Nutritional status, food security and other correlates among adult tuberculosis patients in a block of Murshidabad district, West Bengal.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) and malnutrition are epidemiologically interrelated two major public health problems in India. Food security also influences nutritional status. This aspect needs evaluation in diverse geographical areas. This study aimed to assess the level of food security, nutritional status and correlates among adult TB patients in a block of Murshidabad, West Bengal. Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken in the Nabagram block of Murshidabad district during April-July 2023. All adult (≥18 years) patients registered under the Tuberculosis Unit of the block during a reference period of 6 months (October 2022-March 2023) were considered study subjects. Eighty such eligible participants recruited randomly were interviewed with a pre-designed schedule for socio-demographic and programmatic characteristics. Household food security was measured using a validated U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and nutritional status was determined based on body mass index. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 was used for analysis. Results: Among 80 TB patients, 51% were underweight and 20% were severely underweight. The majority (90%) of them had high or marginal food security, and 10% had low or very low food security. On multivariable logistic regression, Hindu religion (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 6.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.12-29.39), presence of any chronic morbidity (AOR: 11.61, 95%CI: 2.71-49.78) and receipt of dietary counselling by a health worker (AOR: 7.25, 95%CI: 1.22-43.13) appeared as predictors of underweight. Conclusions: Underweight among TB patients is quite prevalent in the area, and few programmatic interventions are influencing factors. This underscores the importance of nutritional counselling services and the universal provision of Poshan benefits.

On the partial impact of uncertainties on the nexus between macroeconomic fundamentals in West Africa.

We investigate the degree of interconnectedness between stock returns and exchange rate returns, and the influence of some selected global uncertainty indices on such a relationship within a time-frequency domain in West Africa through the bi and partial wavelet approaches. The analysis was based on monthly observations from February 2013 to June 2023. The results highlight a negative correlation between stock return and exchange rates. The partial wavelet analysis evidence a significant effect of the global economic policy uncertainty, the implied oil market volatility, and the United States volatility index in driving the co-movements observed in the currency and stock markets. We also find a significant impact of the stock market on the currency market, underscoring the need for robust stock market policies. It is recommended that policymakers prioritize strategies aimed at boosting stock market stability and depth which can positively affect the currency markets. The significant influence of global uncertainties or shocks should not be disregarded in the formulation of policies regarding exchange rates and stock return integration at various investment horizons.

Genetic investigation of population structure in Atlantic chub mackerel, Scomber colias Gmelin, 1789 along the West African coast.

Sustainable management of transboundary fish stocks hinges on accurate delineation of population structure. Genetic analysis offers a powerful tool to identify potential subpopulations within a seemingly homogenous stock, facilitating the development of effective, coordinated management strategies across international borders. Along the West African coast, the Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) is a commercially important and ecologically significant species, yet little is known about its genetic population structure and connectivity. Currently, the stock is managed as a single unit in West African waters despite new research suggesting morphological and adaptive differences. Here, eight microsatellite loci were genotyped on 1,169 individuals distributed across 33 sampling sites from Morocco (27.39°N) to Namibia (22.21°S). Bayesian clustering analysis depicts one homogeneous population across the studied area with null overall differentiation (F ST = 0.0001ns), which suggests panmixia and aligns with the migratory potential of this species. This finding has significant implications for the effective conservation and management of S. colias within a wide scope of its distribution across West African waters from the South of Morocco to the North-Centre of Namibia and underscores the need for increased regional cooperation in fisheries management and conservation.

Identification and functional characterisation of DNA methylation differences between East- and West-originating Finns.

Eastern and Western Finns show a striking difference in coronary heart disease-related mortality; genetics is a known contributor for this discrepancy. Here, we discuss the potential role of DNA methylation in mediating the discrepancy in cardiometabolic disease-risk phenotypes between the sub-populations. We used data from the Young Finns Study (n = 969) to compare the genome-wide DNA methylation levels of East- and West-originating Finns. We identified 21 differentially methylated loci (FDR < 0.05; Δß >2.5%) and 7 regions (smoothed FDR < 0.05; CpGs ≥ 5). Methylation at all loci and regions associates with genetic variants (p < 5 × 10-8). Independently of genetics, methylation at 11 loci and 4 regions associates with transcript expression, including genes encoding zinc finger proteins. Similarly, methylation at 5 loci and 4 regions associates with cardiometabolic disease-risk phenotypes including triglycerides, glucose, cholesterol, as well as insulin treatment. This analysis was also performed in LURIC (n = 2371), a German cardiovascular patient cohort, and results replicated for the association of methylation at cg26740318 and DMR_11p15 with diabetes-related phenotypes and methylation at DMR_22q13 with triglyceride levels. Our results indicate that DNA methylation differences between East and West Finns may have a functional role in mediating the cardiometabolic disease discrepancy between the sub-populations.

Predictive modeling based on functional connectivity of interictal scalp EEG for infantile epileptic spasms syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to delineate the electrophysiological variances between patients with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) and healthy controls and to devise a predictive model for long-term seizure outcomes. METHODS: The cohort consisted of 30 individuals in the seizure-free group, 23 in the seizure-residual group, and 20 in the control group. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of pretreatment electroencephalography, including the relative power spectrum (rPS), weighted phase-lag index (wPLI), and network metrics. Follow-up EEGs at 2 years of age were also analyzed to elucidate physiological changes among groups. RESULTS: Infants in the seizure-residual group exhibited increased rPS in theta and alpha bands at IESS onset compared to the other groups (all p < 0.0001). The control group showed higher rPS in fast frequency bands, indicating potentially enhanced cognitive function. The seizure-free group presented increased wPLI across all frequency bands (all p < 0.0001). Our predictive model utilizing wPLI anticipated long-term outcomes at IESS onset (area under the curve 0.75). CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated an initial "hypersynchronous state" in the seizure-free group, which was ameliorated following successful treatment. SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides a predictive model utilizing functional connectivity and insights into the diverse electrophysiology observed among outcome groups of IESS.

Analyzing childhood (0-59 months) malnutrition determinants in five West African Countries of Gabon, Gambia, Liberia, Mauritania, and Nigeria using survey logistic regression-insights from DHS data.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is one of the most critical health challenges confronting public health agencies in developing nations. This study aimed to determine the scope and underlying factors contributing to malnutrition in West African countries, specifically Gabon, Gambia, Liberia, Mauritania, and Nigeria. METHOD: For this secondary data analysis, this study drew upon the demographic and health surveys (DHS) conducted within these West African nations. These surveys employed a complex sampling design involving a combination of stratification and cluster sampling in two stages, with varying probabilities of selection leading to weighted samples that effectively represented different components of the population. Given the intricacies of this sampling design, it is paramount to account for them when analyzing the survey data. To address this concern, this study applied a survey logistic regression model, which accommodates factors such as stratification, clustering, and sampling weights and departs from the assumption of independence inherent in the ordinary logistic regression model. RESULTS: The outcomes of this model revealed several variables that emerged as statistically significant (p < 0.05) determinants of malnutrition. These influential factors encompass the region of the respondent, the current age of the mother, the highest level of education attained by the mother, the source of drinking water, the type of toilet facility, the household's wealth status, the age and gender of the child, and whether the child experienced a fever in the preceding two weeks. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate with poignant clarity the importance of primary health care interventions in the recognition and management of malnutrition. The countries of interest should invest in public health care interventions including community workshops and outreach programs. Workshops may occur at primary health care facilities during queue waits, or health workers may work with community leaders to perform workshops in areas of high foot traffic, such as places of worship, shopping hubs and collection points for financial aid or grants.

Coronavirus awareness, prevention, and household hardship survey data for the CHAMPS HDSS network: Data collected between August and September of 2022 from the Bamako HDSS, Mali.

Data were gathered through a collaborative initiative to investigate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns on child and maternal health, economic hardships, and access to care for children and pregnant women by the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network. The data were gathered in Bamako, the capital city of Mali (population ∼2.9 million) between August and September of 2022 through a Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS). Data collectors used a survey instrument specifically designed to measure household awareness, knowledge, and prevalence of COVID-19, as well as hardships that households experienced since the onset of the pandemic in March of 2020. The data are from two neighborhoods of Bamako, Banconi and Djicoroni; the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) operating in these neighborhoods tracks the health of approximately 235,000 inhabitants. The data were collected using a stratified random sample of 454 households.

Six new species of Globba L. (Zingiberales, Zingiberaceae) from the Eastern Himalayas and Northeast India.

We describe six new species in the genus Globba L.: Globbacorniculata sp. nov., Globbapaschimbengalensis sp. nov., Globbapolymorpha sp. nov., Globbatyrnaensis sp. nov., Globbajanakiae sp. nov., and Globbayadaviana sp. nov. collected from the Indian part of the Eastern Himalayas (West Bengal) and Northeast India. We provide a detailed morphological description of all six species along with photographic plates, distribution maps, and tentative conservation assessments. We also provide a dichotomous identification key for all the Indian Globba species and discuss the newly described species in relation to those that are morphologically similar to them. Finally, we highlight the taxonomic collection challenges in the ecologically sensitive Eastern Himalayas and Northeast regions of India.

The main forest species encountered in southern and central Benin, West Africa.

Background: The south of Benin, a country in West Africa, is still home to remnants of dense forests that benefit from a particularly rainy sub-equatorial climate, with annual rainfall of up to 1,200 mm. These forest ecosystems are an integral part of the West African forest block, which stretches from Liberia to Togo. However, despite their richness and ecological importance, these forests are unfortunately subject to strong human pressures, particularly from slash-and-burn agriculture, intensive logging and the growing urbanisation of coastal areas. Preserving these forests is crucial, however, as they are home to remarkable plant and animal biodiversity, with many endemic species. What's more, these forests play an essential role in regulating the local climate, protecting soil and water resources, as well as providing local populations with a vital source of energy wood, non-timber forest products and support for their traditional agricultural practices. Faced with these conservation challenges, identifying and characterising the main tree species found in the forests of southern and central Benin, forest species and their ecology is an essential prerequisite for implementing sustainable management and restoration strategies for these threatened forest ecosystems in southern Benin. This work aims to identify and draw attention to the different forest species, specially tree forest species present in southern and central Benin. New information: The dataset provides information on forest species found in southern and central Benin, West Africa. This dataset is extremely useful for forestry research, as it focuses mainly on the various forest species of major importance. It can be used as a basis for characterising individuals or populations of species, based on their abundance in relation to anthropogenic pressure and changes in environmental conditions.These species are characteristic of forests and, above all, are of particular interest both to populations and to managers of protected areas. Field collections were initiated in 2007 as part of natural forest inventory work. The data collected have been completed by various field works that followed this work on forest species in southern Benin. The latest version of the dataset is publicly and freely accessible on the GBIF website at the address https://www.gbif.org/dataset/aff3a10a-a86b-4eff-98e4-d63f92fd6f7e.It should be noted that the fact that the collection and monitoring were carried out in southern Benin, a region known for its great diversity of species, over a period of 10 years making these data particularly relevant information to study the effects of climate change and human pressure on ecosystems in this area.

Interest Groups and COVID-19 in Africa (2019-2022).

The study highlights the crucial roles played by interest groups in shaping the definition and redefinition of policy issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. The study focused on selected countries to discuss strategies that were deployed to combat the COVID quandary. The selected countries are Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Egypt, and Tunisia. A purely qualitative research, it relied on existing literature sources to produce thematic analysis which explore the various strategies adopted by interest groups in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. The study revealed the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the already fragile healthcare system in Africa. Again, it revealed the innovative approaches such as herbal medicine and local production of ventilators developed by African countries to tackle COVID-19 including efforts of other interests groups like government agencies, private institutions and international organizations in the fight against COVID-19 in Africa.

Orthoflaviviral Inhibitors in Clinical Trials, Preclinical In Vivo Efficacy Targeting NS2B-NS3 and Cellular Antiviral Activity via Competitive Protease Inhibition.

Orthoflaviviruses, including zika (ZIKV), West Nile (WNV), and dengue (DENV) virus, induce severely debilitating infections and contribute significantly to the global disease burden, yet no clinically approved antiviral treatments exist. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of small-molecule drug development targeting orthoflaviviral infections, with a focus on NS2B-NS3 inhibition. We systematically examined clinical trials, preclinical efficacy studies, and modes of action for various viral replication inhibitors, emphasizing allosteric and orthosteric drugs inhibiting NS2B-NS3 protease with in vivo efficacy and in vitro-tested competitive NS2B-NS3 inhibitors with cellular efficacy. Our findings revealed that several compounds with in vivo preclinical efficacy failed to show clinical antiviral efficacy. NS3-NS4B inhibitors, such as JNJ-64281802 and EYU688, show promise, recently entering clinical trials, underscoring the importance of developing novel viral replication inhibitors targeting viral machinery. To date, the only NS2B-NS3 inhibitor that has undergone clinical trials is doxycycline, however, its mechanism of action and clinical efficacy as viral growth inhibitor require additional investigation. SYC-1307, an allosteric inhibitor, exhibits high in vivo efficacy, while temoporfin and methylene blue represent promising orthosteric non-competitive inhibitors. Compound 71, a competitive NS2B-NS3 inhibitor, emerges as a leading preclinical candidate due to its high cellular antiviral efficacy, minimal cytotoxicity, and favorable in vitro pharmacokinetic parameters. Challenges remain in developing competitive NS2B-NS3 inhibitors, including appropriate biochemical inhibition assays as well as the selectivity and conformational flexibility of the protease, complicating effective antiviral treatment design.

Immunity to Non-Dengue Flaviviruses Impacts Dengue Virus Immunoglobulin G Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Specificity in Cambodia.

BACKGROUND: Seroprevalence studies are the standard for disease surveillance, and serology determined eligibility for the first dengue vaccine. Expanding flavivirus co-circulation and vaccination complicate testing. We evaluate the accuracy of a common dengue virus serological assay, examine immunity to non-dengue flaviviruses as a contributor to decreased performance, and assess whether alternative cut points may improve assay performance. METHODS: Children (n = 770) aged 2-9 years in Kampong Speu, Cambodia were enrolled in a prospective longitudinal study, and PanBio indirect dengue virus immunoglobulin G (IgG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed. Plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs) using dengue viruses were performed on a subset to assess the accuracy of the IgG ELISA, and PRNTs with Zika, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile viruses evaluated immunity to non-dengue flaviviruses. Receiver operating curve analysis identified an alternative cut point to improve IgG ELISA accuracy. RESULTS: The dengue IgG ELISA had a lower specificity than previously reported (58% vs 93%-100%). Of those with false-positive IgG results, 46% had detectable neutralizing antibodies against other flaviviruses including 14% against West Nile virus. A higher IgG cut point improved the test accuracy in this population. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians and public health authorities should be alert for West Nile in Cambodia. Immunity to non-dengue flaviviruses can impact dengue surveillance. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT03534245.

A new species of Bivesiculoides (Digenea: Bivesiculidae) infecting atherinid fishes of the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia.

We describe a new species of Bivesiculidae, Bivesiculoides maiae n. sp., from Hypoatherina tropicalis (Whitley) (Atherinidae) collected from off Heron Island (southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia). Bivesiculoides maiae n. sp. is morphologically consistent with Bivesiculoides Yamaguti, 1938 in the entirely pre-testicular position of its uterus, and the possession of caeca and vitelline fields that extend posteriorly to level with the anterior extremity of the testis. The new species is morphologically distinct from the six known Bivesiculoides species in body size and shape, and shape of the pharynx and testis. Bivesiculoides maiae n. sp. is genetically distinct from the only other sequenced Bivesiculoides species, Bivesiculoides fusiformis Cribb, Bray & Barker, 1994, with which it occurs sympatrically at Heron Island. A review of related species allows two systematic recombinations. In view of the pre-testicular position of its uterus, we recombine Bivesicula hepsetiae Manter, 1947 as Bivesiculoides hepsetiae (Manter, 1947) n. comb. In view of its obtriangular body shape, round pharynx, strongly elongated testis, and the position of its ovary opposite the testis, we recombine Bivesiculoides triangularis Machida & Kuramochi, 2000 as Treptodemoides triangularis (Machida & Kuramochi, 2000) n. comb. Host-specificity of species of Bivesiculoides and their geographic distributions are discussed.

Risk factors for regional lymph node metastasis in rectal neuroendocrine tumors: a population-based study.

Introduction: The identification of risk factors for regional lymph node (r-LN) metastasis in rectal neuroendocrine tumors (R-NETs) remains challenging. Our objective was to investigate the risk factors associated with patients diagnosed with R-NETs exhibiting r-LN metastasis. Methods: Patient information was obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, complemented by data from the West China Hospital (WCH) databases. The construction cohort comprised patients diagnosed with R-NETs from the SEER database, while cases from the WCH database were utilized as the validation cohort. A novel nomogram was developed to predict the probability of r-LN metastasis, employing a logistic regression model. Results: Univariate analysis identified four independent risk factors associated with poor r-LN metastasis: age (HR = 1.027, p < 0.05), grade (HR = 0.010, p < 0.05), T stage (HR = 0.010, p < 0.05), and tumor size (HR = 0.005, p < 0.05). These factors were selected as predictors for nomogram construction. Discussion: The novel nomogram serves as a reliable tool for predicting the risk of r-LN metastasis, providing clinicians with valuable assistance in identifying high-risk patients and tailoring individualized treatments.

Effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for glycaemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes in West Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

BACKGROUND: Lifestyle interventions are key to the control of diabetes and the prevention of complications, especially when used with pharmacological interventions. This protocol aims to review the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in relation to nutrition and physical activity within the West African region. This systematic review and meta-analysis seeks to understand which interventions for lifestyle modification are implemented for the control of diabetes in West Africa at the individual and community level, what evidence is available on their effectiveness in improving glycaemic control and why these interventions were effective. METHODS: We will review randomised control trials and quasi-experimental designs on interventions relating to physical activity and nutrition in West Africa. Language will be restricted to English and French as these are the most widely spoken languages in the region. No other filters will be applied. Searching will involve four electronic databases - PubMed, Scopus, Africa Journals Online and Cairn.info using natural-language phrases plus reference/citation checking. Two reviewers will independently screen results according to titles and abstracts against the inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify eligible studies. Upon full-text review, all selected studies will be assessed using Cochrane's Collaboration tool for assessing the risk of bias of a study and the ROBINS-I tool before data extraction. Evidence will be synthesised narratively and statistically where appropriate. We will conduct a meta-analysis when the interventions and contexts are similar enough for pooling and compare the treatment effects of the interventions in rural to urban settings and short term to long term wherever possible. DISCUSSION: We anticipate finding a number of studies missed by previous reviews and providing evidence of the effectiveness of different nutrition and physical activity interventions within the context of West Africa. This knowledge will support practitioners and policymakers in the design of interventions that are fit for context and purpose within the West African region. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: This systematic review has been registered in the International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews - PROSPERO, with registration number CRD42023435116. All amendments to this protocol during the process of the review will be explained accordingly.

Unveiling spatial patterns of West Nile virus emergence in northern Greece, 2010-2023.

The Region of Central Macedonia (RCM) in Northern Greece recorded the highest number of human West Nile virus (WNV) infections in Greece, despite considerable local mosquito control actions. We examined spatial patterns and associations of mosquito levels, infected mosquito levels, and WNV human cases (WNVhc) across the municipalities of this region over the period 2010-2023 and linked it with climatic characteristics. We combined novel entomological and available epidemiological and climate data for the RCM, aggregated at the municipality level and used Local and Global Moran's I index to assess spatial associations of mosquito levels, infected mosquito levels, and WNVhc. We identified areas with strong interdependencies between adjacent municipalities in the Western part of the region. Furthermore, we employed a Generalized Linear Mixed Model to first, identify the factors driving the observed levels of mosquitoes, infected mosquitoes and WNVhc and second, estimate the influence of climatic features on the observed levels. This modeling approach indicates a strong dependence of the mosquito levels on the temperatures in winter and spring and the total precipitation in early spring, while virus circulation relies on the temperatures of late spring and summer. Our findings highlight the significant influence of climatic factors on mosquito populations (∼60 % explained variance) and the incidence of WNV human cases (∼40 % explained variance), while the unexplained ∼40 % of the variance suggests that targeted interventions and enhanced surveillance in identified hot-spots can enhance public health response.

Sentinel chicken surveillance reveals previously undetected circulation of West Nile virus in the Netherlands.

AbstractWest Nile virus (WNV) was first detected in the Netherlands in 2020, with circulation observed in birds, mosquitoes, and humans in two geographical areas. Usutu virus (USUV) has been circulating in the Netherlands since 2016. Following the detection of WNV in the Netherlands, we investigated the possible use of petting zoos as urban sentinel sites to examine the extent of WNV and USUV circulation around the two WNV outbreak locations.Chickens at petting zoos and in backyards were sampled within a 15-kilometer radius of the confirmed WNV circulation areas at three timepoints over one year (2021-2022). Sera were analyzed using a protein microarray for binding antibodies to orthoflavivirus NS1 antigens and reactive samples were confirmed through micro-focus reduction neutralization tests (mFRNT). Furthermore, mosquitoes at sampling locations were collected to assess their blood feeding behaviour.This serosurvey detected the circulation of USUV and WNV in petting zoo and backyard chickens in 2021, both within and outside the 2020 outbreak areas. The WNV circulation was not detected by other existing surveillance schemes in mosquitoes, wild birds, horses and humans. In addition, the results show rapid decay of USUV antibodies in approximately 20 weeks. Our findings support the utility and the added value of petting zoo chickens as sentinels for monitoring USUV and WNV circulation compared to other available methods. Seroconversions observed in petting zoos and backyard chickens living in or near densely populated urban areas further highlighted potential public health risks that went undetected.

Comparative Study of Risk Factors Associated with Normal Cognition and Cognitive Impairment in Rural West Elderly Texans.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is related to one or more chronic illnesses, which may develop cognitive decline and dementia. Cognitive impairment is increasing, and public health officials must address risk factors for AD to improve the health of rural West Texas communities. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the sociodemographic and chronic disease risk factors related to cognitive impairment among elderly adults living in Cochran, Parmer, and Bailey counties in rural West Texas. Methods: Statistical methods such as Pearson's chi-squared, proportion tests, univariate binary logistic regression, and a multivariable logistic regression were utilized to analyze data. SPSS software was used to detect the significant relationship between cognitive impairment and risk factors. Results: Summary statistics were obtained for sociodemographic and chronic diseases by using cross-tabulation analysis and comparing the county respondents with proportion tests. A univariate binary logistic regression method was utilized and found that age group 60-69, anxiety, depression, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease were significantly associated with cognitive impairment. Using a multivariable logistic regression approach, it was found that Bailey County (age group 60-69) had a higher likelihood (p = 0.002) of cognitive impairment than Parmer (p = 0.067) and Cochran counties (p = 0.064). The risk of females (p = 0.033) in Parmer County was 78.3% lower compared to males in developing AD. Conclusions: Identifying significant risk factors for cognitive impairment are important in addressing issues of geographic variations and integrating such factors may guide relevant policy interventions to reduce cognitive impairment incidence in rural communities within West Texas.

New evidence on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights from the West and Central African region.

The African Journal of Reproductive Health is pleased to publish these compendiums of original research in this special edition that document new findings in adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights from the West and Central African region (WCA). While sub-Saharan Africa has some of the worst indicators of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the world, the indicators are more daunting in the WCA region. To date, the WCA is recognized to have the highest rates of unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmissible infections, as well as the lowest contraceptive prevalence rates among adolescents worldwide.1 Despite the high rate of adverse adolescent reproductive health outcomes in WCA, there has been limited documentations of the socio-cultural and economic circumstances that perpetuate these adverse consequences. There have also been no purposefully designed interventions that provide strong scientific evidence for developing strategies to reverse the trend.

Le Journal africain de la santé reproductive est heureux de publier ces recueils de recherches originales dans cette édition spéciale qui documentent les nouvelles découvertes sur la santé et les droits sexuels et reproductifs des adolescents de la région de l'Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre (WCA). Alors que l'Afrique subsaharienne possède certains des pires indicateurs au monde en matière de santé et de droits sexuels et reproductifs (SDSR), les indicateurs sont plus intimidants dans la région AOC. À ce jour, l'AOC est reconnue pour avoir les taux les plus élevés de grossesses non désirées, d'avortements à risque, de virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (VIH) et d'autres infections sexuellement transmissibles, ainsi que les taux de prévalence contraceptive les plus faibles parmi les adolescents dans le monde.1 Malgré le taux élevé de En dépit des résultats négatifs en matière de santé reproductive des adolescents en AOC, il existe peu de documentation sur les circonstances socioculturelles et économiques qui perpétuent ces conséquences néfastes. Il n'y a pas non plus d'interventions spécialement conçues qui fournissent des preuves scientifiques solides pour élaborer des stratégies visant à inverser la tendance.

Gender and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights in West and Central Africa: New evidence and emerging gaps.

The West and Central Africa (WCA) region is a natural resource-rich, 24-country, contiguous area with a population of nearly 500 million people. The median age for the region is currently 18 years and approximately one-third of its population is aged between 10 and 24 years. If current demographic trends in the region persist, its population will reach 1.5 billion by 2050. At that time, WCA will not only have the largest number of young people globally, but it will also be the only part of the world whose population of young people will continue to increase1. Many countries in the region are also or have recently been involved in armed conflicts, which have devastated infrastructure, displaced people, stifled development, and more importantly, resulted in myriad deaths and morbidities.

La région de l'Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre (AOC) est une zone contiguë de 24 pays riches en ressources naturelles et comptant près de 500 millions d'habitants. L'âge médian de la région est actuellement de 18 ans et environ un tiers de sa population est âgée de 10 à 24 ans. Si les tendances démographiques actuelles de la région persistent, la population de la région atteindra 1,5 milliard d'habitants d'ici 2050. À cette époque, l'AOC comptera non seulement le plus grand nombre de jeunes au monde, mais elle sera également la seule partie du monde dont la population de le nombre de jeunes va continuer à augmenter1. De nombreux pays de la région sont également ou ont été récemment impliqués dans des conflits armés, qui ont dévasté les infrastructures, déplacé les populations, étouffé le développement et, plus important encore, entraîné une myriade de morts et de morbidités.