescents were no longer going to school due to school closures. Many adolescents (23-81%) were not receiving any education during the pandemic. A considerable proportion of the adolescents (44-83%) self-assessed as having less ability to learn during the pandemic; many expected it to be very difficult to catch up on education after the pandemic. Decreases in the consumption of major food groups were common across sites. Urgent actions are needed in sub-Saharan Africa to address the inadequate knowledge of COVID-19 among adolescents and the impacts of the pandemic on adolescent education and nutrition.

Design and Field Methods of the ARISE Network COVID-19 Rapid Monitoring Survey.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significant health and economic ramifications across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Data regarding its far-reaching impacts are severely lacking, thereby hindering the development of evidence-based strategies to mitigate its direct and indirect health consequences. To address this need, the Africa Research, Implementation Science, and Education (ARISE) Network established a mobile survey platform in SSA to generate longitudinal data regarding knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to COVID-19 prevention and management and to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on health and socioeconomic domains. We conducted a baseline survey of 900 healthcare workers, 1,795 adolescents 10 to 19 years of age, and 1,797 adults 20 years or older at six urban and rural sites in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. Households were selected using sampling frames of existing Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems or national surveys when possible. Healthcare providers in urban areas were sampled using lists from professional associations. Data were collected through computer-assisted telephone interviews from July to November 2020. Consenting participants responded to surveys assessing KAP and the impact of the pandemic on nutrition, food security, healthcare access and utilization, lifestyle, and mental health. We found that mobile telephone surveys can be a rapid and reliable strategy for data collection during emergencies, but challenges exist with response rates. Maintaining accurate databases of telephone numbers and conducting brief baseline in-person visits can improve response rates. The challenges and lessons learned from this effort can inform future survey efforts during COVID-19 and other emergencies, as well as remote data collection in SSA in general.

Knowledge and Practice Related to COVID-19 and Mental Health among Adults in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a public health emergency affecting the lives of millions of people globally. Different measures and extraordinary steps are being taken to contain the transmission of the virus. The levels of knowledge and implementation of preventive practices related to COVID-19 in sub-Saharan African countries are unclear. Additionally, there is a lack of evidence regarding the impacts of the pandemic on mental health. This study aimed to describe knowledge and practices related to COVID-19 and to assess mental health status among adults in three sub-Saharan African countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. A total of 1,797 adults were included in the survey, and data were collected using computer-assisted telephone interviews. The proportions of adults who identified more than 80% of COVID-19 symptoms, transmission methods, and prevention mechanisms were 69.9%, 79.2%, and 90.7%, respectively. The practice of preventive measures was relatively lower for avoiding social gatherings and disinfecting contaminated surfaces. Better education, urban residence, and believing the pandemic is real were factors associated with good knowledge on COVID-19 symptoms, transmission methods, and preventive actions. Additionally, being male was associated with good knowledge on symptoms and transmission methods, whereas being in an older age group was associated with knowledge of transmission methods. Mild, moderate, and severe psychological distress was reported by 20.6%, 5.9%, and 1.1% of the participants, respectively. Although this study found high levels of knowledge regarding COVID-19, interventions are needed to increase the uptake of recommended preventive practices among adults in sub-Saharan Africa.

Constructing a malaria-related health service readiness index and assessing its association with child malaria mortality: an analysis of the Burkina Faso 2014 SARA data.

BACKGROUND: The Service Availability and Readiness Assessment surveys generate data on the readiness of health facility services. We constructed a readiness index related to malaria services and determined the association between health facility malaria readiness and malaria mortality in children under the age of 5 years in Burkina Faso. METHODS: Data on inpatients visits and malaria-related deaths in under 5-year-old children were extracted from the national Health Management Information System in Burkina Faso. Bayesian geostatistical models with variable selection were fitted to malaria mortality data. The most important facility readiness indicators related to general and malaria-specific services were determined. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was employed to construct a composite facility readiness score based on multiple factorial axes. The analysis was carried out separately for 112 medical centres and 546 peripheral health centres. RESULTS: Malaria mortality rate in medical centres was 4.8 times higher than that of peripheral health centres (3.5% vs. 0.7%, p < 0.0001). Essential medicines was the domain with the lowest readiness (only 0.1% of medical centres and 0% of peripheral health centres had the whole set of tracer items of essential medicines). Basic equipment readiness was the highest. The composite readiness score explained 30 and 53% of the original set of items for medical centres and peripheral health centres, respectively. Mortality rate ratio (MRR) was by 59% (MRR = 0.41, 95% Bayesian credible interval: 0.19-0.91) lower in the high readiness group of peripheral health centres, compared to the low readiness group. Medical centres readiness was not related to malaria mortality. The geographical distribution of malaria mortality rate indicate that regions with health facilities with high readiness show lower mortality rates. CONCLUSION: Performant health services in Burkina Faso are associated with lower malaria mortality rates. Health system readiness should be strengthened in the regions of Sahel, Sud-Ouest and Boucle du Mouhoun. Emphasis should be placed on improving the management of essential medicines and to reducing delays of emergency transportation between the different levels of the health system.

Geographical variation in the association of child, maternal and household health interventions with under-five mortality in Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: Over the past 15 years, scaling up of cost effective interventions resulted in a remarkable decline of under-five mortality rates (U5MR) in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the reduction shows considerable heterogeneity. We estimated the association of child, maternal, and household interventions with U5MR in Burkina Faso at national and subnational levels and identified the regions with least effective interventions. METHODS: Data on health-related interventions and U5MR were extracted from the Burkina Faso Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2010. Bayesian geostatistical proportional hazards models with a Weibull baseline hazard were fitted on the mortality outcome. Spatially varying coefficients were considered to assess the geographical variation in the association of the health interventions with U5MR. The analyses were adjusted for child, maternal, and household characteristics, as well as climatic and environmental factors. FINDINGS: The average U5MR was as high as 128 per 1000 ranging from 81 (region of Centre-Est) to 223 (region of Sahel). At national level, DPT3 immunization and baby post-natal check within 24 hours after birth had the most important association with U5MR (hazard rates ratio (HRR) = 0.89, 95% Bayesian credible interval (BCI): 0.86-0.98 and HRR = 0.89, 95% BCI: 0.86-0.92, respectively). At sub-national level, the most effective interventions are the skilled birth attendance, and improved drinking water, followed by baby post-natal check within 24 hours after birth, vitamin A supplementation, antenatal care visit and all-antigens immunization (including BCG, Polio3, DPT3, and measles immunization). Centre-Est, Sahel, and Sud-Ouest were the regions with the highest number of effective interventions. There was no intervention that had a statistically important association with child survival in the region of Hauts Bassins. INTERPRETATION: The geographical variation in the magnitude and statistical importance of the association between health interventions and U5MR raises the need to deliver and reinforce health interventions at a more granular level. Priority interventions are DPT3 immunization, skilled birth attendance, baby post-natal visits in the regions of Sud-Ouest, Sahel, and Hauts Bassins, respectively. Our methodology could be applied to other national surveys, as it allows an incisive, data-driven and specific decision-making approach to optimize the allocation of health interventions at subnational level.