Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Uswatun Khasanah, Ferry Efendi, Eka Mishbahatul M. Has, Qorinah Estiningtyas Sakilah Adnani, Kadar Ramadhan, Yessy Dessy Arna, Wedad M. Almutairi
Summary: This study analyzed the determinants of mothers' engagement in healthcare-seeking behavior for children with common childhood diseases in Indonesia. The results showed that factors such as child's age, mother's education, and financial ability are significantly associated with healthcare-seeking behavior.
Article
Pediatrics
Troy D. Moon, Fabiao E. Mausse, Tebeb Gebretsadik, Darlenne B. Kenga, Pedro Charles, Mustuafa Agy, Samuel Simbine, Jahit Sacarlal
Summary: This study in Mozambique focused on HIV-infected febrile children and found that children presenting with AMS along with a diagnosis of bacteremia had increased odds of in-hospital mortality. Moreover, children with neurologic symptoms on admission had significantly higher odds of in-hospital mortality compared to those without neurologic findings. The study highlights the need for broader differential diagnosis and a standardized diagnostic and management algorithm in areas with limited diagnostic capacity.
JOURNAL OF TROPICAL PEDIATRICS
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Tomas Zaba, Dino Buene, Elda Famba, Mathieu Joyeux
Summary: This research in rural Mozambique identified key factors associated with acute malnutrition among children, highlighting the link between acute malnutrition and poor living conditions as well as household shocks. The findings suggest the need for integrated, cross-sectoral approaches to address child acute malnutrition, particularly focusing on community level conditions such as water and sanitation.
MATERNAL AND CHILD NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Dereje Temsesgen, Berhanu Wordofa, Tewodros Tesfaye, Werku Etafa
Summary: Summary: Pneumonia is the leading cause of death among children under five in low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. A study was conducted to identify health-seeking behavior and risk factors for pneumonia in caregivers of children in Nekemte town. The study found that delays in seeking healthcare for pneumonia were prevalent, with rural residence, older child age, low income, lack of health insurance, self-medication, poor knowledge, perceiving pneumonia as mild, and no previous admission history as significant factors. The study underscores the importance of raising awareness, providing health education, and encouraging the use of health insurance to reduce delays in seeking healthcare for pneumonia.
Article
Immunology
Annika Eklundh, Samuel Rhedin, Malin Ryd-Rinder, Maria Andersson, Jesper Gantelius, Giulia Gaudenzi, Magnus Lindh, Ville Peltola, Matti Waris, Pontus Naucler, Andreas Martensson, Tobias Alfven
Summary: Immunization with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines has reduced the burden of community-acquired pneumonia in children and potentially changed the etiology of CAP. The majority of clinical CAP episodes in children were classified as viral etiology, with bacterial etiology being uncommon.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tisungane Mvalo, Andrew G. Smith, Michelle Eckerle, Mina C. Hosseinipour, Davie Kondowe, Dhananjay Vaidya, Yisi Liu, Kelly Corbett, Dan Nansongole, Takondwa A. Mtimaukanena, Norman Lufesi, Eric D. McCollum
Summary: Severe malnutrition and living more than 10km away from a health facility are closely associated with antibiotic treatment failure in children with pneumonia in Malawi.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martin Ndinakie Yakum, Atanga D. Funwie, Atem Bethel Ajong, Marcellin Tsafack, Linda Evans Eba Ze, Ekome Serge Raoul Ekukole, Zahir Shah
Summary: Routine vaccination card retention in Cameroon is low, and various factors such as child's gender, parents' identity, and household wealth contribute to the retention rate.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Osita K. Ezeh, Tanvir Abir, Noor Raihani. Zainol, Abdullah Al Mamun, Abul H. Milton, Md. Rashidul Haque, Kingsley E. Agho
Summary: Malnutrition in Nigeria leads to a high mortality rate for children, especially in the northern regions. Factors such as poverty and geographical location increase the risk of child stunting, indicating the need for targeted interventions to reduce the prevalence.
Article
Biology
Ofra Amir, Yair Goldberg, Micha Mandel, Yinon M. Bar-On, Omri Bodenheimer, Laurence Freedman, Sharon Alroy-Preis, Nachman Ash, Amit Huppert, Ron Milo
Summary: Patient data from Israel shows that a third dose of BNT162b2 vaccine remains effective against severe Omicron BA.1/BA.2 disease over a seven-month period, and a fourth dose further improves protection. The study demonstrates that the protection against severe Omicron disease provided by the third dose does not wane over a seven-month period, and a fourth dose significantly enhances protection.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Reka Maulide Cane, Youssouf Keita, Luisa Lambo, Elcidio Pambo, Maria Patricia Goncalves, Luis Varandas, Isabel Craveiro
Summary: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of anaemia and its associated factors among children aged 6-59 months attending pediatric services in a health facility in Mozambique. The results showed a high prevalence of anaemia in this population, with key factors including age group, caregiver's education level, malaria, and liver size.
GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Family Studies
Kamalesh Kumar Patel, Jyoti Vijay, Abha Mangal, Daya Krishan Mangal, Shiv Dutt Gupta
Summary: Anaemia is a major public health problem in India, with a prevalence of 58% among children aged 6-59 months. Various factors such as mother's education, maternal and child nutritional status, and household wealth are associated with childhood anaemia. Targeted strategies to improve women's education, birth spacing, and overall nutrition can help reduce the burden of anaemia.
CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES REVIEW
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Akinola Ayoola Fatiregun, Laura Nic Lochlainn, Lassane Kabore, Modupeola Dosumu, Elvis Isere, Itse Olaoye, Francis Adegoke Akanbiemu, Yetunde Olagbuji, Rosemary Onyibe, Kofi Boateng, Richard Banda, Fiona Braka
Summary: Despite efforts to improve childhood immunization coverage in Nigeria, coverage has remained below the national acceptable level. A study conducted in Ondo State found that one in three children experienced a Missed Opportunity for Vaccination (MOV) during health service encounters, with most occurring during non-vaccination visits. Factors contributing to MOV included inadequate vaccination knowledge among health workers, low awareness about vaccination among caregivers, and issues related to the organization of the health system. Potential interventions to reduce MOV include training of health workers on immunization policies and practices, improving caregiver engagement, and screening vaccination documentation during every health service encounter.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Janet Adede Carboo, Robin Claire Dolman-Macleod, Linda Malan, Martani Johanni Lombard
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of high-dose vitamin D supplementation in preventing infections in children. The analysis of seven studies showed that high-dose vitamin D supplementation had no significant effect on the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections, but daily supplementation of vitamin D > 1000 IU reduced the incidence of influenza/cold, cough, and fever. Rating: 8/10
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
H. Asare, J. Carboo, E. D. Nel, R. C. Dolman, C. Conradie, M. J. Lombard, C. Ricci
Summary: Severe acute malnutrition in children is associated with complex patterns of clustered risk factors leading to different outcomes, including mortality. Three distinct clusters of medical features were identified, with factors such as eye signs, pallor, HIV, shock, and convulsions being strongly associated with increased risk of mortality in children diagnosed with SAM.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jecinta U. Ibeji, Henry Mwambi, Abdul-Karim Iddrisu
Summary: This study proposes Bayesian spatio-temporal models to model and map malaria and anaemia risk in Nigeria, and identify related risk factors and the most endemic states. The results show that different models have different effects on modeling the two diseases, and the risk and clustering of these diseases in Nigerian states also show changes.
Article
Pediatrics
Ermengol Coma, Marti Catala, Leonardo Mendez-Boo, Sergio Alonso, Eduardo Hermosilla, Enric Alvarez-Lacalle, David Pino, Manuel Medina, Laia Asso, Anna Gatell, Quique Bassat, Ariadna Mas, Antoni Soriano-Arandes, Francesc Fina Aviles, Clara Prats
Summary: This study investigates the effectiveness of mandating face covering masks in schools in reducing COVID-19 transmission. Results show that there were no significant differences in SARS-CoV-2 incidence or transmission between children who were mandated to wear masks and those who were not. Age was found to be the most important factor in explaining transmission risk among school children.
ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rodrigo Samuel Barrientos-Yong, Bryan Andrei Hinojosa-Salas, Percy Genaro Salas-Ponce, Eddie Angles, Joaquim Ruiz, Maria J. Pons
Summary: This study evaluated the antimicrobial resistance evolution of Acinetobacter baumannii in a Peruvian hospital from 2013 to 2019. The findings showed high levels of multidrug resistance, with colistin being the most effective drug. However, there were significant levels of resistance to other antibiotics, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic alternatives.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Jacob Fiksel, Brian Gilbert, Emily Wilson, Henry Kalter, Almamy Kante, Aveika Akum, Dianna Blau, Quique Bassat, Ivalda Macicame, Eduardo Samo Gudo, Robert Black, Scott Zeger, Agbessi Amouzou, Abhirup Datta
Summary: Verbal autopsies are widely used in low- and middle-income countries to determine cause of death, but they can be inaccurate. Computer coded verbal autopsy algorithms used for this task often misclassify cause of death, leading to biased estimates in health-policy making. Recent research has shown that knowing the misclassification rates can help calibrate these estimates and correct for the bias. This manuscript reviews the current practices and issues with these algorithms and provides a guide on how to use the calibratedVA software to correct for verbal autopsy misclassification bias in cause-specific mortality estimates.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amilcar Magaco, Yara Alonso, Maria Maixenchs, Contardo Ambrosio, Antonio Sitoe, Pio Vitorino, Dianna Blau, Mischka Garel, Robert Breiman, Agbessi Amouzou, Quique Bassat, Inacio Mandomando, John Blevins, Khatia Munguambe
Summary: The Countrywide Mortality Surveillance for Action project aims to implement a child mortality surveillance program by strengthening vital registration event reporting and investigating causes of death based on verbal autopsies. Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling procedures were added in Quelimane to improve the accuracy of cause of death determination. A socioanthropological study was conducted to understand the potential facilitators and barriers to the acceptability of the implementation. Factors such as the desire to know the cause of death, involvement of community and religious leaders, and provision of transport for bodies back to the community were identified as facilitators, while poor community mobilization and disagreements with religious practices were identified as barriers.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Brian Gilbert, Jacob Fiksel, Emily Wilson, Henry Kalter, Almamy Kante, Aveika Akum, Dianna Blau, Quique Bassat, Ivalda Macicame, Eduardo Samo Gudo, Robert Black, Scott Zeger, Agbessi Amouzou, Abhirup Datta
Summary: The Countrywide Mortality Surveillance for Action platform in Mozambique collects verbal autopsy records to estimate cause-specific mortality fractions (CSMFs) for children and neonates. Misclassification errors were found in the VA-based cause-of-death (COD) determination compared to the minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) method. A Bayesian VA-calibration method was proposed to account for this bias and produce calibrated estimates of CSMF. The calibrated estimates revealed important changes in CSMF after accounting for VA misclassification bias.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Marcelino Garrine, Llorenc Quinto, Sofia Santos Costa, Augusto Messa, Arsenia J. Massinga, Delfino Vubil, Tacilta Nhampossa, Sergio Massora, Sozinho acacio, Anelsio Cossa, Betuel Sigauque, Quique Bassat, Isabel Couto, Inacio Mandomando
Summary: This study reports on the incidence, epidemiology, and treatment strategies of community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in low-income countries, with a gradual decline in incidence among young children. Despite the decreasing incidence, bacteremia remains an important cause of death among hospitalized children, possibly due to resistance to first-line empirical treatment.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Review
Pediatrics
Isadora S. Oliveira, Manuela B. Pucca, Felipe A. Cerni, Samuel Vieira, Jacqueline Sachett, Altair Seabra de Farias, Marcus Lacerda, Felipe Murta, Djane Baia-da-Silva, Thiago Augusto Hernandes Rocha, Lincoln Luis Silva, Quique Bassat, Joao Ricardo Nickenig Vissoci, Charles J. Gerardo, Vanderson Souza Sampaio, Fan Hui Wen, Paulo S. Bernarde, Wuelton M. Monteiro
Summary: Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease that affects over 5 million people worldwide, causing significant fatalities and long-term complications. Amongst them, children experience more severe outcomes due to the same venom volume inoculated in smaller bodies. In Brazil, snakebites are a major health concern, with about 15% of the victims being children. However, the lack of epidemiological data on pediatric snakebites hinders the accurate assessment of treatment effectiveness and quality of emergency medical services for children.
JOURNAL OF TROPICAL PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Amir Ariff, Yong Song, Ruth Aguilar, Augusto Nhabomba, Maria Nelia Manaca, Siew-Kim Khoo, Selma Wiertsema, Quique Bassat, Arnoldo Barbosa, Llorenc Quinto, Ingrid A. Laing, Caterina Guinovart, Pedro L. Alonso, Carlota Dobano, Peter Le Souef, Guicheng Zhang
Summary: In a randomized controlled clinical trial in Mozambique, researchers found significant associations between TLR4 gene and related genes with the incidence of clinical malaria. These findings suggest a potential central role of TLR4 in the pathogenesis of clinical malaria.
Article
Immunology
Inacio Mandomando, Augusto Messa, Joseph Nsiari-Muzeyi Biey, Gilson Paluku, Mutale Mumba, Jason M. Mwenda
Summary: Following WHO recommendation, rotavirus vaccines have been introduced into the immunization program of 38 out of 47 countries in the WHO/AFRO. Global supply challenges have led some African countries to switch vaccine products. The recently WHO pre-qualified vaccines manufactured in India offer alternatives and reduce global supply challenges related to rotavirus vaccines.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea C. Gomez, Tamin Ortiz, Angelica Valenzuela, Rocio Egoavil-Espejo, Rosario Huerto-Huanuco, Joseph A. Pinto, Jose Lagos, Joaquim Ruiz
Summary: This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 co-infected with multiple multidrug-resistant bacteria. The results showed the presence of multiple microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, in COVID-19 patients, with high levels of antibiotic resistance. This highlights the need to strengthen control measures to limit the spread of almost untreatable multidrug-resistant microorganisms.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Andrea Alemany, Pere Millat-Martinez, Marc Corbacho-Monne, Clara Suner, Cristina Galvan-Casas, Caty Carrera, Dan Ouchi, Nuria Prat, Jordi Ara, Nuria Nadal, Ricard Riel, Blanca Funollet, Carmen Ojeda-Ciurana, Lluis Esteve Balague, Betlem Salvador-Gonzalez, Anna Forcada Arcarons, Josep Vidal-Alaball, Maria Isabel Del Cura-Gonzalez, Ricardo Rodriguez Barrientos, Rafel Ramos-Blanes, Alberto Alum Bou, Elsa Mondou, Mireia Torres, Neus Campins, Ana Sanz, Yonggiang Tang, Miquel Angel Rodriguez-Arias, Quique Bassat, Bonaventura Clotet, Oriol Mitja
Summary: This study assessed the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin 20% (C19-IG20%) in preventing the development of symptomatic COVID-19 in asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The results showed that C19-IG20% did not prevent asymptomatic individuals from developing symptomatic COVID-19.
Article
Immunology
Nuria Balanza, Caroline K. Francis, Valerie M. Crowley, Andrea M. Weckman, Kathleen Zhong, Barbara Baro, Rosauro Varo, Quique Bassat, Kevin C. Kain
Summary: In this study, plasma NfL levels were examined in children with uncomplicated and severe malaria. The results showed that the levels increased over time in severe malaria cases, particularly those with neurological manifestations.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
A. M. Medina, F. P. Rivera, M. Riveros, T. J. Ochoa, M. J. Pons, J. Ruiz
Summary: This study analyzed the mechanisms of quinolone resistance in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) isolates in a peri-urban area of Lima, Peru. The presence of various resistance mechanisms, including mutations in gyrA and parC, efflux pumps, and presence of specific genes, was determined in 31 ETEC isolates. Differences in resistance mechanisms were observed based on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels of nalidixic acid. The results suggest two different evolutionary strategies for survival in the presence of quinolones related to bacterial genetic background.
TROPICAL BIOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Hamada S. Badr, Josh M. Colston, Nhat-Lan H. Nguyen, Yen Ting Chen, Eleanor Burnett, Syed Asad Ali, Ajit Rayamajhi, Syed M. Satter, Nguyen Van Trang, Daniel Eibach, Ralf Krumkamp, Juergen May, Ayola Akim Adegnika, Gedeon Prince Manouana, Peter Gottfried Kremsner, Roma Chilengi, Luiza Hatyoka, Amanda K. Debes, Jerome Ateudjieu, Abu S. G. Faruque, M. Jahangir Hossain, Suman Kanungo, Karen L. Kotloff, Inacio Mandomando, M. Imran Nisar, Richard Omore, Samba O. Sow, Anita K. M. Zaidi, Nathalie Lambrecht, Bright Adu, Nicola Page, James A. Platts-Mills, Cesar Mavacala Freitas, Tuula Pelkonen, Per Ashorn, Kenneth Maleta, Tahmeed Ahmed, Pascal Bessong, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Carl Mason, Estomih Mduma, Maribel P. Olortegui, Pablo Penataro Yori, Aldo A. M. Lima, Gagandeep Kang, Jean Humphrey, Robert Ntozini, Andrew J. Prendergast, Kazuhisa Okada, Warawan Wongboot, Nina Langeland, Sabrina J. Moyo, James Gaensbauer, Mario Melgar, Matthew Freeman, Anna N. Chard, Vonethalom Thongpaseuth, Eric Houpt, Benjamin F. Zaitchik, Margaret N. Kosek
Summary: This study aimed to model the spatiotemporal variation in paediatric Shigella infection and predict its prevalence across low-income and middle-income countries. The findings revealed the association between Shigella and climatological factors, with sub-Saharan Africa being a high-risk region for transmission. These findings can guide prioritization of populations for future vaccine trials and campaigns.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2023)