ABSTRACT
Although knowing one's HIV status is a necessary step in initiating antiretroviral treatment, more than a quarter of Burkinabe who are HIV-positive do not know their status. To reach the target of screening at least 95% of people living with HIV (PLHIV), the country has opted for HIV index testing (screening of sexual partners, children and partners of intravenous drug users). This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices of health workers on HIV index testing. A cross-sectional study was conducted among health workers on index testing pilot sites in Burkina Faso. We constructed scores of health workers' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding HIV index testing. A total of 132 health workers were surveyed, 62.8% of whom were female. Regarding profiles, 44.7% of the participants were nurses and 5.3% were midwives; physicians and psychosocial counselors accounted for 16.7 and 33.3%, respectively. Most of the participants worked in public health centers (60.6%). Overall, the majority of the participants had poor or average knowledge (85.6%) of the index testing strategy and harmful or inadequate practices (87.1%). Less than half (40.9%) had favorable attitudes toward the strategy. Our study showed that the knowledge of health workers was generally average, their attitudes were not very favorable and their practices were mostly inadequate with regard to HIV index testing. In order to increase the chances of reaching the first 95% of UNAIDS, trainings on the topic must be designed for health workers.
ABSTRACT
People living with HIV (PLHIV) satisfaction regarding to care could play an important role in the elimination of HIV epidemic by 2030. We assessed Burkina Faso PLHIV satisfaction regarding to their care, and identified its associated factors. A representative nationwide cross-sectional study was performed in 2021-2022 in 30 HIV/AIDS care sites. PLHIV aged at least 18 years, receiving ART for six months or plus were included. Individual and structural data were collected using a questionnaire administered by trained investigators. Satisfaction with HIV/AIDS care was explored using six components (reception, waiting time to medical visit, care environment, sharing updated information on HIV AIDS, answering to PLHIV questions, and providing tailored care and advice to PLHIV needs). Factors associated with satisfaction were identified using logistic regressions. 448 PLHIV were considered in this analysis. Median age was 46 years. Overall satisfaction regarding to care was 40,8% (95% confidence interval 95% CI 36.2-45.6). Specifically, it was 90.6, 54.9, 85.3, 75.7, 90.8, and 93.3% regarding to reception, waiting time, care environment, sharing updated information, answering to PLHIV questions, and providing tailored care and advice to PLHIV needs, respectively. Attending to medical visits in community-based organization (CBO) and private clinics (adjusted odds ratio aOR 1.82, 95% CI 1.14-2.93, P#x003C;0.001), as well as in tertiary hospitals (aOR 2.37, 95% CI 1.45-3.87, P=0.001) were positively associated with PLHIV satisfaction. Burkina Faso PLHIV are generally unsatisfied with care. HIV national authorities should promote HIV care in CBO clinics model in the delivery of HIV services in others public sites.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Approximately a quarter of people living with HIV (PLHIV) had their plasma viral load (PVL) measured in 2020 in Burkina Faso. The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of health workers regarding HIV PVL measurement. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among health workers involved in the care of PLHIV in the 13 regions of Burkina Faso in 2021. Scores were constructed to assess their KAP on PVL measurement. Factors associated with knowledge and practices were identified by logistic regression. Results: A total of 255 health workers were surveyed. The majority had good knowledge (73%) and favorable attitudes (93%). However, 40% had inadequate practices. Taking into account the availability of a laboratory to carry out PVL tests within the health center, having a coordinating role increased the likelihood of having good knowledge, while not having a medical qualification reduced this likelihood. Good practices were more common among health workers working at the second level of the health pyramid. Conclusions: Interventions to increase the demand for a measurement of PVL are essential to improve the care of PLHIV. For example, future investigations could explore the role of mediators in increasing the demand for PVL among PLHIV and their caregivers.
Introduction: Environ un quart des personnes vivant avec le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine (PVVIH) avait réalisé une charge virale plasmatique (CVP) en 2020 au Burkina Faso. Le but de cette étude était d'évaluer les connaissances, les attitudes et les pratiques (CAP) des agents de santé en matière de mesure de la CVP du VIH. Méthodes: Une étude transversale a été conduite auprès des agents de santé impliqués dans la prise en charge des PVVIH dans les 13 régions du Burkina Faso en 2021. Des scores ont été construits pour évaluer leurs CAP sur la mesure de la CVP. Les facteurs associés aux connaissances et pratiques ont été identifiés par une régression logistique. Résultats: Au total, 255 agents de santé ont été inclus dans l'étude. La majorité avait de bonnes connaissances (73 %) et des attitudes favorables (93 %). Cependant, 40 % avaient des pratiques inadéquates. Tenant compte de la disponibilité d'un laboratoire de réalisation de la CVP au sein du centre de santé, occuper un rôle de coordonnateur augmentait la probabilité d'avoir de bonnes connaissances, tandis que ne pas avoir une qualification médicale réduisait cette probabilité. Les bonnes pratiques étaient plus courantes chez les agents santé travaillant au deuxième niveau de la pyramide sanitaire. Conclusions: Des interventions pour accroître la réalisation de la CVP sont indispensables pour améliorer la prise en charge des PVVIH. Par exemple, des investigations futures pourraient étudier le rôle des médiateurs dans l'accroissement de la demande de la CVP auprès des PVIHH et de leur soignant.
Subject(s)
HIV Infections , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Burkina Faso , Cross-Sectional Studies , Viral LoadABSTRACT
Résumé:l'utilisation des antirétroviraux (ARV) à grande échelle aux personnes vivant avec le VIH (PVVIH) s'accompagne d'un développement de résistance au VIH (R-ARV). Nous avons déterminé la performance de trois indicateurs d'alerte précoce (IAP) associés à un risque élevé d'émergence de R-ARV au Burkina Faso à travers une étude transversale répétée entre 2014 et 2017. Nous avons analysé l'évolution des IAP de l'émergence de R-ARVau cours de cette période. Il s'agissait de l'IAP1 (Retrait des ARV dans les délais),l'IAP2 (Rétention sous traitement ARV «TARV¼ à 12 mois) et de l'IAP4 (pratiques de prescription des ARV).Au total, 27 sites ont été évalués. La médiane des patients qui ont retiré le TARV dans les délais était respectivement de 61% en 2015, 60% en 2016 et à 58% en 2017. Aucun site n Ìa atteint le seuil d'au moins 95% dans les cohortes de 2014 et 2015. Les médianes de la rétention sous TARV à 12 mois pour les cohortes de 2014, 2015 et 2016 ont été de 70%, 69% et 65% respectivement. Le seuil de rétention dans le TARV à 12 mois d'au moins 85% n'a été atteint que dans deux sites. Même si la prescription des ARV est conforme aux directives nationales, la qualité des soins offerts aux PVVIH a régressé de 2014 à 2017 avec un risque élevé d'émergence de R-ARV. Pour minimiser ce risque, l'éducation thérapeutique des patients et le système de recherche des perdus de vue doivent être renforcés.
The widespread use of antiretrovirals (ARVs) to people living with HIV (PLHIV) is accompanied by the development of HIV resistance (R-ARV). We determined the performance of three early warning indicators (EWIs) associated with a high risk of R-ARV emergence in Burkina Faso through a repeated cross-sectional study between 2014 and 2017. We analyzed the evolution of the DPIs of R-ARV emergence over this period. These were DPI1 (Timely withdrawal of ARVs), DPI2 (Retention on ARV treatment "TARV" at 12 months) and DPI4 (ARV prescription practices). A total of 27 sites were evaluated. The median number of patients who withdrew ART on time changed from 61% in 2015, 60% in 2016 and 58% in 2017, respectively. No site reached the threshold of at least 95% in the 2014and 2015 cohorts. The medians of retention on ART at 12 months for the 2014, 2015 and 2016 cohorts were 70%, 69% and 65% respectively. The 12-month ART retention threshold of at least 85% was only reached at two sites. Although ARV prescribing is in line with national guidelines, the quality of care offered to PLHIV regressed from 2014 to 2017 with a high risk of R-ARV emergence. To minimize this risk, therapeutic patient education and the system for tracking lost patients need to be strengthened.
Subject(s)
Therapeutics , HIV Infections , Drug Resistance, Viral , Anti-Retroviral AgentsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine for pregnant women (IPTp-SP) coverage remains far below the desirable goal of at least three doses before delivery. This study evaluates an innovative intervention using mobile phones as a means of increasing coverage for the third dose of IPTp-SP. METHODS: This study in Burkina Faso was designed as an open-label, pragmatic, two-arm, randomised trial. Pregnant women who attended antenatal clinic (ANC) visits were included at their first ANC visit and followed until delivery. The intervention was built around the use of mobile phones as means ensuring direct tracking of pregnant women. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-eight (248) pregnant women were included in the study. The proportion of women who received at least three doses of IPTp-SP was 54.6 %. In the intervention group, 54.1 % of women received at least three doses of IPTp-SP versus 55.1 % in the control group, a non-significant difference (adjusted odds ratio "aOR", 0.86 ; 95 % confidence interval "95 % CI", 0.49-1.51). Women in the intervention group were more likely to carry out their ANC visits in a timely manner than those in the control group (aOR, 3.21 ; 95 % CI, 1.91-5.39). CONCLUSION: While mobile phone intervention did not increase the proportion of women receiving three doses of IPTp-SP, it did help to increase the proportion of timely ANC visits. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PACTR202106905150440.
Subject(s)
Antimalarials , Cell Phone , Malaria , Antimalarials/therapeutic use , Burkina Faso/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Malaria/drug therapy , Malaria/epidemiology , Malaria/prevention & control , Pregnancy , Prenatal CareABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of breast cancer has been increasing in sub-Saharan Africa over the last few years. Patients often present with late stage disease, resulting in a high mortality rate. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of breast -related symptoms in the female population of Burkina Faso. The findings can be used to advise on adequate diagnostic health services for breast symptoms to ensure early detection and down-staging of breast cancer. METHODS: A cross-sectional, population based study of 996 women was conducted to investigate the proportion of women with breast-related symptoms. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, information about breast cancer knowledge and details about breast-related symptoms, health care seeking and medical care. Breast-related symptoms were categorised as currently present/not currently present to estimate the current prevalence of women requiring a diagnostic service. RESULTS: Among the 996 women, 120 reported having had a breast-related symptom in their life. Only 36 women sought medical advice and eight women had diagnostic confirmation by histological or imaging techniques. Current breast-related symptoms were reported by 33 women (3.3% of the sample). An extrapolation to Burkina Faso's female population suggests that 184,562 women are in current need of diagnostic services due to any breast-related symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Imaging techniques at the community and referral level are needed in order to triage women with breast-related symptoms. Specialised services need to be strengthened to ensure appropriate diagnosis and treatment of breast diseases. Education campaigns among the general population and among health care professionals are required to increase awareness of breast cancer and improve prompt health care seeking and referral.
