Children In sub-Saharan Africa Research Articles

Prevalence of oral rehydration solution use and its determinants in the treatment of diarrhea among under-five children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Diarrhea is the second leading cause of under-five deaths claiming half a million children every year. Most of these deaths occurred in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Oral rehydration solution (ORS) has been described as the most effective treatment of diarrhea. However, only 36% of children with diarrhea received ORS in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examined the factors associated with ORS use for children with diarrhea in the sub-region. Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data sets of 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa were used in this study. The data involved 30,102 under-five children with diarrhea. The multivariable analysis involved binary logistic regression. Prevalence of ORS use was 38% in sub-Saharan Africa with countries such as Namibia (71.8%), Zambia (66.4%) and Malawi (63.8%) having the highest rates. Use of ORS was most common among children whose mothers had secondary or higher education (45%), were exposed to media (41%) and attended antenatal care (41%). ORS use was significantly associated with secondary or higher education (OR = 1.63; 95%CI: [1.47-1.81]; p<0.001), exposure to media (OR = 1.17; 95%CI: [1.07-1.27]; p<0.001), antenatal care attendance (OR = 2.33; 95%CI: [1.08-1.27]; p<0.001), child's age (OR = 1.46; 95%CI: [1.35-1.59]; p<0.001), child's size at birth (OR = 1.08; 95%CI: [1.00-1.17]; p<0.05), household size (OR = 1.28; 95%CI:[1.06-1.54]; p<0.05) and source of drinking water (OR = 1.18; 95%CI: [1.09-1.29]; p<0.001). This study revealed a 38% prevalence of ORS use during diarrhea episodes in sub-Saharan Africa. This is low as it is less than the 44% recorded for developing countries as a whole. While this study emphasises the need for a further study on effects of severity of diarrhea on ORS use and factors determining differences in ORS use among countries, it also calls for interventions that will increase use of ORS is sub-Saharan Africa. Such interventions should include increase in literacy rate among girls and women, increase in the proportion of women with access to media, involvement of health workers in programmes that would promote antenatal care utilization among women at community level and provision of social amenities like pipe-borne water.

Vitamin A supplementation coverage and associated factors for children aged 6 to 59 months in integrated and campaign-based delivery systems in four sub-Saharan African countries

BackgroundVitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a leading contributor to the poor health and nutrition of young children in sub-Saharan Africa. Funding constraints are compelling many countries to shift from longstanding campaigns to integrating vitamin A supplementation (VAS) into routine health services. We assessed child VAS coverage and associated factors for integrated delivery systems in Mozambique, Senegal, and Sierra Leone and for a campaign-based delivery strategy in Tanzania.MethodsData were obtained using representative household surveys administered to primary caregivers of N = 16,343 children aged 6–59 months (Mozambique: N = 1,659; Senegal: N = 7,254; Sierra Leone: N = 4,149; Tanzania: N = 3,281). Single-dose VAS coverage was assessed and bivariate and multivariable associations were examined for child VAS receipt with respect to rural or urban residence; child age and sex; maternal age, education, and VAS program knowledge; and household wealth.ResultsVAS coverage for children aged 6–59 months was 42.8% (95% CI: 40.2, 45.6) in Mozambique, 46.1% (95% CI: 44.9, 47.4) in Senegal, 86.9% (95% CI: 85.8, 87.9) in Sierra Leone, and 42.4% (95% CI: 40.2, 44.6) in Tanzania and was significantly higher for children 6–11 vs. 24–59 months in Mozambique, Senegal, and Tanzania. In Sierra Leone, children aged 12–23 months (aOR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.20, 2.86) and 24–59 months (aOR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.25) were more likely to receive VAS, compared to those 6–11 months. Maternal awareness of VAS programs was associated with higher uptake in Mozambique (aOR = 4.00; 95% CI: 2.81, 5.68), Senegal (aOR = 2.72; 95% CI: 2.35, 3.15), and Tanzania (aOR = 14.50; 95% CI: 10.98, 19.17). Increased household wealth was associated with a higher likelihood of child VAS in Senegal and Tanzania.ConclusionsOur findings indicate routine delivery approaches for VAS are not achieving the level of coverage needed for public health impact in these settings. Intensive outreach efforts contributed to the higher coverage in Sierra Leone and highlight the importance of reducing the burdens associated with seeking supplementation at health facilities. As countries move towards incorporating VAS into routine health services, the essentiality of informed communities and potential losses for older children and socio-economically disadvantaged populations are key considerations in the sub-Saharan African context.

A Scoping Review on the Psychosocial Effects of Sexual Abuse on the Girl Child in Sub-Saharan Africa

A Scoping Review on the Psychosocial Effects of Sexual Abuse on the Girl Child in Sub-Saharan Africa

Prevalence and Predictors of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Sub-Saharan Africa: A 10-Year Systematic Review.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains a global public health problem, which affects the well-being of mothers and their children in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Studies conducted in different geographical areas provide varied results on its prevalence and predictors. Understanding the extent and predictors of GDM in SSA is important for developing effective interventions and policies. Thus, this review aimed to investigate the prevalence of GDM and its predictive factors in sub-Saharan Africa. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards in this review. An extensive search of the PubMed, Web of Sciences and EMBASE databases was carried out covering papers from 2012 to 2022 to assess the prevalence and predictors of GDM. Microsoft Excel 2019 was utilised for study management. GraphPad Prism Version 8.0 and the MedCalc statistical software were employed for data analysis. The findings were analysed using textual descriptions, tables, forest plots and heat maps. Using 30 studies with 23,760 participants that satisfied the inclusion criteria, the review found the overall prevalence of GDM in SSA to be 3.05% (1.85%-4.54%). History of preterm delivery, alcohol consumption, family history of diabetes, history of stillbirths, history of macrosomia, overweight or obesity and advanced mother age were all significant predictors of gestational diabetes. Additionally, various biomarkers such as haemoglobin, adiponectin, leptin, resistin, visfatin, vitamin D, triglycerides and dietary intake type were identified as significant predictors of GDM. In sub-Saharan Africa, there is a high pooled prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus. In the light of the predictors of GDM identified in this review, it is strongly recommended to implement early screening for women at risk of developing gestational diabetes during their pregnancy. This proactive approach is essential for enhancing the overall well-being of both mothers and children.

Mosquito Bed Net Use and Burkitt Lymphoma Incidence in Sub-Saharan Africa

Burkitt lymphoma (BL) is one of the most common childhood cancers in sub-Saharan Africa and is etiologically linked to malaria. However, evidence for an effect of malaria interventions on BL is limited. To investigate the potential population-level association between large-scale rollout of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) in sub-Saharan Africa in the 2000s and BL incidence. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a search was conducted in the Embase, Global Health, and Medline databases and in cancer registry publications between January 1, 1990, and February 27, 2023. All epidemiologic studies on BL incidence rates in children and adolescents aged 0 to 15 years in sub-Saharan African countries where malaria is endemic were identified by 2 reviewers blinded to each other's decision. The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses reporting guideline. Data were extracted independently by 2 reviewers, and quality was scored based on 3 predefined criteria: data collection, case ascertainment, and calculation of person-time at risk. Incidence rates of BL during childhood and mean ITN use in the population. Data were analyzed using a random-effects negative binomial regression model. Of 2333 studies meeting selection criteria, 23 comprising 66 data points on BL incidence were included based on 5226 BL cases from locations with large-scale ITN use in 17 countries. Rates of BL were 44% (95% CI, 12%-64%) lower in the period after ITN introduction compared with before. The adjusted pooled incidence rates of BL were 1.36 (95% CI, 0.88-2.10) and 0.76 (95% CI, 0.50-1.16) per 100 000 person-years before and after introduction of ITNs, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, a 1-percentage point increase in mean ITN use in the population in the 10 years before BL data collection was associated with a 2% (95% CI, 1%-4%) reduction in BL incidence. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, large-scale rollout of ITNs in the 2000s was associated with a reduction in BL burden among children in sub-Saharan Africa. Although published data may not be representative of all incidence rates across sub-Saharan Africa, this study highlights a potential additional benefit of malaria control programs.

Carriage of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales among children in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The increasing resistance of Enterobacterales to third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a major public health concern. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies to estimate the carriage prevalence of Enterobacterales not susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins or carbapenems among paediatric populations in SSA. We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional and cohort studies to estimate the prevalence of childhood (0-18 years old) carriage of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (ESCR-E) or carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in SSA. Medline, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies published from 1 January 2005 to 1 June 2022. Studies with <10 occurrences per bacteria, case reports, and meta-analyses were excluded. Quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Meta-analyses of prevalences and odds ratios were calculated using generalised linear mixed-effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics. The protocol is available on PROSPERO (CRD42021260157). Of 1111 studies examined, 40 met our inclusion criteria, reporting on the carriage prevalence of Enterobacterales in 9408 children. The pooled carriage prevalence of ESCR-E was 32.2% (95% CI: 25.2%-40.2%). Between-study heterogeneity was high (I2=96%). The main sources of bias pertained to participant selection and the heterogeneity of the microbiological specimens. Carriage proportions were higher among sick children than healthy ones (35.7% vs 16.9%). The pooled proportion of nosocomial acquisition was 53.8% (95% CI: 32.1%-74.1%) among the 922 children without ESCR-E carriage at hospital admission. The pooled odds ratio of ESCR-E carriage after antibiotic treatment within the previous 3 months was 3.20 (95% CI: 2.10-4.88). The proportion of pooled carbapenem-resistant for Enterobacterales was 3.6% (95% CI: 0.7%-16.4%). This study suggests that ESCR-E carriage among children in SSA is frequent. Microbiology capacity and infection control must be scaled-up to reduce the spread of those multidrug-resistant microorganisms. There was no funding source for this study.

Determinants of normal haemoglobin concentration among under-five children in Sub-Saharan Africa: a Positive deviance inquiry using cross-sectional study design

BackgroundLow haemoglobin level in children is linked with short-term and long-term consequences including developmental delay. Globally, over half of the children under the age of five years had low haemoglobin...

Antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacterales infections among children in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been estimated to be the highest in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The current study estimated the proportion of drug-resistant Enterobacterales causing infections in SSA children. We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library to identify retrospective and prospective studies published from 01/01/2005 to 01/06/2022 reporting AMR of Enterobacterales causing infections in sub-Saharan children (0-18 years old). Studies were excluded if they had unclear documentation of antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods or fewer than ten observations per bacteria. Data extraction and quality appraisal were conducted by two authors independently. The primary outcome was the proportion of Enterobacterales resistant to antibiotics commonly used in paediatrics. Proportions were combined across studies using mixed-effects logistic regression models per bacteria and per antibiotic. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021260157). After screening 1111 records, 122 relevant studies were included, providing data on more than 30,000 blood, urine and stool isolates. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. were the predominant species, both presenting high proportions of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, especially in blood cultures: 40.6% (95% CI: 27.7%-55%; I2: 85.7%, number of isolates (n): 1032) and 84.9% (72.8%-92.2%; I2: 94.1%, n: 2067), respectively. High proportions of resistance to other commonly used antibiotics were also observed. E.coli had high proportions of resistance, especially for ampicillin (92.5%; 95% CI: 76.4%-97.9%; I2: 89.8%, n: 888) and gentamicin (42.7%; 95% CI: 30%-56.5%; I2: 71.9%, n: 968). Gentamicin-resistant Klebsiella spp. were also frequently reported (77.6%; 95% CI: 65.5%-86.3%; I2: 91.6%, n: 1886). High proportions of resistance to antibiotics commonly used for empirical treatment of infectious syndromes were found for Enterobacterales in sub-Saharan children. There is a critical need to better identify local patterns of AMR to inform and update clinical guidelines for better treatment outcomes. No funding was received.

Long-term data from the REACH study testing hydroxyurea to treat sickle cell anaemia in children in sub-Saharan Africa

Long-term data from the REACH study testing hydroxyurea to treat sickle cell anaemia in children in sub-Saharan Africa

Barriers and Challenges Affecting Quality Education (Sustainable Development Goal #4) in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030

Education is a fundamental human right and a crucial tool for sustainable human capacity development, which can advance the economic growth of a country. Yet for many children in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), quality education remains out of reach. This study aimed to identify the barriers and challenges to enacting Sustainable Development Goal 4: “Ensuring Inclusive, Equitable, and Quality Education and the Promotion of Lifelong Learning Opportunities for All”. Through a content analysis of the relevant literature, we identified three themes: funding constraints, access and inclusion, and teacher education. Regarding funding, issues of resource allocation, technical capacity, and accountability were identified as primary factors requiring intervention strategies to become fully realized in SSA. When exploring access and inclusion, we found that incorporating students with disabilities, gender disparities, physical barriers, and inadequate curriculum are essential factors limiting quality education in SSA. Finally, teachers’ conditions and training emerged as crucial challenges to reach quality pedagogy. Some SSA countries have improved their efforts for quality education, but these barriers and challenges continue to impact education for all children. A new perspective on mitigating these impediments can address several factors responsible for the exclusion of diverse groups from accessing quality education in the SSA region.

Informal health sector and routine immunization: making the case for harnessing the potentials of patent medicine vendors for the big catch-up to reduce zero-dose children in sub-Saharan Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a surge in the number of unimmunized and under-immunized children in Africa. The majority of unimmunized (or zero-dose) children live in hard-to-reach rural areas, urban slums, and communities affected by conflict where health facilities are usually unavailable or difficult to access. In these settings, people mostly rely on the informal health sector for essential health services. Therefore, to reduce zero-dose children, it is critical to expand immunization services beyond health facilities to the informal health sector to meet the immunization needs of children in underserved places. In this perspective article, we propose a framework for the expansion of immunization services through the informal health sector as one of the pillars for the big catch-up plan to improve coverage and equity. In African countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, patent medicine vendors serve as an important informal health sector provider group, and thus, they can be engaged to provide immunization services. A hub-and-spoke model can be used to integrate patent medicine vendors into the immunization system. A hub-and-spoke model is a framework for organization design where services that are provided by a central facility (hub) are complimented by secondary sites (spokes) to optimize access to care. Systems thinking approach should guide the design, implementation, and evaluation of this model.

Access to basic education: A literature review of challenges facing children living with visual impairment in Sub-Saharan Africa

Visual impairment is a serious public health challenge that impacts on the social, economic, and educational opportunities of affected children, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Most countries in SSA fail to address education barriers emanating from poorly formulated education policies and implementation that directly or indirectly discriminate against children living with visual disabilities, particularly those from rural backgrounds. Therefore reviewing education policies and legislative laws about their pertinence and execution appears paramount. An extensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, Medline, and EBSCOhost databases as well as official websites including technical reports, policy documents and/or frameworks. The literature search used the following keywords in various combinations ‘access to basic education’, ‘challenges to accessing basic education’, and ‘visual impairment among children in Sub-Saharan Africa’. The literature reviewed geographically covers a SSA perspective on the following aspects: (1) visual impairment among children in SSA, (2) the lack of access to basic education for visually impaired children, (3) shortage of specialised skills in basic education for visually impaired children, (4) violations of good practice and discrimination in accessing basic education, and (5) possible solutions to the challenges experienced by children with visual impairments in SSA. Visually impaired children need to be recognised as part of their communities and should have the same rights to education as other citizens. All necessary measures should be made available for them to have fulfilling lives, including appropriate educational facilities.

Individual and community-level determinants of pentavalent vaccination dropouts among under-five children in the sub-Saharan African countries: A multilevel analysis of the recent demographic and health survey

BackgroundGlobally, each year, about 3 million deaths among children are prevented by pentavalent vaccinations. However, in developing countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, pentavalent vaccination dropout rates are not well reported. Therefore, this study aimed to assess pentavalent vaccination dropout rates and their determinants among under-five children in Sub-Saharan Africa. MethodsData from the recent Demographic and Health Surveys in 33 Sub-Saharan African countries were used for analysis. The study used a total of 358,529 under-five children. The determinants of pentavalent vaccination dropout were determined using a multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression model. Significant factors associated with pentavalent vaccination dropout were declared significant at p-values < 0.05. A model with the lowest deviance and highest logliklihood ratio was selected as the best-fit model. ResultsIn Sub-Saharan Africa, one in five under-five children had pentavalent vaccination dropout rates. Factors such as Age (AOR = 1.61, 95 % CI: 1.51, 1.72), educational level (AOR = 1.30, 95 % CI: 1.22, 1.40), place of delivery (AOR = 1.65, 95 % CI: 1.57, 1.73), ANC visits (AOR = 1.34, 95 % CI: 1.23, 1.45), postnatal check-up (AOR = 1.19, 95 % CI: 1.14, 1.25), wealth status (AOR = 1.09, 95 % CI: 1.04, 1.15), distance to health facility (AOR = 1.08, 95 % CI: 1.03, 1.13), media exposure (AOR = 1.12, 95 % 1.15), and geographical region (AOR = 1.60, 95 % CI: 1.49, 1.72) had higher odds of pentavalent vaccination dropouts. ConclusionsPentavalent vaccination dropout rates in sub-Saharan Africa among under-five children were high. Both individual and community-level variables were determinants of pentavalent vaccination dropout rates. Government and ministry of health in Sub-Saharan Africa should give attention to those mothers of under-five children who reported distance as a big problem in accessing health facilities and to women who do not utilise antenatal and postnatal check-ups while designing policies and strategies in sub-Saharan Africa.

Factors Associated with Undernutrition among Children Under Five Years at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Hoima City Western Uganda

Undernutrition was one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity among under-five children in Sub-Saharan Africa. To understand the determinants of undernutrition among under-five children, this study was conducted at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital (HRRH) in Hoima City. The source of data was household demographic and socio-economic characteristics which included anthropometric data on under-five children at HRRH. Anthropometric data included height, weight and MUAC for the different ages of the children. Data analysis was done in the Epi Info program module and Stata statistical software. Multivariate analysis was done by fitting a binary logistic regression model to establish the underlying determinants of undernutrition among under-five children. It was found that children aged 39-59 months were less likely to be underweight than those aged less than twelve months. Findings also revealed that stunting was more prevalent among children of peasant farmers than the pastoralists. There was however no significant relationship between child wasting and selected child characteristics. It was worth noting that the study was essential in pointing out the particular age groups among under-five children as well as the occupations that contribute to undernutrition in Hoima City. Based on the findings, the study recommends exclusive breastfeeding and proper complementary feeding, especially among those aged less than three years. Special arrangements could also be put in place to have children of mothers engaged in cultivation brought regularly for breastfeeding. Keywords: Undernutrition, Anthropometric, Breastfeeding, Underweight.

The public health impact and cost-effectiveness of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine: a mathematical modelling study

The R21/Matrix-M vaccine has demonstrated high efficacy against Plasmodium falciparum clinical malaria in children in sub-Saharan Africa. Using trial data, we aimed to estimate the public health impact and cost-effectiveness of vaccine introduction across sub-Saharan Africa. We fitted a semi-mechanistic model of the relationship between anti-circumsporozoite protein antibody titres and vaccine efficacy to data from 3 years of follow-up in the phase 2b trial of R21/Matrix-M in Nanoro, Burkina Faso. We validated the model by comparing predicted vaccine efficacy to that observed over 12-18 months in the phase 3 trial. Integrating this framework within a mathematical transmission model, we estimated the cases, malaria deaths, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) averted and cost-effectiveness over a 15-year time horizon across a range of transmission settings in sub-Saharan Africa. Cost-effectiveness was estimated incorporating the cost of vaccine introduction (dose, consumables, and delivery) relative to existing interventions at baseline. We report estimates at a median of 20% parasite prevalence in children aged 2-10 years (PfPR2-10) and ranges from 3% to 65% PfPR2-10. Anti-circumsporozoite protein antibody titres were found to satisfy the criteria for a surrogate of protection for vaccine efficacy against clinical malaria. Age-based implementation of a four-dose regimen of R21/Matrix-M vaccine was estimated to avert 181 825 (range 38 815-333 491) clinical cases per 100 000 fully vaccinated children in perennial settings and 202 017 (29 868-405 702) clinical cases per 100 000 fully vaccinated children in seasonal settings. Similar estimates were obtained for seasonal or hybrid implementation. Under an assumed vaccine dose price of US$3, the incremental cost per clinical case averted was $7 (range 4-48) in perennial settings and $6 (3-63) in seasonal settings and the incremental cost per DALY averted was $34 (29-139) in perennial settings and $30 (22-172) in seasonal settings, with lower cost-effectiveness ratios in settings with higher PfPR2-10. Introduction of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine could have a substantial public health benefit across sub-Saharan Africa. The Wellcome Trust, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK Medical Research Council, the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 2 and 3, the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, and the Serum Institute of India, Open Philanthropy.

Minimal impact on the resistome of children in Botswana after azithromycin treatment for acute severe diarrhoeal disease.

Macrolide antibiotics, including azithromycin, can reduce under-five mortality rates and treat various infections in children in sub-Saharan Africa. These exposures, however, can select for antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the gut microbiota. Our previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a rapid-test-and-treat strategy for severe acute diarrhoeal disease in children in Botswana included an intervention (three-day azithromycin dose) group and a control group that received supportive treatment. In this prospective matched cohort study using stools collected at baseline and 60 days after treatment from RCT participants, the collection of antibiotic resistance genes or resistome was compared between groups. Certain macrolide resistance genes increased in prevalence by 13% to 55% at 60 days, without differences in gene presence between the intervention and control groups. These genes were linked to tetracycline resistance genes and mobile genetic elements. Azithromycin treatment for bacterial diarrhoea for young children in Botswana resulted in similar effects on the gut resistome as the supportive treatment and did not provide additional selective pressure for macrolide resistance gene maintenance. The gut microbiota of these children contains diverse macrolide resistance genes that may be transferred within the gut upon repeated exposures to azithromycin or co-selected by other antibiotics.

Risk and rates of hospitalisation in young children: A prospective study of a South African birth cohort.

Children in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are disproportionately affected by morbidity and mortality. There is also a growing vulnerable population of children who are HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU). Understanding reasons and risk factors for early-life child hospitalisation will help optimise interventions to improve health outcomes. We investigated hospitalisations from birth to two years in a South African birth cohort study. Mother-child pairs in the Drakenstein Child Health Study were followed from birth to two years with active surveillance for hospital admission and investigation of aetiology and outcome. Incidence, duration, cause, and factors associated with child hospitalisation were investigated, and compared between HEU and HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) children. Of 1136 children (247 HEU; 889 HUU), 314 (28%) children were hospitalised in 430 episodes despite >98% childhood vaccination coverage. The highest hospitalisation rate was from 0-6 months, decreasing thereafter; 20% (84/430) of hospitalisations occurred in neonates at birth. Amongst hospitalisations subsequent to discharge after birth, 83% (288/346) had an infectious cause; lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) was the most common cause (49%;169/346) with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) responsible for 31% of LRTIs; from 0-6 months, RSV-LRTI accounted for 22% (36/164) of all-cause hospitalisations. HIV exposure was associated with increased incidence rates of hospitalisation in infants (IRR 1.63 [95% CI 1.29-2.05]) and longer hospital admission (p = 0.004). Prematurity (HR 2.82 [95% CI 2.28-3.49]), delayed infant vaccinations (HR 1.43 [95% CI 1.12-1.82]), or raised maternal HIV viral load in HEU infants were risk factors for hospitalisation; breastfeeding was protective (HR 0.69 [95% CI 0.53-0.90]). In conclusion, children in SSA experience high rates of hospitalisation in early life. Infectious causes, especially RSV-LRTI, underly most hospital admissions. HEU children are at greater risk of hospitalisation in infancy compared to HUU children. Available strategies such as promoting breastfeeding, timely vaccination, and optimising antenatal maternal HIV care should be strengthened. New interventions to prevent RSV may have additional impact in reducing hospitalisation.

In their own words: linguistic analysis of interviews with Sesotho mothers on their child’s first thousand days

ABSTRACT Sensitive and responsive caregiving is a critical protective factor for children in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) during their first 1000 days of life. Health initiatives may benefit from evaluating the experience of caregivers in SSA to understand their parenting experiences. This study utilized linguistic analysis to gain insight into the lived experience of 19 Sesotho-speaking mothers of infants aged 18–30 months in low-income areas of Mangaung, Free State, South Africa. Women were asked the same set of questions about their child’s first 1000 days of life, and we used LIWC (Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count) LIWC to evaluate the perspectives of mothers in SA compared to published LIWC norms. Analyses revealed word use patterns associated with psychological processes such as negative affect, social processes, anger and anxiety. Findings are discussed within the context of Sesotho culture to aid in the future intervention development for this vulnerable population. This study is important because it yields important information about the subjective experience of an understudied critical population of mothers in SSA. Further, this study points to future directions for the field of understanding the impact of motherhood on women in low resource settings.

Predictors for low coverage of uptake of second dose of measles vaccine among children in sub-Saharan Africa, 2023: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Measles became a public health important disease in sub-Saharan Africa. World Health Organization recommended measles-containing vaccine dose 2 (MCV2) through routine service delivery. This study aims to determine coverage of second-dose measles vaccination uptake and its predictors among children aged 24-35 months in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted an extensive search of literature as indicated in the guideline of reporting systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA). The databases used were PubMed, Google Scholar, and HINARI literature. The overall uptake of the second dose of measles vaccine uptake was 41% (95% CI: 28.90-53.47). Caregiver's awareness of the importance of the second dose of measles (2.51, 95% CI 1.77, 3.25), educational status of mothers (1.30, 95% CI 1.16, 1.45), distance from vaccination site (1.22, 95% CI 1.12, 1.32), and attending four and above ANC visit (2.72, 95% CI 2.29, 3.15) were determinants for second dose measles vaccine uptake. Coverage of the second dose of measles uptake in Sub-Saharan Africa was low (41%) which is lower than the recommendation from WHO. Therefore policymakers and stakeholders should increase mother's awareness. Also, special strategies should be developed for those who are far from the vaccination site. ANC: Ante Natal Care; JBI: Joanna Briggs Institute; MCV1: Measles containing vaccine dose 1; MCV2: Measles containing vaccine dose 2; WHO: World Health Organization.

Mosaic chromosomal alterations in peripheral blood leukocytes of children in sub-Saharan Africa

In high-income countries, mosaic chromosomal alterations in peripheral blood leukocytes are associated with an elevated risk of adverse health outcomes, including hematologic malignancies. We investigate mosaic chromosomal alterations in sub-Saharan Africa among 931 children with Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive lymphoma commonly characterized by immunoglobulin-MYC chromosomal rearrangements, 3822 Burkitt lymphoma-free children, and 674 cancer-free men from Ghana. We find autosomal and X chromosome mosaic chromosomal alterations in 3.4% and 1.7% of Burkitt lymphoma-free children, and 8.4% and 3.7% of children with Burkitt lymphoma (P-values = 5.7×10−11 and 3.74×10−2, respectively). Autosomal mosaic chromosomal alterations are detected in 14.0% of Ghanaian men and increase with age. Mosaic chromosomal alterations in Burkitt lymphoma cases include gains on chromosomes 1q and 8, the latter spanning MYC, while mosaic chromosomal alterations in Burkitt lymphoma-free children include copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 10, 14, and 16. Our results highlight mosaic chromosomal alterations in sub-Saharan African populations as a promising area of research.