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Konu YR, Dogo F, Dagnra CA, Atcha-Oubou T, Gbeasor-Komlanvi FA, Afanvi KA, Diallo FBT, Teouri M, Mijiyawa M, Ekouevi DK. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV, malaria and tuberculosis indicators in Togo: an interrupted time series analysis. BMJ Glob Health 2024; 9:e013679. [PMID: 38569659 PMCID: PMC11002417 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-013679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited data are available on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health-related indicators in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to estimate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on nine indicators of HIV, malaria and tuberculosis (TB) in Togo. METHODS For this interrupted time series analysis, national health information system data from January 2019 to December 2021 and TB programmatic data from the first quarter of 2018 to the fourth quarter of 2022 were analysed. Nine indicators were included. We used Poisson segmented regression to estimate the immediate impact of the pandemic and per-pandemic period trends through incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs. RESULTS Overall, there was a decrease in six of the nine indicators, ranging from 19.3% (IRR 0.807, 95% CI 0.682 to 0.955, p=0.024) for the hospitalisation of patients for malaria to 36.9% (IRR 0.631, 95% CI 0.457 to 0.871, p=0.013) for TB diagnosis by Mycobacterium tuberculosis Xpert immediately after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic. A comparison of the observed and predicted trends showed that the trend remained constant between the prepandemic and pandemic periods of COVID-19 for all malaria indicators. A significant downward monthly trend was observed in antiretroviral therapy initiation (IRR 0.909, 95% CI 0.892 to 0.926, p<0.001) and positive TB microscopy (IRR 0.919, 95% CI 0.880 to 0.960, p=0.002). CONCLUSION HIV, malaria and TB services were generally maintained over time in Togo despite the COVID-19 pandemic. However, given the decline in levels immediately after the onset of the pandemic, there is an urgent need to improve the preparedness of the healthcare system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Rodion Konu
- Département de Santé Publique, Université de Lomé, Lome, Togo
- Centre Africain de Recherche en Epidemiologie et en Santé Publique (CARESP), Lomé, Togo
- Global Health in the Global South (Inserm UMR 1219, IRD EMR 271), Bordeaux Population Health, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Fall Dogo
- Programme national de lutte contre la tuberculose (PNLT), Lomé, Togo
| | - Claver Anoumou Dagnra
- Programme national de lutte contre le sida, les hépatites virales et les infections sexuellement transmissibles (PNLS-HV-IST), Lomé, Togo
| | | | - Fifonsi Adjidossi Gbeasor-Komlanvi
- Département de Santé Publique, Université de Lomé, Lome, Togo
- Centre Africain de Recherche en Epidemiologie et en Santé Publique (CARESP), Lomé, Togo
| | | | | | - Mahmoud Teouri
- Direction du système national d'information sanitaire et l'informatique (DSNSI), Lomé, Togo
| | - Moustafa Mijiyawa
- Ministère de la Santé, de l'Hygiène Publique et de l'Accès Universel aux Soins, Lomé, Togo
| | - Didier Koumavi Ekouevi
- Département de Santé Publique, Université de Lomé, Lome, Togo
- Centre Africain de Recherche en Epidemiologie et en Santé Publique (CARESP), Lomé, Togo
- Global Health in the Global South (Inserm UMR 1219, IRD EMR 271), Bordeaux Population Health, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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Selimaj Kontoni V, Goetghebuer T, Hainaut M, Vanderfaeillie A, Nguyen VTP, Jourdain S, Pace D. Imported Malaria in Children: A Study Over an 11-Year Period in Brussels. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2023; 42:733-738. [PMID: 37406181 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000003986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is a major global public health concern in endemic countries and imported childhood malaria is increasing in malaria non-endemic countries. METHODS This was a retrospective case review of all laboratory-confirmed malaria cases in children 0-16 years admitted between 2009 and 2019 in 2 large university teaching Hospitals in Brussels. RESULTS A total of 160 children with a median age of 6.8 years (range 5-191 months) were included. We identified 109 (68%) children living in Belgium who had acquired malaria during their visit to malaria-endemic countries to visiting friends and relatives (VFRs), 49 children (31%) visitors or newly installed migrants, and 2 Belgian tourists. Peak seasonal incidence occurred between August and September. Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for 89% of all malaria cases. Almost 80% of children living in Belgium visited a travel clinic for advice, but only one-third reported having taken the prophylaxis schedule according to the recommendations. Based on WHO criteria, 31 children (19.3%) developed severe malaria; most of the patients with severe malaria were VFR travelers and were significantly younger, had higher leukocytosis, had more thrombocytopenia, higher CRP, and lower natremia compared with patients with an uncomplicated course. All children recovered fully. CONCLUSIONS Malaria is a significant cause of morbidity among returning travelers and newly arrived immigrants to Belgium. Most of the children had an uncomplicated disease course. Physicians should educate families about traveling to malaria-endemic areas to correct malaria preventive measures and prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tessa Goetghebuer
- Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marc Hainaut
- Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anna Vanderfaeillie
- Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vo Thanh Phuong Nguyen
- Department of Pediatrics, Laboratoire d'Hematologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sarah Jourdain
- Department of Pediatrics, Hopital Universitaire Des Enfants Reine Fabiola, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - David Pace
- Department of Pediatrics, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Malaria Control in Africa: A Preliminary Analysis. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8010067. [PMID: 36668974 PMCID: PMC9863638 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8010067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains a significant public health concern in Africa, and the emerging coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have negatively impacted malaria control. Here, we conducted a descriptive epidemiological analysis of malaria globally, and preliminarily explored the impact of COVID-19 on the malaria elimination program in regions of Africa (AFR). The present analysis found that there was a vast heterogeneity of incidence of deaths caused by malaria globally in different continents, and the highest malaria burden was observed in AFR. In 2020, there was an obviously increasing trend in the malaria epidemic in AFR, while the other four continents exhibited stable and declining patterns. Historically, malaria has been largely concentrated in high-malaria-burden regions, such as West Africa, and there has been an obvious increasing trend in Nigeria. These data suggest that dynamic changes in the malaria epidemic situation worldwide have primarily originated from AFR, and West Africa has played an important role in the global malaria increase in recent years. Under the coercion of COVID-19, multiple factors have co-driven the increase in malaria in AFR, including insufficient financial investments, a high native malaria burden, weak surveillance systems, limited medical resources, and low socioeconomic development levels. In addition, the shift of medical resources (e.g., health workers and personal protective equipment (PPE), the manufacturing of diagnostic reagents, and drugs) from malaria control to emergency COVID-19 response in the pandemic's early stage caused disruptions, reductions, and delays in pillar malaria control measures, leading to a significant negative impact on malaria control. In particular, a funding shortfall at both the international and domestic levels led to a "significant threat," resulting in vast gaps in access to proven malaria control tools. Although there has been a declining trend in malaria control over time due to COVID-19, the effect still cannot be ignored. Hence, we recommend the implementation of medical and technical resource assistance as a priority strategy to support Africa (West Africa) in order to curb further transmission.
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Rashidzadeh H, Mosavi FS, Shafiee T, Adyani SM, Eghlima G, Sanikhani M, Kheiry A, Amiri M, Tavakolizadeh M, Ramazani A. Anti- Plasmodial Effects of Different Ecotypes of Glycyrrhiza glabra Traditionally Used for Malaria in Iran. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA : ORGAO OFICIAL DA SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA 2023; 33:310-315. [PMID: 36687781 PMCID: PMC9842399 DOI: 10.1007/s43450-022-00353-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Fabaceae, or licorice has shown potential therapeutic effects on fever, gastric ulcers, hepatic disorders, and malaria. This study aimed to assess the antimalarial activity of different fractions of root extract from twelve ecotypes from Iran. In this regard, mice were then randomly divided into 8 groups of 5 mice. Four hours after mice were infected by Plasmodium berghei, they received methanolic plant extract by intraperitoneal injection. The treatment was continued for 4 consecutive days (every 24 h), then on the fifth and seventh days, blood samples were taken from the tails of the mice and the parasitic percentages were calculated by microscopy technique. In comparison to control, every analyzed ecotype has a remarkable parasite inhibitory effect, whereas the source of the root also has a drastic difference in its antimalarial effects. The highest percentage of inhibition on days 5 and 7 was subjected to the extract of Semirom ecotype with suppression of 86.37 and 83%, respectively. On the other hand, 13.21 and 9.19% parasite growth inhibition was shown in the extracts of Shahrbabak and Haji Abad, respectively. The significant difference between these 12 ecotypes was shown with Mann-Whitney U pairwise comparison to variable parasitemia day 5 and parasitemia day 7 (p < 0.001). Graphical Abstract Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43450-022-00353-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Rashidzadeh
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Sadat Mosavi
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Tahereh Shafiee
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Seyed Masih Adyani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Ghasem Eghlima
- Department of Agriculture, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Sanikhani
- Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Azizollah Kheiry
- Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Mahdi Amiri
- Imam Hossein Hospital, Social Security Organization, Zanjan Branch, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Mahdi Tavakolizadeh
- Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Ali Ramazani
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
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Patrick SM, Cox SN, Guidera KE, Simon MJ, Kruger T, Bornman R. COVID-19 and the malaria elimination agenda in Africa: Re-shifting the focus. Glob Public Health 2022; 17:3981-3992. [PMID: 36194811 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2022.2129729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The global Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in public health, political, scientific and private sector response at an unprecedented scale. However, this shift in focus has caused widespread disruption to global health services and has the potential to reverse gains made in efforts to control malaria. If health systems are not able to maintain malaria control interventions while managing the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, malaria cases will increase, thereby placing even more strain on already overtaxed systems. Using a Narrative Review Approach, this commentary explores the impact of COVID-19 on progress made with malaria control and prevention strategies in Africa; and discusses possible mitigation steps to aid community resilience building, through proactive planning and implementation of integrated, inclusive and sustainable strategies to re-shift the focus to attain the malaria elimination goals. We propose strengthening community partnerships, where academia and communities should collaborate and these knowledge-sharing strategies be implemented in order for awareness and interventions to become more networked, inclusive, resilient and effective. Communities should be viewed as 'thought partners', who challenge conventional strategies and aid in developing innovative approaches to community resilience building.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Patrick
- University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Sarah N Cox
- Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,One Sun Health Inc., New York, USA & Mpumalanga, ZA
| | | | | | - Taneshka Kruger
- University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Riana Bornman
- University of Pretoria Institute for Sustainable Malaria Control, School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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COVID-19 Infection in Rheumatic Patients on Chronic Antimalarial Drugs: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11226865. [PMID: 36431342 PMCID: PMC9693294 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11226865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing chronic use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine (HCQ/CQ) in rheumatic patients might impact their outcomes after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, we sought to assess the mortality in rheumatic patients with chronic HCQ/CQ use who developed a COVID-19 infection through a comparison between individuals chronically using HCQ/CQ with those not taking these drugs. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central. We included full-length reports, prospective observational cohorts, and clinical trials of adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) who were diagnosed with a COVID-19 infection. Case studies, case series, letters, comments, and editorials were excluded. The main outcome was all-cause mortality. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022341678). We identified 541 studies, of which 20 studies were included, comprising 236,997 patients. All-cause mortality was significantly lower in patients with prior chronic use of HCQ/CQ compared to those with no previous usage (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.62-0.94; p = 0.01). There was a considerably lower incidence of hospitalization among patients with chronic HCQ/CQ use compared to their counterparts without HCQ/CQ usage (OR 0.80; 95% CI 0.65-0.99; p = 0.04). All-cause mortality and hospitalization were significantly lower in rheumatic patients with chronic HCQ/CQ use who developed a COVID-19 infection.
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Narain K, Rackimuthu S, Nawaz FA, Okonji OC, Ashworth H, Du Plessis SS, Shah J. Strategies for malaria vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic in African countries. Bull World Health Organ 2022; 100:582-582A. [PMID: 36188023 PMCID: PMC9511673 DOI: 10.2471/blt.21.287472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kapil Narain
- Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 719 Umbilo Rd, Umbilo, Berea, 4001 South Africa
| | | | - Faisal A Nawaz
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Henry Ashworth
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States of America (USA)
| | - Stefan S Du Plessis
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jaffer Shah
- Drexel University College of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA
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Ghakanyuy BM, Teboh-Ewungkem MI, Schneider KA, Ngwa GA. Investigating the impact of multiple feeding attempts on mosquito dynamics via mathematical models. Math Biosci 2022; 350:108832. [PMID: 35718220 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2022.108832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
A deterministic differential equation model for the dynamics of terrestrial forms of mosquito populations is studied. The model assesses the impact of multiple probing attempts by mosquitoes that quest for blood within human populations by including a waiting class for mosquitoes that failed a blood feeding attempt. The equations are derived based on the idea that the reproductive cycle of the mosquito can be viewed as a set of alternating egg laying and blood feeding outcomes realized on a directed path called the gonotrophic cycle pathway. There exists a threshold parameter, the basic offspring number for mosquitoes, whose nature is affected by the way we interpret the transitions involving the different classes on the gonotrophic cycle path. The trivial steady state for the system, which always exists, can be globally asymptomatically stable whenever the threshold parameter is less than unity. The non-trivial steady state, when it exists, is stable for a range of values of the threshold parameter but can also be driven to instability via a Hopf bifurcation. The model's output reveals that the waiting class mosquitoes do contribute positively to sustain mosquito populations as well as increase their interactions with humans via increased frequency and initial amplitude of oscillations. We conclude that to understand human-mosquito interactions, it is informative to consider multiple probing attempts; known to occur when mosquitoes quest for blood meals within human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bime M Ghakanyuy
- Department of Mathematics, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon
| | | | - Kristan A Schneider
- Department of Applied Computer and Bio-Sciences, University of Applied Sciences, Mittweida, Technikumplatz 17, 09648 Mittweida, Germany
| | - Gideon A Ngwa
- Department of Mathematics, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
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Bernard MM, Mohanty A, Rajendran V. Title: A Comprehensive Review on Classifying Fast-acting and Slow-acting Antimalarial Agents Based on Time of Action and Target Organelle of Plasmodium sp. Pathog Dis 2022; 80:6589403. [PMID: 35588061 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftac015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical resistance towards malarial parasites has rendered many antimalarials ineffective, likely due to a lack of understanding of time of action and stage specificity of all life stages. Therefore, to tackle this problem a more incisive comprehensive analysis of the fast and slow-acting profile of antimalarial agents relating to parasite time-kill kinetics and the target organelle on the progression of blood-stage parasites was carried out. It is evident from numerous findings that drugs targeting food vacuole, nuclear components, and endoplasmic reticulum mainly exhibit a fast-killing phenotype within 24h affecting first-cycle activity. Whereas drugs targeting mitochondria, apicoplast, microtubules, parasite invasion and egress exhibit a largely slow-killing phenotype within 96-120h, affecting second-cycle activity with few exemptions as moderately fast-killing. It is essential to understand the susceptibility of drugs on rings, trophozoites, schizonts, merozoites, and the appearance of organelle at each stage of 48h intraerythrocytic parasite cycle. Therefore, these parameters may facilitate the paradigm for understanding the timing of antimalarials action in deciphering its precise mechanism linked with time. Thus, classifying drugs based on the time of killing may promote designing new combination regimens against varied strains of P. falciparum and evaluating potential clinical resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Marie Bernard
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605014, India
| | - Abhinab Mohanty
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605014, India
| | - Vinoth Rajendran
- Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry 605014, India
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Heuschen AK, Abdul-Mumin A, Adokiya M, Lu G, Jahn A, Razum O, Winkler V, Müller O. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on malaria cases in health facilities in northern Ghana: a retrospective analysis of routine surveillance data. Malar J 2022; 21:149. [PMID: 35570272 PMCID: PMC9107588 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04154-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic and its collateral damage severely impact health systems globally and risk to worsen the malaria situation in endemic countries. Malaria is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Ghana. This study aims to describe the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on malaria cases observed in health facilities in the Northern Region of Ghana. Methods Monthly routine data from the District Health Information Management System II (DHIMS2) of the Northern Region of Ghana were analysed. Overall outpatient department visits (OPD) and malaria case rates from the years 2015–2019 were compared to the corresponding data of the year 2020. Results Compared to the corresponding periods of the years 2015–2019, overall visits and malaria cases in paediatric and adult OPDs in northern Ghana decreased in March and April 2020, when major movement and social restrictions were implemented in response to the pandemic. Cases slightly rebounded afterwards in 2020, but stayed below the average of the previous years. Malaria data from inpatient departments showed a similar but more pronounced trend when compared to OPDs. In pregnant women, however, malaria cases in OPDs increased after the first COVID-19 wave. Conclusions The findings from this study show that the COVID-19 pandemic affects the malaria burden in health facilities of northern Ghana, with declines in inpatient and outpatient rates except for pregnant women. They may have experienced reduced access to insecticide-treated nets and intermittent preventive malaria treatment in pregnancy, resulting in subsequent higher malaria morbidity. Further data, particularly from community-based studies and ideally complemented by qualitative research, are needed to fully determine the impact of the pandemic on the malaria situation in Africa.
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Feng X, Huang F, Yin J, Wang R, Xia Z. Key takeaways from China's success in eliminating malaria: leveraging existing evidence for a malaria-free world. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:bmjgh-2021-008351. [PMID: 35487673 PMCID: PMC9058700 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-008351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the total number of malaria cases and fatalities have declined globally since 2010, there were still 241 million malaria cases identified across 85 countries and territories in 2020. As the global malaria eradication process accelerates, more countries have launched their own initiatives of elimination. Notably, China achieved this goal by 2021, ending thousands of years of endemic. Undoubtedly, tremendous experience and vital lessons have been accrued en route to the malaria-free goal in malaria-eliminated countries including China. To enhance prospects of a malaria-free world by bridging the key evidence from a malaria-eliminated country to the contexts of affected, this personal view highlights concerted commitments and universal investment in healthcare, improved surveillance and response system, constant capacity building, demand-oriented scientific research, and multiway cooperation, which have helped China to eliminate this ancient scourge. We discuss how these key takeaways could be leveraged to different contexts. We also argue the long-term challenges and barriers on the pathway to malaria elimination and underline the needs for consistent efforts to maintain zero indigenous cases and prevent re-introduction of malaria. Through concerted efforts from global collaboration, a malaria-free world can become a reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Feng
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Huang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianhai Yin
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Rubo Wang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhigui Xia
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China
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12
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Taremwa IM, Ashaba S, Kyarisiima R, Ayebazibwe C, Ninsiima R, Mattison C. Treatment-seeking and uptake of malaria prevention strategies among pregnant women and caregivers of children under-five years during COVID-19 pandemic in rural communities in South West Uganda: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:373. [PMID: 35189865 PMCID: PMC8860364 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-12771-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Despite efforts to avert the negative effects of malaria, there remain barriers to the uptake of prevention measures, and these have hindered its eradication. This study explored the factors that influence uptake of malaria prevention strategies among pregnant women and children under-five years and the impact of COVID-19 in a malaria endemic rural district in Uganda. Methods This was a qualitative case study that used focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and key informant interviews involving pregnant women, caregivers of children under-five years, traditional birth attendants, village health teams, local leaders, and healthcare providers to explore malaria prevention uptake among pregnant women and children under-five years. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and data were analyzed using thematic content approach. Results Seventy-two participants were enrolled in the Focus Group Discussions, 12 in the in-depth interviews, and 2 as key informants. Pregnant women and caregivers of children under-five years were able to recognize causes of malaria, transmission, and symptoms. All participants viewed malaria prevention as a high priority, and the use of insecticide-treated mosquito bed nets (ITNs) was upheld. Participants' own experiences indicated adverse effects of malaria to both pregnant women and children under-five. Home medication and the use of local herbs were a common practice. Some participants didn’t use any of the malaria prevention methods due to deliberate refusal, perceived negative effects of the ITNs, and family disparity. The Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) control measures did not abate the risk of malaria infection but these were deleterious to healthcare access and the focus of malaria prevention. Conclusions Although pregnant women and caregivers of children under-five years recognized symptoms of malaria infection, healthcare-seeking was not apt as some respondents used alternative approaches and delayed seeking formal healthcare. It is imperative to focus on the promotion of malaria prevention strategies and address drawbacks associated with misconceptions about these interventions, and promotion of health-seeking behaviors. As COVID-19 exacerbated the effect of malaria prevention uptake and healthcare seeking, it’s critical to recommit and integrate COVID-19 prevention measures in normative living and restrict future barriers to healthcare access. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-12771-3.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scholastic Ashaba
- Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Rose Kyarisiima
- Mbarara University of Science and Technology, P.O Box 1410, Mbarara, Uganda
| | | | - Ruth Ninsiima
- Rwamanja Refugee Settlement, Kamwenge District, Uganda
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13
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Feng X, Zhang L, Tu H, Xia Z. Malaria Elimination in China and Sustainability Concerns in the Post-elimination Stage. China CDC Wkly 2022; 4:990-994. [DOI: 10.46234/ccdcw2022.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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14
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Jimoh RG, Abisoye OA, Uthman MMB. Ensemble Feed-Forward Neural Network and Support Vector Machine for Prediction of Multiclass Malaria Infection. JOURNAL OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.32890/jict2022.21.1.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Globally, recent research are focused on developing appropriate and robust algorithms to provide a robust healthcare system that is versatile and accurate. Existing malaria models are plagued with low rate of convergence, overfitting, limited generalization due to restriction to binary cases prediction, and proneness to local minimum errors in finding reliable testing output due to complexity of features in the feature space, which is a black box in nature. This study adopted a stacking method of heterogeneous ensemble learning of ArtificialNeural Network (ANN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithms to predict multiclass, symptomatic, and climatic malaria infection. ANN produced 48.33 percent accuracy, 60.61 percent sensitivity, and 45.58 percent specificity. SVM with Gaussian kernel function gave better performance results of 85.60 percent accuracy, 84.06 percent sensitivity, and 86.09 percent specificity. Consequently, to improve prediction performance, a stacking method was introduced to ensemble SVM with ANN. The proposed ensemble malaria model was tuned on different thresholds at a threshold value of 0.60, the ensemble model gave an optimum accuracy of 99.86 percent, sensitivity 100 percent, specificity 98.68 percent, and mean square error 0.14. The ensemble model experimental results indicated that stacked multiple classifiers produced better results than a single model. This research demonstrated the efficiency of heterogeneous stacking ensemble model on effects of climatic variations on multiclass malaria infection classification. Furthermore, the model reduced complexity, overfitting, low rate of convergence, and proneness to local minimum error problems of multiclass malaria infection in comparison to previous related models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasheed Gbenga Jimoh
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Communication and Information Science, University of Ilorin
| | | | - Muhammed Mubashir Babatunde Uthman
- Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
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15
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Ilesanmi O, Afolabi A, Iyiola O. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on malaria intervention coverage in Nigeria: Analysis of the Premise Malaria COVID-19 Health Services Disruption Survey 2020. POPULATION MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.18332/popmed/141979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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16
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Abatan B, Agboghoroma O, Akemoke F, Antonio M, Awokola B, Bittaye M, Bojang A, Bojang K, Brotherton H, Cerami C, Clarke E, D'Alessandro U, de Silva T, Drammeh M, Forrest K, Hofmann N, Jagne S, Jah H, Jarju S, Jaye A, Jobe M, Kampmann B, Manjang B, Martinez-Alvarez M, Mohammed N, Nadjm B, Ndiath MO, Nkereuwem E, Nwakanma D, Oko F, Okoh E, Okomo U, Olatunji Y, Oriero E, Prentice AM, Roberts C, Roca A, Sabally B, Sambou S, Samateh A, Secka O, Sesay AK, Singhateh Y, Susso B, Usuf E, Vilane A, Wariri O. Intense and Mild First Epidemic Wave of Coronavirus Disease, The Gambia. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 27:2064-2072. [PMID: 34286683 PMCID: PMC8314844 DOI: 10.3201/eid2708.204954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is evolving differently in Africa than in other regions. Africa has lower SARS-CoV-2 transmission rates and milder clinical manifestations. Detailed SARS-CoV-2 epidemiologic data are needed in Africa. We used publicly available data to calculate SARS-CoV-2 infections per 1,000 persons in The Gambia. We evaluated transmission rates among 1,366 employees of the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG), where systematic surveillance of symptomatic cases and contact tracing were implemented. By September 30, 2020, The Gambia had identified 3,579 SARS-CoV-2 cases, including 115 deaths; 67% of cases were identified in August. Among infections, MRCG staff accounted for 191 cases; all were asymptomatic or mild. The cumulative incidence rate among nonclinical MRCG staff was 124 infections/1,000 persons, which is >80-fold higher than estimates of diagnosed cases among the population. Systematic surveillance and seroepidemiologic surveys are needed to clarify the extent of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Africa.
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Jiang N, Tansukawat ND, Gonzalez-Macia L, Ates HC, Dincer C, Güder F, Tasoglu S, Yetisen AK. Low-Cost Optical Assays for Point-of-Care Diagnosis in Resource-Limited Settings. ACS Sens 2021; 6:2108-2124. [PMID: 34076428 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c00669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Readily deployable, low-cost point-of-care medical devices such as lateral flow assays (LFAs), microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs), and microfluidic thread-based analytical devices (μTADs) are urgently needed in resource-poor settings. Governed by the ASSURED criteria (affordable, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, rapid and robust, equipment-free, and deliverability) set by the World Health Organization, these reliable platforms can screen a myriad of chemical and biological analytes including viruses, bacteria, proteins, electrolytes, and narcotics. The Ebola epidemic in 2014 and the ongoing pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 have exemplified the ever-increasing importance of timely diagnostics to limit the spread of diseases. This review provides a comprehensive survey of LFAs, μPADs, and μTADs that can be deployed in resource-limited settings. The subsequent commercialization of these technologies will benefit the public health, especially in areas where access to healthcare is limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Jiang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Natha Dean Tansukawat
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Gonzalez-Macia
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - H. Ceren Ates
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79110, Germany
- Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Laboratory for Sensors, University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79110, Germany
| | - Can Dincer
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT), University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79110, Germany
- Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK), Laboratory for Sensors, University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79110, Germany
| | - Firat Güder
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Savas Tasoglu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Koc University, Sariyer, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
| | - Ali K. Yetisen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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