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Adams R, Alayande A, Brey Z, Browning B, Gastrow M, Kponyo JJ, Mathew D, Nkosi M, Nunoo-Mensah H, Nyakundi D, Odumuyiwa V, Okunowo O, Olbrich P, Omar N, Omotubora K, Plantinga P, Razzano G, Schroeder Z, Agbemenu AS, Sey A, Shilongo K, Shirude S, Smith M, Tchao ET, Uwizera DK. A new research agenda for African generative AI. Nat Hum Behav 2023; 7:1839-1841. [PMID: 37803130 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01735-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Adams
- Research ICT Africa, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Information Law and Policy Centre, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of London, London, UK.
| | - Ayantola Alayande
- Bennett Institute for Public Policy, Department of Politics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zameer Brey
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | | | - Jerry John Kponyo
- Responsible Artificial Intelligence Lab, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | - Henry Nunoo-Mensah
- Responsible Artificial Intelligence Lab, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | | | - Philipp Olbrich
- 8 GIZ, FAIR Forward - Artificial Intelligence for All, Bonn, Germany
| | - Nawal Omar
- Research ICT Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | | | | | | | - Andrew Selasi Agbemenu
- Responsible Artificial Intelligence Lab, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Araba Sey
- Research ICT Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Shreya Shirude
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Matthew Smith
- International Development Research Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric Tutu Tchao
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Martinson NA, Nonyane BAS, Genade LP, Berhanu RH, Naidoo P, Brey Z, Kinghorn A, Nyathi S, Young K, Hausler H, Connell L, Lutchminarain K, Swe Swe-Han K, Vreede H, Said M, von Knorring N, Moulton LH, Lebina L. Evaluating systematic targeted universal testing for tuberculosis in primary care clinics of South Africa: A cluster-randomized trial (The TUTT Trial). PLoS Med 2023; 20:e1004237. [PMID: 37216385 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends systematic symptom screening for tuberculosis (TB). However, TB prevalence surveys suggest that this strategy does not identify millions of TB patients, globally. Undiagnosed or delayed diagnosis of TB contribute to TB transmission and exacerbate morbidity and mortality. We conducted a cluster-randomized trial of large urban and rural primary healthcare clinics in 3 provinces of South Africa to evaluate whether a novel intervention of targeted universal testing for TB (TUTT) in high-risk groups diagnosed more patients with TB per month compared to current standard of care (SoC) symptom-directed TB testing. METHODS AND FINDINGS Sixty-two clinics were randomized; with initiation of the intervention clinics over 6 months from March 2019. The study was prematurely stopped in March 2020 due to clinics restricting access to patients, and then a week later due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) national lockdown; by then, we had accrued a similar number of TB diagnoses to that of the power estimates and permanently stopped the trial. In intervention clinics, attendees living with HIV, those self-reporting a recent close contact with TB, or a prior episode of TB were all offered a sputum test for TB, irrespective of whether they reported symptoms of TB. We analyzed data abstracted from the national public sector laboratory database using Poisson regression models and compared the mean number of TB patients diagnosed per clinic per month between the study arms. Intervention clinics diagnosed 6,777 patients with TB, 20.7 patients with TB per clinic month (95% CI 16.7, 24.8) versus 6,750, 18.8 patients with TB per clinic month (95% CI 15.3, 22.2) in control clinics during study months. A direct comparison, adjusting for province and clinic TB case volume strata, did not show a significant difference in the number of TB cases between the 2 arms, incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.14 (95% CI 0.94, 1.38, p = 0.46). However, prespecified difference-in-differences analyses showed that while the rate of TB diagnoses in control clinics decreased over time, intervention clinics had a 17% relative increase in TB patients diagnosed per month compared to the prior year, interaction IRR 1.17 (95% CI 1.14, 1.19, p < 0.001). Trial limitations were the premature stop due to COVID-19 lockdowns and the absence of between-arm comparisons of initiation and outcomes of TB treatment in those diagnosed with TB. CONCLUSIONS Our trial suggests that the implementation of TUTT in these 3 groups at extreme risk of TB identified more TB patients than SoC and could assist in reducing undiagnosed TB patients in settings of high TB prevalence. TRIAL REGISTRATION South African National Clinical Trials Registry DOH-27-092021-4901.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil A Martinson
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Johns Hopkins University Center for TB Research, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Bareng A S Nonyane
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Leisha P Genade
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Rebecca H Berhanu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Pren Naidoo
- Public Health Management Consultant, South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Zameer Brey
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Anthony Kinghorn
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | | | | | | | - Keeren Lutchminarain
- National Health Laboratory Service Department of Microbiology, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, eThekwini, South Africa
- University of Kwa Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Khine Swe Swe-Han
- National Health Laboratory Service Department of Microbiology, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, eThekwini, South Africa
- University of Kwa Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Helena Vreede
- National Health Laboratory Service, Chemical Pathology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mohamed Said
- National Health Laboratory Service, Microbiology and Academic Division, Tshwane, South Africa
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Nina von Knorring
- National Health Laboratory Service, Clinical Microbiology, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Division of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lawrence H Moulton
- Johns Hopkins University Center for TB Research, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Limakatso Lebina
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
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Berhanu RH, Lebina L, Nonyane BAS, Milovanovic M, Kinghorn A, Connell L, Nyathi S, Young K, Hausler H, Naidoo P, Brey Z, Shearer K, Genade L, Martinson NA. Yield of Facility-based Targeted Universal Testing for Tuberculosis With Xpert and Mycobacterial Culture in High-Risk Groups Attending Primary Care Facilities in South Africa. Clin Infect Dis 2023; 76:1594-1603. [PMID: 36610730 PMCID: PMC10156124 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We report the yield of targeted universal tuberculosis (TB) testing of clinic attendees in high-risk groups. METHODS Clinic attendees in primary healthcare facilities in South Africa with one of the following risk factors underwent sputum testing for TB: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), contact with a TB patient in the past year, and having had TB in the past 2 years. A single sample was collected for Xpert-Ultra (Xpert) and culture. We report the proportion positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Data were analyzed descriptively. The unadjusted clinical and demographic factors' relative risk of TB detected by culture or Xpert were calculated and concordance between Xpert and culture is described. RESULTS A total of 30 513 participants had a TB test result. Median age was 39 years, and 11 553 (38%) were men. The majority (n = 21734, 71%) had HIV, 12 492 (41%) reported close contact with a TB patient, and 1573 (5%) reported prior TB. Overall, 8.3% were positive for M. tuberculosis by culture and/or Xpert compared with 6.0% with trace-positive results excluded. In asymptomatic participants, the yield was 6.7% and 10.1% in symptomatic participants (with trace-positives excluded). Only 10% of trace-positive results were culture-positive. We found that 55% of clinic attendees with a sputum result positive for M. tuberculosis did not have a positive TB symptom screen. CONCLUSIONS A high proportion of clinic attendees with specific risk factors (HIV, close TB contact, history of TB) test positive for M. tuberculosis when universal testing is implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca H Berhanu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Limakatso Lebina
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of Witwatersrand, Soweto, South Africa
| | - Bareng A S Nonyane
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of International Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Minja Milovanovic
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of Witwatersrand, Soweto, South Africa
| | - Anthony Kinghorn
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of Witwatersrand, Soweto, South Africa
| | | | | | | | - Harry Hausler
- TB HIV Care, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Pren Naidoo
- Public Health Management Consultant, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Zameer Brey
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation–South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kate Shearer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Centre for TB Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Leisha Genade
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of Witwatersrand, Soweto, South Africa
| | - Neil A Martinson
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of Witwatersrand, Soweto, South Africa
- Centre for TB Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Goga AE, Bekker LG, Garrett N, Takuva S, Sanne I, Odhiambo J, Mayat F, Fairall L, Brey Z, Bamford L, Tanna G, Grey G. Sisonke phase 3B open-label study: Lessons learnt for national and global vaccination scale-up during epidemics. S Afr Med J 2021; 112:13486. [PMID: 35140006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Sisonke is a multicentre, open-label, single-arm phase 3B vaccine implementation study of healthcare workers (HCWs) in South Africa, with prospective surveillance for 2 years. The primary endpoint is the rate of severe COVID‑19, including hospitalisations and deaths. The Sisonke study enrolled and vaccinated participants nationally at potential vaccination roll-out sites between 17 February and 26 May 2021. After May 2021, additional HCWs were vaccinated as part of a sub-study at selected clinical research sites. We discuss 10 lessons learnt to strengthen national and global vaccination strategies:(i) consistently advocate for vaccination to reduce public hesitancy; (ii) an electronic vaccination data system (EVDS) is critical; (iii) facilitate access to a choice of vaccination sites, such as religious and community centres, schools, shopping malls and drive-through centres; (iv) let digitally literate people help elderly and marginalised people to register for vaccination; (v) develop clear 'how to' guides for vaccine storage, pharmacy staff and vaccinators; (vi) leverage instant messaging platforms, such as WhatsApp, for quick communication among staff at vaccination centres; (vii) safety is paramount - rapid health assessments are needed at vaccination centres to identify people at high risk of serious adverse events, including anaphylaxis or thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Be transparent about adverse events and contextualise vaccination benefits, while acknowledging the small risks; (viii) provide real-time, responsive support to vaccinees post vaccination and implement an accessible national vaccine adverse events surveillance system; (ix) develop efficient systems to monitor and investigate COVID‑19 breakthrough infections; and (x) flexibility and teamwork are essential in vaccination centres across national, provincial and district levels and between public and private sectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- A E Goga
- South African Medical Research Council, South Africa; Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
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David NJ, Brey Z, Ismail M. Telemedicine in the Western Cape Department of Health during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic: Leveraging data to save lives by activating a telemedicine response. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med 2021; 13:e1-e4. [PMID: 34082548 PMCID: PMC8182462 DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v13i1.2954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has put health systems across the globe under strain. There has been much suffering and loss, but a silver lining is emerging – a growing list of deeply contextualised, resource-light and patient-centric innovations that are showing the promise of reshaping health care delivery as we know it. Some of these innovations were lying latent in the system, waiting for the ‘dots to be joined’. The Western Cape was the first province in South Africa to experience a COVID-19 wave from May 2020 to July 2020, with 60–70 deaths being reported daily. To bend the mortality curve during this crisis was not easy but was made possible using a rudimentary telehealth system. This project represents an exemplar of innovation, built out of necessity to save lives and may well become a staple component of the health service in a post-crisis era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neal J David
- Division of Family Medicine and Integrated Palliative Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; and, Department of Health, Metro Health Services, Western Cape Government, Cape Town.
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Osman M, Karat AS, Khan M, Meehan SA, von Delft A, Brey Z, Charalambous S, Hesseling AC, Naidoo P, Loveday M. Health system determinants of tuberculosis mortality in South Africa: a causal loop model. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:388. [PMID: 33902565 PMCID: PMC8074279 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06398-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern in South Africa and TB-related mortality remains unacceptably high. Numerous clinical studies have examined the direct causes of TB-related mortality, but its wider, systemic drivers are less well understood. Applying systems thinking, we aimed to identify factors underlying TB mortality in South Africa and describe their relationships. At a meeting organised by the ‘Optimising TB Treatment Outcomes’ task team of the National TB Think Tank, we drew on the wide expertise of attendees to identify factors underlying TB mortality in South Africa. We generated a causal loop diagram to illustrate how these factors relate to each other. Results Meeting attendees identified nine key variables: three ‘drivers’ (adequacy & availability of tools, implementation of guidelines, and the burden of bureaucracy); three ‘links’ (integration of health services, integration of data systems, and utilisation of prevention strategies); and three ‘outcomes’ (accessibility of services, patient empowerment, and socio-economic status). Through the development and refinement of the causal loop diagram, additional explanatory and linking variables were added and three important reinforcing loops identified. Loop 1, ‘Leadership and management for outcomes’ illustrated that poor leadership led to increased bureaucracy and reduced the accessibility of TB services, which increased TB-related mortality and reinforced poor leadership through patient empowerment. Loop 2, ‘Prevention and structural determinants’ describes the complex reinforcing loop between socio-economic status, patient empowerment, the poor uptake of TB and HIV prevention strategies and increasing TB mortality. Loop 3, ‘System capacity’ describes how fragmented leadership and limited resources compromise the workforce and the performance and accessibility of TB services, and how this negatively affects the demand for higher levels of stewardship. Conclusions Strengthening leadership, reducing bureaucracy, improving integration across all levels of the system, increasing health care worker support, and using windows of opportunity to target points of leverage within the South African health system are needed to both strengthen the system and reduce TB mortality. Further refinement of this model may allow for the identification of additional areas of intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Osman
- Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Aaron S Karat
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,The Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Munira Khan
- Tuberculosis and HIV Investigative Network (THINK), Durban, South Africa
| | - Sue-Ann Meehan
- Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Arne von Delft
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,TB Proof, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Zameer Brey
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Salome Charalambous
- The Aurum Institute, Parktown, South Africa.,School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Anneke C Hesseling
- Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Pren Naidoo
- Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Marian Loveday
- HIV Prevention Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.,South African Medical Research Council-CAPRISA-HIV-TB Pathogenesis and Treatment Research Unit, Durban, South Africa
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Brey Z, Mash R, Goliath C, Roman D. Home delivery of medication during Coronavirus disease 2019, Cape Town, South Africa: Short report. Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med 2020; 12:e1-e4. [PMID: 32501022 PMCID: PMC7284162 DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v12i1.2449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The public sector primary care facilities in Cape Town serve a large number of patients with chronic diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus, tuberculosis, diabetes, hypertension, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Prior to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, stable patients with chronic conditions attended the facility or support groups to obtain their medication. During the COVID-19 epidemic, these patients would be put at risk if they had to travel and gather in groups to receive medication. The Metropolitan Health Services, therefore, decided to offer home delivery of medication. A system of home delivery was rapidly established by linking the existing chronic dispensing unit system with the emerging approach to community-orientated primary care in the Metro. Medication was delivered as usual to primary care pharmacies, but then a variety of means were used to disseminate the parcels to local non-profit organisations, where they could be delivered by a city-wide network of community health workers (CHWs). Innovations included various ways of delivering the parcels, including via Uber, bicycles and electric scooters, as well as Google forms to monitor the success of the initiative. It was estimated that up to 200 000 parcels per month could be delivered in this way via 2500 CHWs. The new system was established throughout the Metropole, and its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are further discussed. The initiative may prevent COVID-19 amongst people with comorbidities who would be at risk of more severe diseases. It may also have de-congested primary care facilities ahead of the expected surge in COVID-19 cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zameer Brey
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Cape Town.
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van As AB, Brey Z, Numanoglu A. Improving operating theatre efficiency in South Africa. S Afr Med J 2011; 101:444-448. [PMID: 21920104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2010] [Revised: 01/05/2011] [Accepted: 01/12/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A B van As
- Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital.
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