Factors associated with unmet need for birth spacing among Angolan women

Unmet need for family planning (UNFP) remains a public health concern in Angola. The objective of this study was to analyze the factors associated with UNFP among Angolan women aged 15-49 years in 2015-2016. This was an analytical cross-sectional study. A multiple logistic regression model using data from the Angola Demographic and Health Survey 2015-2016 was performed to determine the associated factors. In total, the study involved 8033 women, 22% of whom were between 25-29 years of age. A large number (65%) lived in urban areas and 39% had primary education. About 1/4 of the women(26%) had UNFP for birth spacing. Associated factors were multiple. Age, credible source of information on family planning were protective factors against UNFP for birth spacing while economic level, the woman's level of education were risk factors for NFP. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022;26[6]:22-26).

Cervical cancer in the Hauts-Bassins region of Burkina Faso: Results of a screening campaign by visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA screening in Burkina Faso)

This study was conducted to describe the distribution of precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix uteri, enumerated during a mass screening in Burkina Faso. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 577 women aged 18 to 60 years, carried out from November 23 to December 19, 2013, in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso and in the rural commune of Bama. Regarding the screening results, 89 participants (15.4%) were positive for pre-malignant cervical lesions. Chi-square testing and logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the likelihood of cervical pre-cancer lesion in the women. Participants less than 29 years old were approximately 3 times more likely to have cervical lesions than participants >39 years. Participants who were parous (1-3 deliveries) and multiparous (four or more deliveries) were approximately 4 times more likely to present with cervical lesions than nulliparous women. Access to screening services is low in the Bobo-Dioulasso region. Further research should be conducted to understand the incidence and distribution of cervical precancerous and cancerous lesions in Burkina Faso. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26[6]:97-103).

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Cost-free Nutrition Programme on Children in Reo Health District, Burkina Faso

Background: The community management for acute malnutrition (CMAM) was started in 2012 with the aim toimpact the lives of a large number of children suffering from acute malnutrition without any cost. Objective: Thestudy aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the CMAM program on severe acute malnutrition (SAM) andmoderate acute malnutrition (MAM) treatment. Methods: Children aged 6 to 59 months were screened formalnutrition in a complementary compulsory screening program. Acutely malnourished children underwent freemedical and nutritional treatment. Evaluation of the CMAM program implementation was performed bycomparison with paid services by collecting data from malnourished children’s parents. Results: From the 64458screened children, 835 were diagnosed as new acutely malnourished cases and referred to health centers fortreatment. The anthropometric parameters (MUAC, weight, height) have significantly improved from the time ofadmission to the end of treatment. Performance indicators using the Sphere standards were above the expectedlevel for outpatient treatment but for inpatient treatment, it failed to meet the expected standard. Poverty and theuse of traditional medicine to treat malnutrition, distance, availability, and cost of transportation to the healthcenter were significant barriers to the continuation of healthcare services. Conclusion: The CMAM program iseffective. It covered and allowed the treatment of several children presenting the number of pathologies reducingchildren's morbidity and mortality. In order to increase children’s nutritional status, it will be helpful to workwith traditional healers.

A variant of DC-SIGN gene promoter associated with resistance to HIV-1 in serodiscordant couples in Burkina Faso

OBJECTIVE@#To study the involvement of variations in 4 genes associated with susceptibility and/or protection against HIV-1 in serodiscordant couples in Burkina Faso, namely, genes encoding HLA-B57, interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), dendritic cell-specific ICAM3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) and CCR5 delta 32 (CCR5Δ32).@*METHODS@#Two DC-SIGN and two IRF1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as well as HLA-B57*01 and CCR5Δ32 alleles were genotyped in 51 serodiscordant couples in Burkina Faso. DC-SIGN, IRF1 and HLA-B57*01 genotyping was carried out by real time PCR using TaqMan assays (Applied Biosystems, USA and Sacace Biotechnologies, Italy). CCR5Δ32 deletion was investigated by PCR.@*RESULTS@#The two SNPs of DC-SIGN promoter showed a significant genotypic difference in serodiscordant couples. After multivariate analysis, only the association between DC-SIGN rs2287886 and HIV-1 remained significant (P<0.01). No association was found between IRF1 SNPs and HIV-1 infection. CCR5Δ32 wild type allele was found in 100% of serodiscordant couples. A high frequency of HLA-B57*01 allele was found in the HIV-positive (78%) compared with HIV-negative group (51%), however this difference was no longer significant after the correction of the sex confounding effect in the logistic regression model.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Our study suggests a protective role of a variation of DC-SIGN promoter and genetic resistance to HIV-1 in serodiscordant couples in Burkina Faso.

A variant of DC-SIGN gene promoter associated with resistance to HIV-1 in serodiscordant couples in Burkina Faso

Objective: To study the involvement of variations in 4 genes associated with susceptibility and/or protection against HIV-1 in serodiscordant couples in Burkina Faso, namely, genes encoding HLA-B57, interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1), dendritic cell-specific ICAM3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) and CCR5 delta 32 (CCR5δ32). Methods: Two DC-SIGN and two IRF1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as well as HLA-B57*01 and CCR5δ 32 alleles were genotyped in 51 serodiscordant couples in Burkina Faso. DC-SIGN, IRF1 and HLA-B57*01 genotyping was carried out by real time PCR using TaqMan assays (Applied Biosystems, USA and Sacace Biotechnologies, Italy). CCR5δ 32 deletion was investigated by PCR. Results: The two SNPs of DC-SIGN promoter showed a significant genotypic difference in serodiscordant couples. After multivariate analysis, only the association between DC-SIGN rs2287886 and HIV-1 remained significant (P<0.01). No association was found between IRF1 SNPs and HIV-1 infection. CCR5δ 32 wild type allele was found in 100% of serodiscordant couples. A high frequency of HLA-B57*01 allele was found in the HIV-positive (78%) compared with HIV-negative group (51%), however this difference was no longer significant after the correction of the sex confounding effect in the logistic regression model. Conclusions: Our study suggests a protective role of a variation of DC-SIGN promoter and genetic resistance to HIV-1 in serodiscordant couples in Burkina Faso.