Stakeholders' perceptions on improving women's health after obstetric fistula repair: results from a qualitative study in Guinea.

The holistic care of obstetric fistula remains a significant public health concern in developing countries. Improving women's outcomes after repair requires perspectives on post-surgical period within which women have to fulfil their social roles and expectations, mainly becoming pregnant, cooking, resuming farming activities or sexual intercourse. Our objective was to explore stakeholders' perceptions of women's health and well-being after fistula repair, and their perspectives on strategies for improving their quality of life in Guinea. A qualitative study involving representatives from the Ministry of Health, regional, district and hospital managers, representatives of NGOs and funding bodies, local leaders, women who underwent fistula surgery and their relatives (husbands, family members), health providers and community health workers at different levels was conducted. Thematic analysis was performed using NVivo software. Overall, 41 in-depth interviews and seven focus group discussions were conducted with 83 various stakeholders. Unanimously, respondents perceived women treated for obstetric fistula are "diminished" and "vulnerable". This "vulnerability" encompasses physical, socio-emotional and economic dimensions. The high risk of maternal and neonatal complications such as fistula recurrence, abortion or stillbirth in these women was mentioned. Stakeholders emphasized the need for a multidisciplinary approach to improve women's health after repair. Social support, economic empowerment and medical follow-up were identified as key components to mitigate women's vulnerability for successful post-repair reintegration. The programmatic level in Guinea should consider women's health after fistula repair a vital component of the holistic fistula care.

Rodent control strategies and Lassa virus: some unexpected effects in Guinea, West Africa.

The Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) is the host of Lassa mammarenavirus, causing Lassa haemorrhagic fever in West Africa. As there is currently no operational vaccine and therapeutic drugs are limited, we explored rodent control as an alternative to prevent Lassa virus spillover in Upper Guinea, where the disease is highly endemic in rural areas. In a seven-year experiment, we distributed rodenticides for 10-30 days once a year and, in the last year, added intensive snap trapping for three months in all the houses of one village. We also captured rodents both before and after the intervention period to assess their effectiveness by examining alterations in trapping success and infection rates (Lassa virus RNA and IgG antibodies). We found that both interventions reduced the rodent population by 74-92% but swiftly rebounded to pre-treatment levels, even already six months after the last snap-trapping control. Furthermore, while we observed that chemical control modestly decreased Lassa virus infection rates annually (a reduction of 5% in seroprevalence per year), the intensive trapping unexpectedly led to a significantly higher infection rate (from a seroprevalence of 28% before to 67% after snap trapping control). After seven years, we conclude that annual chemical control, alone or with intensive trapping, is ineffective and sometimes counterproductive in preventing Lassa virus spillover in rural villages. These unexpected findings may result from density-dependent breeding compensation following culling and the survival of a small percentage of chronically infected rodents that may spread the virus to a new susceptible generation of mice.

Qualitative assessment of hand hygiene knowledge, attitudes and practices among healthcare workers prior to the implementation of the WHO Hand Hygiene Improvement Strategy at Faranah Regional Hospital, Guinea.

Healthcare-associated infections are a serious burden globally. Few qualitative studies have explored healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes and practices of hand hygiene. Prior to the implementation of the World Health Organization's Hand Hygiene Improvement Strategy at Faranah Regional Hospital in the Upper Region of Guinea in December 2018, we conducted a qualitative baseline assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices of hand hygiene among healthcare workers to guide future hand hygiene interventions. The qualitative study consisted of direct observations, In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). We found that the 2013-16 Ebola outbreak had had a pivotal impact on healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes and practices. The severity of the disease and the training provided for infection control were responsible for their knowledge acquisition and adoption of good attitudes and practices. However, negligence, resulting in poor hand hygiene practices, rose after the outbreak, once the "cue of fear" that had motivated workers for their own self-protection had waned. Our results suggest that local capacity building through training and availability of hand hygiene materials would be a sustainable approach to enhance hand hygiene culture at the hospital. Our study suggests that there is a need for a high and long-term commitment of authorities and healthcare workers at all levels for a sustainable hand hygiene culture.

Correction: Hunting and consumption of rodents by children in the Lassa fever endemic area of Faranah, Guinea.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009212.].

Detection of Lassa virus in wild rodent feces: Implications for Lassa fever burden within households in the endemic region of Faranah, Guinea.

Lassa arenavirus (LASV) is the cause of Lassa Fever in humans in West Africa. The multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) is a reservoir host of LASV and the primary source of human infections. Humans are assumed to become infected due to contact with this animal or its excretions. Thus far, the available literature does not describe the sampling of feces as a means to detect LASV in M. natalensis populations. More evidence is needed to know if feces of naturally infected M. natalensis can be LASV-positive and an exposure risk to humans. This study sampled feces deposits in households from three villages in the LASV-endemic region of Faranah, Guinea. PCR analysis found 10 out of 88 samples to be positive for LASV, and sequencing showed clustering to previously identified Yarawelia and Dalafilani strains. We conclude that feces sampling is a viable, non-invasive method for the determination and sequencing of LASV strains.

Hunting and consumption of rodents by children in the Lassa fever endemic area of Faranah, Guinea.

As a consequence of the Ebola outbreak, human-animal contact has gained importance for zoonotic transmission surveillance. In Faranah (Upper Guinea), daily life is intertwined with rodents, such as the Natal multimammate mouse, Mastomys natalensis; a reservoir for Lassa virus (LASV). However, this contact is rarely perceived as a health risk by residents, although Lassa fever (LF) is known to be endemic to this region. Conversely, these observations remain a great concern for global health agendas. Drawing on ethnographic research involving interviews, focus group discussions, participant observations, and informal discussions over four months, we first identified factors that motivated children to hunt and consume rodents in Faranah villages, and thereafter, explored the knowledge of LF infection in children and their parents. Furthermore, we studied two dimensions of human-rodent encounters: 1) space-time of interaction and 2) factors that allowed the interaction to occur and their materiality. This approach allowed us to contextualize child-rodent contacts beyond domestic limits in the fallow fields, swamps, and at other times for this practice. A close look at these encounters provided information on rodent trapping, killing, and manipulation of cooking techniques and the risk these activities posed for the primary transmission of LASV. This research facilitated the understanding of children's exposure to M. natalensis during hunting sessions and the importance of rodent hunting, which is a part of their boyish identity in rural areas. Determination of when, where, why, and how children, rodents, and environments interacted allowed us to understand the exposures and risks important for human and animal surveillance programs in the Lassa-endemic region.

Social Immersion for Women After Repair for Obstetric Fistula: An Experience in Guinea.

Background: Reintegration of women after repair of their female genital fistula remains a challenge. The objective of this study was to document the medical pathway and the reintegration process of women through the "social immersion" program of EngenderHealth in Kissidougou and Labé (Guinea). Methods: This was a qualitative descriptive study with 55 participants, including women seeking fistula care and stakeholders involved in the social immersion for repaired women in Kissidougou and Labé. The study included collecting demographic and clinical data of women, interviews with women before and after surgery, after social immersion, and 3 months post-discharge. Municipal officials, health providers, and members of host families were also interviewed. The study protocol was approved by the Guinea National Ethics Committee for Health Research. Results: The study confirmed that obstetric fistula still occurs among women living in rural and underserved areas. Most women attended at least two to five antenatal care visits, but nine over 10 reported a tragic experience of child loss associated with the occurrence of fistula. Most of them received support from their husband/partner during referral after the obstructed labor and later in the search for treatment. Women and stakeholders reported a good experience of surgery and social immersion in both Kissidougou and Labé. About 3 months after discharge, women who were continent reported being happy with their new life compared to women discharged with repair failure and residual incontinence. Conclusion: The study found the positive impacts of social immersion on the quality of life of women after fistula repair, particularly for those women who had a successful repair. The approach can be included in fistula care programs, either through direct provision or through referral to programs that can provide this service.

Experiences, Preferences, and Needs of Adolescents and Urban Youth in Contraceptive Use in Conakry, 2019, Guinea.

Introduction: The use of contraceptive methods is very low in Guinea, particularly among adolescents and young people. The purpose of this study is to analyze the experiences and expectations of adolescents and young people regarding the use of contraceptive methods in 2019 in Conakry, Guinea. Methods: We conducted a 6-month qualitative and descriptive study. Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with adolescents and young people, health providers and health policy makers. Two approaches of deductive and inductive analysis were used to synthesize the main insights from the data. Findings: Twenty-six participants were included in this study. Adolescents and young people have personal, family and community experiences that positively or negatively influence their contraceptive needs and preferences. Positive experiences include the relative cost of injectable forms, perceived absence of side effects of implants, proven efficacy and duration of action of the modern method used (implants and injectable form). Negative experiences included cost of implants remain high (15 Euros), perceived side effects including weight gain, pill compliance, method indiscretion, and low sensation of sexual pleasure for the condom. The preferences of the young participants were dominated by Implants and injectable forms that better meet their contraceptive needs. In terms of needs, the expectations expressed revolved around needs related to the health system, including sex education, reduction in the cost of some contraceptives (implants), availability of contraceptive methods, and equity in the provision of family planning services to adolescents and young people. Conclusion: Exploring the contraceptive experiences, needs and preferences of adolescents and young people reveals decision-making dilemmas. Adolescents and young people expressed their experiences in terms of the cost of preferred contraceptives (implants), side effects, proven efficacy, and duration of action. However, their decisions are still influenced by availability, equity in service delivery, and the involvement of parents and religious leaders in sex education. Decision-makers should then place particular emphasis on improving health service delivery, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, availability of preferred contraceptive methods at affordable cost, and a program on sexuality education with the involvement of parents and religious leaders and the promotion of condom use.

Domestic risk factors for increased rodent abundance in a Lassa fever endemic region of rural Upper Guinea.

Lassa fever (LF) is a viral haemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa and spread primarily by the multimammate rat, Mastomys natalensis. As there is no vaccine, reduction of rodent-human transmission is essential for disease control. As the household is thought to be a key site of transmission, understanding domestic risk factors for M. natalensis abundance is crucial. Rodent captures in conjunction with domestic surveys were carried out in 6 villages in an area of rural Upper Guinea with high LF endemicity. 120 rodent traps were set in rooms along a transect in each village for three nights, and the survey was administered in each household on the transects. This study was able to detect several domestic risk factors for increased rodent abundance in rural Upper Guinea. Regression analysis demonstrated that having > 8 holes (RR = 1.8 [1.0004-3.2, p = 0.048), the presence of rodent burrows (RR = 2.3 [1.6-3.23, p = 0.000003), and being in a multi-room square building (RR = 2.0 [1.3-2.9], p = 0.001) were associated with increased rodent abundance. The most addressable of these may be rodent burrows, as burrow patching is a relatively simple process that may reduce rodent entry. Further study is warranted to explicitly link domestic rodent abundance to LF risk, to better characterize domestic risk factors, and to evaluate how household rodent-proofing interventions could contribute to LF control.