ABSTRACT
Background: Cervical Cancer stands as the second leading cause of both incident female cancers and deaths in Burkina Faso. Unfortunately, the prevention, early detection, and care of cervical cancers are suboptimal at individual, institutional, and national levels. In October 2023, we organized a stakeholder's workshop to develop cervical cancer awareness messaging for disease control in the country. Methods: A one-text workshop was organized with stakeholders working toward improving health in general or women's health and well-being. A participatory, learning, and adaptive approach was used to facilitate discussions and activities, ensuring the contribution of all participants. Contextual evidence-based and empirical elements about cervical cancer burden and preventive strategies were presented to the participants by key informants. These served as the foundation for a collaborative formulation of messaging content that aimed at raising awareness about cervical cancer. Results: Sixty-two participants from 28 organizations attended the workshop. They work mainly at local and international non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, universities, university hospitals, research centers, and the Ministry of Health. During the first and second days of the workshop, the participants explored cervical cancer data, its preventive and treatment options available in Burkina Faso, communication strategies for behavioral change, and determinants of the use of prevention and health promotion services. During the following three days, 3 working groups were formed to define strategies, and key messages adapted to diverse tools and targeted audiences. All information was validated during plenary sessions before the end of the workshop and available to all participants and their organizations for cancer awareness activities. Conclusion: Upon conclusion of the workshop, the participants provided insightful information for the development of cervical awareness messaging in Burkina Faso. They formed the first community of practice to serve as a dynamic platform for implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and continued learning activities.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in the general population of Bobo-Dioulasso and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). METHODS: We collected from March to April 2021 blood samples from randomly selected residents in both main cities based on the World Health Organization (WHO) sero-epidemiological investigations protocols and tested them with WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 total antibodies enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits intended for qualitative assessment. We also recorded participants' socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and information on exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Data were analysed with descriptive and comparative statistics. RESULTS: We tested 5240 blood samples collected between 03 March and 16 April 2021. The overall test-adjusted seroprevalence for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was (67.8% [95% CI 65.9-70.2]) (N = 3553/3982). Seroprevalence was highest among participants aged 15-18 years old (74.2% [95% CI 70.5-77.5]) (N = 465/627), compared with those aged 10-14 years old (62.6% [95% CI 58.7-66.4]) (N = 395/631), or those over 18 (67.6% [95% CI 66.2-69.1]) (N = 2693/3982). Approximately 71.0% (601/860) of participants aged 10-18 years old who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies experienced no clinical COVID-19 symptoms in the weeks before the survey, compared with 39.3% (1059/2693) among those aged over 18 years old. CONCLUSION: This study reports the results of the first known large serological survey in the general population of Burkina Faso. It shows high circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in the two cities and a high proportion of asymptomatic adolescents. Further studies are needed to identify the SARS-CoV-2 variants and to elucidate the factors protecting some infected individuals from developing clinical COVID-19.
