Incidence rate and predictors of COVID-19 in the two largest cities of Burkina Faso - prospective cohort study in 2021 (ANRS-COV13).

BACKGROUND: Early data on COVID-19 (based primarily on PCR testing) indicated a low burden in Sub-Saharan Africa. To better understand this, this study aimed to estimate the incidence rate and identify predictors of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion in the two largest cities of Burkina Faso. This study is part of the EmulCOVID-19 project (ANRS-COV13). METHODS: Our study utilized the WHO Unity protocol for cohort sero-epidemiological studies of COVID-19 in general population. We conducted random sampling stratified by age group and sex. Individuals aged 10 years and older in the cities of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso were included and surveyed at 4 time points, each 21 days apart, from March 3 to May 15, 2021. WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 Ab ELISA serological tests were used to detect total antibodies (IgM, IgG) in serum. Predictors were investigated using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: We analyzed the data from 1399 participants (1051 in Ouagadougou, 348 in Bobo-Dioulasso) who were SARS-CoV-2 seronegative at baseline and had at least one follow-up visit. The incidence rate of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion was 14.3 cases [95%CI 13.3-15.4] per 100 person-weeks. The incidence rate was almost three times higher in Ouagadougou than in Bobo-Dioulasso (Incidence rate ratio: IRR = 2.7 [2.2-3.2], p < 0.001). The highest incidence rate was reported among women aged 19-59 years in Ouagadougou (22.8 cases [19.6-26.4] per 100 person-weeks) and the lowest among participants aged 60 years and over in Bobo-Dioulasso, 6.3 cases [4.6-8.6] per 100 person-weeks. Multivariable analysis showed that participants aged 19 years and older were almost twice as likely to seroconvert during the study period compared with those aged 10 to 18 years (Hazard ratio: HR = 1.7 [1.3-2.3], p < 0.001). Those aged 10-18 years exhibited more asymptomatic forms than those aged 19 years and older, among those who achieved seroconversion (72.9% vs. 40.4%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The spread of COVID-19 is more rapid in adults and in large cities. Strategies to control this pandemic in Burkina Faso, must take this into account. Adults living in large cities should be the priority targets for vaccination efforts against COVID-19.

Radio and Social Media as A Two-Way Communication Tool in Conflict- and Pandemic-Affected Communities in Burkina Faso

The article draws on the concepts of "felt needs” and "politics of listening” widely used in community development and applies them more broadly to the humanitarian crisis suffered by internally displaced persons in Burkina Faso. It investigates the two-way communication stream between radio journalists and listeners drawing on feedback collected remotely from 153 representatives of internally displaced and host communities in Burkina Faso during COVID-19. It argues that while a voice must be given to marginalised communities, it must also be listened to and acted upon. Rather than radio journalism being a loudspeaker for top-down messaging, the study argues that alternative approaches should be adopted in conflict- and pandemic-affected areas. It finds that a balance is needed between the information that listeners feel they need in their new extreme circumstances and the information that radio journalists, drawing on their expertise, feel would be strategically empowering. © 2023 The Author(s). Co-published by Unisa Press and Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Prevalence of COVID-19 at the Wahgnion-Gold mining site in Burkina Faso and use of RT-PCR initial cycle threshold to monitor the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 load

AJOL : Background: To control the spread of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), it is necessary to adequately identify and isolate infectious patients particularly at the work place. Real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay is the recommended confirmatory method for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of SARSCoV-2 infection in Burkina Faso and to use the initial cycle threshold (Ct) values of RT-PCR as a tool to monitor the dynamics of the viral load. Methodology: Between September 2021 and February 2022, oropharyngeal and/or nasopharyngeal swab samples of consecutively selected COVID-19 symptomatic and apparently healthy workers from the Wahgnion mining site in the South-western Burkina Faso who consented to the study were collected according to the two weeks shift program and tested for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR assay. Patients positive for the virus were followed-up weekly until tests were negative. Association of the initial RT-PCR Ct values with disease duration was assessed by adjusted linear regression approach. Two-sided p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 1506 (92.9% males) participants were recruited into the study, with mean age and age range of 37.1±8.7 and 18-68 years respectively. The overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 14.3% (216/1506). Of the 82 patients included in the follow-up study, the longest duration of positive RT-PCR test, from the first positive to the first of the two negative RT-PCR tests, was 33 days (mean 11.6 days, median 10 days, interquartile range 8-14 days). The initial Ct values significantly correlated with the duration of RT-PCR positivity (with β=-0.54, standard error=0.09 for N gene, and β=-0.44, standard error=0.09 for ORF1ab gene, p<0.001). Participants with higher Ct values corresponding to lower viral loads had shorter viral clearance time than those of lower Ct values or higher viral loads. Conclusion: Approximately 1 out of 7 tested miners had SARS-CoV-2 infection and the duration of their RT-PCR tests positivity independently correlated with the initial viral load measured by initial Ct values. As participants with lower initial Ct values tended to have longer disease duration, initial RT-PCR Ct values could be used to guide COVID-19 patient quarantine duration particularly at the work place

Stress and coping in the face of COVID-19: A qualitative inquiry into early pandemic experiences and psychological wellbeing of health workers in Burkina Faso, Senegal, and The Gambia.

COVID-19 represented an unprecedented challenge for health workers around the world, resulting in strong concerns about impacts on their psychological wellbeing. To inform on-going support and future preparedness activities, this study documented health workers' experiences, wellbeing, and coping throughout the first wave of the pandemic, in Burkina Faso, Senegal, and The Gambia. We collected data from 68 primarily clinical staff from the COVID-19 treatment, maternity, and emergency departments in 13 purposely hospitals and laboratories across the three countries. Following in-depth interviews via zoom (mid-May to September 2020), we regularly followed up via WhatsApp until the end of 2020. We used a mixed deductive and inductive coding approach, and a framework matrix to organize and analyse the material. All respondents initially assessed the situation as stressful and threatening. Major emotional reactions included fear of own infection, fear of being a risk to loved ones, guilt, compassion, and anxiety regarding the future. Many suffered from feeling left alone with the emerging crisis and feeling unvalued and unappreciated, particularly by their governments and ministries of health. Conversely, health workers drew much strength from support and valuation by direct supervisors and team members, and in part also by patients. We observed important heterogeneity between places of work and individual backgrounds. Respondents coped with the situation in various ways, particularly with strategies to manage adverse emotions, minimize infection risk and fortifying health, and find meaning in the adverse circumstances. Coping strategies were primarily grounded in own resources rather than institutional support. Over time, the situation normalised and fears diminished for most respondents. With a view towards emergency preparedness, our findings underline the value of participation and transparent communication, institutional support, and routine training to foster health workers' psychological preparedness, coping skill set, and resilience more generally.

Personal protective equipment wearing in the context of COVID-19 in a hospital in Burkina Faso / Port des équipements de protection individuelle dans le contexte de la COVID-19 dans un centre hospitalier du Burkina Faso

INTRODUCTION: Personal protective equipment (PPE) is used by health care workers to protect themselves and patients from various exposures such as infectious agents. However, the wearing of this equipment is not always optimal, especially in an epidemic context of COVID-19 transmission. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study, in the specific context of COVID-19, is to contribute to the improvement of PPE wearing practices by health workers. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in 2020 at the Charles De Gaulle Pediatric University Hospital in Burkina Faso. All health workers in the care units and the laboratory were included. Data were collected using an observation grid during the first situation indicating the wearing of PPE. The assessment of the indications for wearing PPE was based on the recommendations of the French Society of Hospital Hygiene and on the technical guide for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections in Burkina Faso. RESULTS: Out of 350 targeted agents, 296 were observed. Gowns, masks and gloves were worn in 95.60%, 96.58% and 97.63% of cases respectively. However, PPE such as goggles (1.56%), apron (11.54%), and tunic and pants (46.28%) were poorly used during medical care. CONCLUSION: The practices of health workers with regard to the wearing of certain PPE are still insufficient. A training and awareness program on PPE should be considered to improve patient and staff safety.

Introduction: Les équipements de protection individuelle (EPI) sont utilisés par le personnel de santé dans le cadre des soins pour se protéger et protéger les patients contre les expositions diverses telles que les agents infectieux. Toutefois, le port de ces équipements n'est pas toujours optimal, surtout dans un contexte épidémique de transmission de la COVID-19. But de l'étude: La présente étude vise, dans le contexte spécifique de la COVID-19, à contribuer à l'amélioration des pratiques de port des EPI des agents de santé. Méthodes: Il s'agit d'une étude transversale descriptive conduite en 2020 au centre hospitalier universitaire pédiatrique Charles-de-Gaulle du Burkina Faso. Tous les agents de santé des unités de soins et du laboratoire ont été inclus. Les données ont été recueillies au moyen d'une grille d'observation lors de la première situation indiquant le port d'un EPI. L'appréciation des indications de port des EPI s'est basée sur les recommandations de la Société française d'hygiène hospitalière et sur le Guide technique de prévention et contrôle des infections associées aux soins au Burkina Faso. Résultats: Sur 350 agents ciblés, 296 ont été observés. Le port de la blouse, du masque et des gants était observé respectivement dans 95,60 %, 96,58 % et 97,63 % des cas. Cependant, les EPI tels que les lunettes de protection (1,56 %), le tablier (11,54 %) et la tenue professionnelle composée d'une tunique et d'un pantalon (46,28 %) étaient faiblement utilisés lors des soins médicaux. Conclusion: Les pratiques des agents de santé vis-à-vis du port de certains EPI restent insuffisantes. Un programme de formation et de sensibilisation sur les EPI doit être envisagé afin de renforcer la sécurité des patients et du personnel.

Trust and COVID precautionary measures during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from two African countries.

This study examines how trust was associated with social distancing during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in Burkina Faso and Kenya. It fills gaps in previous research on trust and health by 1) simultaneously considering the relationship of individual- and aggregate-level indicators of trust, and 2) evaluating trust in local government and national government separately. Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) data on COVID-precautionary measures and individual-level trust measures were spatially linked with aggregated trust data from the Afrobarometer to create a multilevel dataset. PMA data show that women in Kenya were generally more likely to report taking COVID-precautionary measures relative to Burkinabé women, although levels of these measures were high in both countries. Hierarchical logistic models for each country show levels of interpersonal trust mattered more in Burkina Faso. Although the association between individual-level trust in government and social distancing was not statistically significant, overall levels of trust in the region where an individual lived were associated with social distancing. We found a significant interaction effect between regional trust in the national government and regional trust in local government: individuals in regions where trust was high in both national and local government were the most likely to socially distance; individuals in regions with low local government trust but high national government trust were less likely to report social distancing. We unpack possible implications of these findings; they point to the importance of a unified government front within African countries in promoting health safety measures during a pandemic.

Why Digital Health Literacy Matters in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa: How Bridging the Digital Health Literacy Gap Could Improve Access to Health Services and Social Equality

Around the world, mobile phones have been used for quite some years now to put healthcare systems into interactive action through various mobile health applications. The results regarding efficiency, access, greater social equality, and interconnectivity are proven, and they promise to mitigate economic and educational gaps. All this is increasingly the case in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where the technological prerequisites are quickly evolving. About 500 million people in SSA--more than 46 percent of the region's population--were subscribing to mobile services in 2020, and their numbers are forecast to reach 615 million in 2025. In the meantime, coverage works also in the structurally poorest areas. In 2020, 2G mobile network coverage in Burkina Faso was 81 percent for the territory and 92.4 percent for the population. The high penetration rate of mobile phones and the increasing coverage of the mobile network has created a vast variety of opportunities for health provision. Mobile devices can no longer be ignored in practical health delivery and disease prevention workflows.

Performance of the PanbioTM COVID-19 Ag rapid test in a health care setting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the PanbioTM Covid-19 Ag Rapid Test (Abbott) in a medical center in Ouagadougou. The PanbioTM COVID-19 Ag test was evaluated from January 26 to March 31, 2021 in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in the medical Centre of Kossodo. A total of 268 individuals were tested by both SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, and antigen RDT. Of these 268 individuals, 52 were positive and 216 were negative for COVID-19 RT-PCR. The performance parameters of the test and its Kappa agreement with the RT-PCR were calculated according to the presence or absence of symptoms in the patients on one hand, and according to the time onset of symptoms on the other hand. The sensitivity of the PanbioTM COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test ranged from 29.63% (95% CI: 13.75 to 50.18) among COVID-19 asymptomatic patients, to 87.5% (95% CI: 52.91 to97.76) among symptomatic patients with symptom onset time of 1-5 days. Similarly, the PanbioTM COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test specificity was 97.3% (95% CI: 90.58 to 99.67) and 96.4% (95% CI: 91.81 to 98.82) in symptomatic and asymptomatic RT PCR negative patients. The PanbioTM COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test shows good performance in detecting COVID-19 cases in patients with a symptom onset time of less than seven (7) days. This performance is even better when the symptom onset is reduced to five (5) days. The results show that the antigen RDT is not suitable for COVID-19 detection among asymptomatic patients.

Perceptions of COVID-19 among frontline health workers in Burkina Faso.

Introduction: In Burkina Faso, the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in March 2020. Health personnel are on the front line of COVID-19 control, and it is important to understand their perceptions and knowledge of the disease. The objective was to determine the knowledge and perceptions of healthcare personnel of COVID-19 in the city of Ouagadougou. Method: The study was conducted in five plots in the city of Ouagadougou. A total of 20 health workers from public and private health centers in the city of Ouagadougou were selected during May 2020. In-depth individual interviews were conducted, and a thematic analysis was performed using NVIVO. Results and discussion: The routes of transmission identified were promiscuity, respiratory tract, and physical contact. Various symptoms have been noted, such as fever, cough, and runny nose. However, they recognize that these symptoms are not sufficient to make a diagnosis of COVID-19. Similarly, the treatments mentioned are modern medicine and phytomedicine. Conclusion: The research has generated information on healthcare workers' knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19. Therefore, they are useful for decision-making regarding protective measures for health workers in the management of COVID-19.

Muslim religiosity in times of Covid-19 in Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire: A dialogue between health standards and religious practices

Muslim Religiosity in Times of Covid-19 in Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire: A Dialogue between Health Norms and Religious Practices. - The Covid-19 pandemic led to the adoption of exceptional measures that significantly transformed religious practices at the end of the first quarter of 2020. These transformations included the closing of places of worship, and later the adoption of strict sanitary measures (physical distancing and the limitation of people allowed in public spaces, ban on physical contact) led to the adoption of creative religious practices by Muslim religious leaders in Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire. However, these practices were diversely appreciated by Muslims: while organizations catering to Muslim civil servants and political and administrative elites strictly adhered to the rules, Muslim traders and youth from popular classes strongly contested the measures.

Coinfections with SARS-CoV-2 variants and influenza virus during the 2019 Coronavirus disease pandemic in Burkina Faso: A surveillance study.

Background and Aim: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) particularly the variants of concern coinfections with influenza is a public health concern in Africa. We aimed to characterize the SARS-CoV-2 variants and determine the rate of coinfections with influenza in Burkina Faso. Methods: COVID-19 surveillance study was conducted between August 2021 and January 2022 using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Positive specimens were further screened for SARS-CoV-2 variants using the multiple variants real-time PCR kits. In addition, influenza virus strains were detected by RT-PCR in SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens using the CDC primers, probes, and protocols. Results: Of 324 specimens assessed, the Omicron and Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2 were the most prevalent with 27.2% [95% confident interval (CI): 22.5-32.4] and 22.2% [95% CI: 17.9-27.2], respectively. The Beta and Gamma variants were detected in 4.3% [95% CI: 2.4-7.1] and 0.3% [95% CI: 0.0-1.7], respectively. Coinfections of Omicron and Beta variants were reported in 21.3% [95% CI: 17.0-26.2], Omicron and Delta variants in 1.2% [95% CI: 0.3-3.1] of specimens, and the Omicron-Gamma variants' coinfections in 0.6% [95% CI: 0.1-2.2]. One COVID-19 specimen with an undetected SARS-CoV-2 variant was also tested positive for the seasonal influenza A (H3N2) virus. No cases of pandemic influenza A (H1N1)pdm09, seasonal A/H1N1, and influenza B were detected. Conclusions: The current World Health Organization SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern were prevalent and their coinfections with influenza were uncommon. Continuous surveillance of both pathogens is, however, needed because of their public health implications.

Genomic Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Western Burkina Faso, West Africa.

BACKGROUND: After its initial detection in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has spread rapidly, causing successive epidemic waves worldwide. This study aims to provide a genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Burkina Faso. METHODS: Three hundred and seventy-seven SARS-CoV-2 genomes obtained from PCR-positive nasopharyngeal samples (PCR cycle threshold score < 35) collected between 5 May 2020, and 31 January 2022 were analyzed. Genomic sequences were assigned to phylogenetic clades using NextClade and to Pango lineages using pangolin. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses were performed to determine the geographical sources and time of virus introduction in Burkina Faso. RESULTS: The analyzed SARS-CoV-2 genomes can be assigned to 10 phylogenetic clades and 27 Pango lineages already described worldwide. Our analyses revealed the important role of cross-border human mobility in the successive SARS-CoV-2 introductions in Burkina Faso from neighboring countries. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides additional insights into the genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in West Africa. It highlights the importance of land travel in the spread of the virus and the need to rapidly implement preventive policies. Regional cross-border collaborations and the adherence of the general population to government policies are key to prevent new epidemic waves.

Impact of Upgraded Pediatric Operating Room on Surgical Volume in Africa: Evidence from Burkina Faso

INTRODUCTION: Lack of infrastructure drives a large unmet need in children's surgery in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This study examines the impact of upgrading existing pediatric operating rooms (ORs) on surgical volume in a hospital in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. METHOD(S): A nongovernmental organization upgraded 3 ORs in September 2019. Surgical volume before and after the upgrade were compared from January 2019 to January 2022 using interrupted time series analysis of a prospective data collection tool. Data from April to May 2020 were omitted owing to COVID-related lockdowns. RESULT(S): After the upgrade, patients were younger (5 vs 3.8 years, p < 0.001) and had lower rate of postoperative sepsis (2.4% vs 0.5%, p < 0.001) and surgical site infection (4.3% vs 2.2%;p = 0.005). Volume increased by 36 cases per month (p = 0.005) from a baseline of 161 cases per month. There was a positive trend of 1 case per month after upgrade and a significant difference between pre- and post- trends in volume (pre-upgrade -8 cases per month vs after upgrade of +1 case per month;p = 0.002). The mortality rate fell from 20% to 4% (p = 0.003) in the month after the upgrade, with a significant difference between pre- and postupgrade mortality rate trends (6.2% vs -1%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION(S): There was significant improvement in volume and surgical outcomes after the OR upgrade This study supports the investment in surgical infrastructure to strengthen capacity in LMIC. Future work should include risk-adjusted mortality.

Improving Covid-19 vaccine literacy among undergraduate students in Burkina Faso

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a major effect on education. University students are going through a high level of psychological pressure and the pandemic has called for people to seek and use covid19 related information to adapt their behaviours. In this study, we present an AI-enabled chatbot designed to provide covid19 related health information. We conduct an impact study on how can an intelligent chatbot impact Covid-19 vaccine literacy among undergraduate students. © 2022 IEEE.

Violence against women from partners and other household members during COVID-19 in Burkina Faso and Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Global evidence indicates increases in gender-based violence (GBV) during the COVID-19 pandemic following mitigation measures, such as stay at home orders. Indirect effects of the pandemic, including income loss, strained social support, and closed or inaccessible violence response services, may further exacerbate GBV and undermine help-seeking. In Kenya and Burkina Faso, as in many settings, GBV was prevalent prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies specific to COVID-impact on GBV in Kenya indicate mixed results and there remains a lack of evidence from Burkina Faso. Our study takes a comprehensive lens by addressing both intimate partner violence (IPV) and non-partner household abuse through the COVID-19 pandemic in two priority settings. METHODS: Annual, national cross-sections of women ages 15-49 completed survey data collection in November-December 2020 and December 2020-March 2021; the GBV module was limited to one woman per household [Kenya n = 6715; Burkina n = 4065]. Descriptive statistics, Venn diagrams, and logistic and multinomial regression characterized prevalence of IPV and other household abuse, frequency relative to the COVID-19 pandemic, help-seeking behaviors, and predictors of IPV and household abuse across the socioecological framework. RESULTS: In both settings, past-year IPV prevalence exceeded non-partner household abuse (Kenya: 23.5%IPV, 11.0%household; Burkina Faso: 25.7%IPV, 16.2%household). Over half of those affected in each setting did not seek help; those that did turned first to family. Among those with past-year experiences, increased frequency since COVID-19 was noted for IPV (16.0%Burkina Faso; 33.6%Kenya) and household violence (14.3%Burkina Faso; 26.2%Kenya). Both context-specific (i.e., financial autonomy in Burkina Faso) and universal (i.e., COVID-related income loss) risk factors emerged. CONCLUSION: Past-year IPV and household violence against women in Kenya and Burkina Faso were prevalent, and in some cases, intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across settings, help-seeking from formal services was notably low, likely reflecting shame, blame, and stigmatization identified as barriers in pre-COVID literature. Both primary prevention and survivor-centered support services, including those related to economic empowerment, should be integrated within COVID-recovery efforts, and extended into the post-pandemic period to fully meet women's safety needs.

Delays in TB Diagnosis and Treatment Initiation in Burkina Faso during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted TB services, particularly in low resource settings. In Burkina Faso, a cross-sectional 'before and after' study was conducted to assess the impact of COVID-19 on access to TB services. Data was collected in two phases (Phase 1: December 2017-March 2018, and 2: October-December 2020) to estimate and compare various patient and system delays among TB patients before and during COVID-19 and explore changes in treatment seeking behaviors and practices. 331 TB patients were recruited across the two phases. A significant increase in median time between first symptom and contact with TB service (45 days vs. 26 days; p < 0.01) and decrease in median time between first contact and diagnosis, and treatment initiation, respectively, during COVID-19 compared to before. Fewer patients reported using public health centers and more patients reporting using private facilities as the point of first contact following TB symptom onset during the COVID-19 period compared to before. These findings suggest that COVID-19 has created barriers to TB service access and health seeking among symptomatic individuals, yet also led to some efficiencies in TB diagnostic and treatment services. Our findings can be help target efforts along specific points of the TB patient pathway to minimize the overall disruption of COVID-19 and future public health emergencies on TB control in Burkina Faso.

Multi-outputs Gaussian process for predicting Burkina Faso COVID-19 spread using correlations from the weather parameters.

The novel coronavirus has affected all regions of the world, but each country has experienced different rates of infection. In West Africa, in particular, infection rates remain low as compared to other parts of the world. This heterogeneity in the spread of COVID-19 raises a lot of questions that are still unanswered. However, some studies point out that people's mobility, size of gatherings, rate of testing, and weather have a great impact on the COVID-19 spread. In this work, we first evaluate the correlation between meteorological parameters and COVID-19 cases using Spearman's rank correlation. Secondly, multi-output Gaussian processes (MOGP) are used to predict the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases by exploring its relationships with meteorological parameters. The number of daily reported COVID-19 cases, as well as, weather variables collected from March 9, 2020, to October 18, 2021, were used in the analysis. The weather variables considered in the analysis are the mean temperature, relative humidity, wind direction, insolation, precipitation, and wind speed. The predicting model was constructed exploiting the correlation between the data of the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases and data of the weather variables. The results show that a significant correlation between the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases was found with humidity, wind direction, wind speed, and insolation. These parameters are used to construct the predictive model using the Multi-Output Gaussian process (MOGP). Different combinations of the data of meteorological parameters together with the data of daily reported COVID-19 cases were used to derive different models. We found that the best predictor is obtained using the combination of Humidity and insolation. This model is then used to predict the daily confirmed COVID-19 cases knowing the humidity and Insolation.

The effects of barrier measures against Covid-19 on the perceptions of actors in the household waste sector in Ouagadougou, capital of Burkina Faso

Between the beginning of March and the end of May 2020, Burkina Faso experienced a controversial communication around the management of Covid-19 patients. In order to strengthen the resilience of the population in the face of the pandemic, "social" measures were then taken. Finally, barrier measures were strongly relayed by the media, including "Let's get wet with a handkerchief to throw immediately in the trash". This measure strongly disrupts the organization of household waste management in the capital Ouagadougou, now marked by permanent contact between the actors of the sector and garbage waste at all stages of management. This article aims to highlight the effects of Covid-19 communication on perceptions of health risks related to household waste in Ouagadougou. It is based on data collected during the period of confinement introduced in Burkina Faso between March and April 2020.Mainly qualitative, these data were collected from people from waste sector (opinion leaders, pre-collectors, municipal councillors, etc.). These data reveal that the media coverage of barrier measures amplifies the health risks associated with waste and reconfigures the relationship between pre-collectors and waste producers in Ouagadougou. They also show that, in view of the climatic conditions and the time taken at each stage of household waste management, all actors, from pre-collection to landfill, are exposed to the risks of contracting Covid-19 COVID-19 from soiled tissues thrown in the garbage cans.

Current Situation and Optimization Countermeasures of Cotton Subsidy in China Based on WTO Rules

Cotton plays an important role in China’s agricultural production structure and international trade;therefore, China has implemented a variety of cotton subsidy policies. Since China joined the WTO in 2001, WTO rules have become substantive constraints on its agricultural subsidy policy. Therefore, in order to prevent appeal cases of China’s cotton subsidy, in this article, we investigate the current situation and optimization countermeasures with respect to China’s cotton subsidies based on WTO rules. According to calculation of the level of China’s cotton subsidy support under WTO rules, it currently exceeds 8.5% of the cotton production value. Secondly, we estimate the change in cotton subsidy effect when the support level of China’s cotton subsidy policy is directly reduced to 8.5%;the results show that such a reduction would have a considerable impact on the production scale. However, due to the constraints of the political and economic goals of cotton subsidies, the Chinese government can only “box shift” subsidies by changing the subsidy method and object in order to comply with WTO rules. Finally, from the perspective of how to use cotton subsidies to improve the efficiency of production factors, the Chinese government should focus on optimizing the cotton subsidy policy according to three aspects: improving the Amber Box subsidies, expanding the Green Box subsidies and increasing the Blue Box subsidies so as to maintain the existing level of cotton subsidy support.

Turning COVID-19 vaccines into vaccinations: new evidence from sub-Saharan Africa

As COVID-19 vaccines have become more widely available in Sub-Saharan Africa, vaccination campaigns in the region have struggled to pick up pace and trail the rest of the world. This paper presents new evidence on vaccine hesitancy, uptake, last-mile delivery barriers, and potential strategies to reach those who remain unvaccinated. The data come from high-frequency phone surveys in five countries in East and West Africa (Burkina Faso, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania). The surveys were conducted by countries' national statistical agencies, have national scope, are cross-country comparable, and draw their samples from nationally representative sampling frames. The findings show that across the study countries, a majority is willing to get vaccinated. Still, vaccine hesitancy is non-negligible among those pending vaccination. Concerns about side effects of the vaccine are the primary reason for hesitancy. At the same time, many who are willing to get vaccinated are deterred by a lack of easy access to vaccines at the local level. Radio broadcasts have widespread reach and medical professionals have good rapport among the unvaccinated population. Furthermore, social ties and perceptions as well as intrahousehold power relations matter for vaccine take-up. Based on the findings, the paper elaborates policy options to boost vaccination campaigns in Sub-Saharan Africa.