المؤلفون: Dioubaté, Nafissatou, Diallo, Mamadou Cellou, Maomou, Cécé, Niane, Harissatou, Millimouno, Tamba Mina, Camara, Bienvenu Salim, Sy, Telly, Diallo, Ibrahima Sory, Semaan, Aline, Delvaux, Thérèse, Beňová, Lenka, Béavogui, Abdoul Habib, Delamou, Alexandre

المصدر: BMC Health Services Research; 2/21/2024, Vol. 24 Issue 1, p1-13, 13p

مصطلحات موضوعية: MEDICAL personnel, COVID-19 pandemic, HEALTH facilities, INFECTION prevention, COVID-19 treatment

مصطلحات جغرافية: GUINEA, CONAKRY (Guinea)

مستخلص: Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected access to essential healthcare services. This study aimed to explore healthcare providers' perceptions and experiences of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in three referral maternal and neonatal hospitals in Guinea. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal qualitative study between June and December 2020 in two maternities and one neonatology referral ward in Conakry and Mamou. Participants were purposively recruited to capture diversity of professional cadres, seniority, and gender. Four rounds of in-depth interviews (46 in-depth interviews with 18 respondents) were conducted in each study site, using a semi-structured interview guide that was iteratively adapted. We used both deductive and inductive approaches and an iterative process for content analysis. Results: We identified four themes and related sub-themes presented according to whether they were common or specific to the study sites, namely: 1) coping strategies & care reorganization, which include reducing staffing levels, maintaining essential healthcare services, suspension of staff daily meetings, insertion of a new information system for providers, and co-management with COVID-19 treatment center for caesarean section cases among women who tested positive for COVID-19; 2) healthcare providers' behavior adaptations during the response, including infection prevention and control measures on the wards and how COVID-19-related information influenced providers' daily work; 3) difficulties encountered by providers, in particular unavailability of personal protective equipment (PPE), lack of financial motivation, and difficulties reducing crowding in the wards; 4) providers perceptions of healthcare service use, for instance their fear during COVID-19 response and perceived increase in severity of complications received and COVID-19 cases among providers and parents of newborns. Conclusion: This study provides insights needed to be considered to improve the preparedness and response of healthcare facilities and care providers to future health emergencies in similar contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: Copyright of BMC Health Services Research is the property of BioMed Central and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

المؤلفون: Bangoura, Salifou Talassone, Hounmènou, Castro Gbêmêmali, Sidibé, Sidikiba, Camara, Saidouba Cherif, Mbaye, Aminata, Olive, Marie-Marie, Camara, Alioune, Delamou, Alexandre, Keita, Alpha-Kabinet, Delaporte, Eric, Khanafer, Nagham, Touré, Abdoulaye

المصدر: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases; 12/4/2023, Vol. 17 Issue 12, p1-16, 16p

مصطلحات موضوعية: MEDICAL personnel, DENGUE hemorrhagic fever, RIFT Valley fever, ARBOVIRUSES, ARBOVIRUS diseases, YELLOW fever

مصطلحات جغرافية: GUINEA, CONAKRY (Guinea)

مستخلص: Background: The escalating risk and contemporary occurrences of arbovirus infections prompt a critical inquiry into the ability of nations to execute efficient surveillance systems capable to detect, prevent and respond to arbovirus outbreaks. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are the major actors in the surveillance of infectious diseases with epidemic potential. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of HCWs regarding arboviruses in the public health facilities of Conakry, Guinea. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during the from December 27, 2022, to January 31, 2023, encompassing from public health facilities in Conakry. The data collection process encompassed various aspects, including the characteristics of health facilities, socio-demographic and professional attributes of HCWs, the information received concerning arboviruses and the sources of information, as well as a series of inquiries designed to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes and perceptions. Subsequently, scores were computed for knowledge, attitude and perception. To identify the factors influencing the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of HCWs regarding arboviruses, Decision Tree and Inference Conditional Tree models were used. Results: A total of 352 HCWs participated in the study, comprising 219 from national hospitals, 72 from municipal hospitals and 61 from primary health centers. More than half of the respondents (54.3%) had never received information on arboviruses. Only 1% of the respondents had good knowledge about arboviruses, 95.7% had a negative attitude about arboviruses. Moreover, nearly 60% of the respondents had a moderate perception and 24.1% had a good perception. The analysis revealed significant associations between the knowledge and attitudes of respondents concerning arboviruses and their years of professional experience and age. Conclusion: This study highlights the imperative requirement for comprehensive training targeting HCWs to enhance their capacity for early case detection within healthcare facilities. Additionally, there is a crucial need for analogous studies adopting a mixed-methods approach across all healthcare regions in Guinea. Author summary: Arboviruses, including yellow fever, dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and Rift Valley fever, constitute viral diseases transmitted by blood-sucking arthropod vectors, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and biting midges, to vertebrate hosts. In many countries, particularly within Africa, the prevalence of these arboviruses remains widely underestimated due to the absence of effective surveillance systems, often resulting in the conflation of arboviral infections with other infectious diseases. Nevertheless, sub-Saharan Africa is prone to periodic arbovirus-linked epidemics, propelled by factors such as the expansion of vector habitats, viral genetic mutations, anthropogenic influences, inadequate healthcare services, commercial transportation, and climate fluctuations. While Guinea has predominantly reported suspected cases of yellow fever, widespread arbovirus-related epidemics have yet to be documented. Nevertheless, it is imperative for healthcare workers to be well-informed and prepared for prospective epidemics. The assessment of the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of healthcare workers can serve as a catalyst to heighten awareness, bolster surveillance mechanisms, and enhance the capabilities of public health facilities in the prevention and mitigation of potential epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: Copyright of PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases is the property of Public Library of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

المؤلفون: Delamou, Alexandre^1,2 adelamou@cea-pcmt.org, Sow, Abdoulaye¹, Fofana, Thierno Oumar¹, Sidibé, Sidikiba¹, Kourouma, Karifa², Sandouno, Maurice³, Touré, Abdoulaye^1,4,5, Tounkara, Thierno Mamadou^1,6, Le Marcis, Fréderic^4,7,8, Van Damme, Wim⁹

المصدر: Journal of Public Health in Africa. 2022, Vol. 13 Issue 2, p1-7. 7p.

مصطلحات موضوعية: *COVID-19 pandemic, *HEALTH facilities, *INFECTION prevention, *MEDICAL personnel, *PREPAREDNESS

مصطلحات جغرافية: GUINEA, CONAKRY (Guinea), SUB-Saharan Africa

مستخلص: Epidemic-prone diseases have high adverse impacts and pose important threats to global health security. This study aimed to assess levels of health facility preparedness and response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea. This was a cross-sectional study in public and private health facilities/services across 13 Guinean health districts. Managers and healthcare workers (HCWs) from departments in each facility/service were interviewed. Descriptive statistics and comparisons were presented using Pearson's Chi-Squared Test or Fischer exact test. Totally, 197 managers and 1020 HCWs participated in the study. Guidance documents and dedicated spaces for management/isolation of suspected COVID-19 cases were available only in 29% and 26% of facilities, respectively. Capacities to collect (9%) and safely transport (14%) samples were low. Intensive care units (5%), dedicated patient beds (3%), oxygenators (2%), and respirators (0.6%) were almost lacking. While 36% of facilities/services had received infection prevention and control supplies, only 20% had supplies sufficient for 30 days. Moreover, only 9% of HCWs had received formal training on COVID-19. The main sources of information for HCWs were the media (90%) and the internet (58%). Only 30% of HCWs had received personal protective equipment, more in the public sector (p<0.001) and in Conakry (p=0.022). This study showed low levels of preparedness of health facilities/services in Guinea and highlighted a lack of confidence among HCWs who felt unsafe at their workplace. Better governance to improve and maintain the capacity of the Guinean health system to respond to current and future epidemics is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

المؤلفون: Toure, Abdoulaye, Camara, Saidouba Cherif, Camara, Alioune, Conde, Mamoudou, Delamou, Alexandre, Camara, Ibrahima, Bangoura, Salifou Talassone, Camara, Alimou, Diallo, Mamadou Bobo, Keita, Mamadou Bhoye, Kourouma, Kaba, Camara, Robert, Etard, Jean-Francois, Keita, Alpha-Kabinet

المصدر: Journal of Public Health in Africa; 2022, Vol. 13 Issue 2, p1-4, 4p

مصطلحات موضوعية: MEDICAL personnel, SELF medication, MEDICAL personnel training, COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19

مصطلحات جغرافية: CONAKRY (Guinea)

مستخلص: Data regarding the prevalence and consequences of self-medication during the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa are very limited. The study aimed to explore the frequency and risk factors of self-medication against COVID-19 by health personnel in this study. This cross-sectional study took place in June 2021, in Conakry, in the all three national hospitals and the six community medical centers, and five primary health centers. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to identify factors associated with self-medication. A total of 975 health workers with a median age of 31 (IQR: 27-40) years, with 504 (51.7%) women were included. The majority were clinicians: physicians (33.1%) or nurses (33.1%). Of all, 46.2% reported having had at least one COVID-19 symptom during the 12 months preceding the survey. The proportion of self-medication was 15.3% among national hospital staff, 12.20% in municipality medical centers and 22.6% in primary health centers (p=0.06). More than two-thirds (68.7%) who selfmedicated did not have a test for SARSCoV-2 infection. They took antibiotics including azithromycin, amoxicillin, ampicillin (42.2%), acetaminophen (37.4%), vitamin C (27.9%), hydroxychloroquine (23.8%) and medicinal plants (13.6%). The median duration of self-medication was 4 days. Fatigue or asthenia, sore throat, loss of smell and sore throat of a close person were independently associated with selfmedication. Health care workers largely practiced self-medication during the Covid pandemic and without diagnostic testing. The results suggest the need for training and sensitization of medical personnel to avoid the consequences of the molecules used, including hepatotoxicity and antibiotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: Copyright of Journal of Public Health in Africa is the property of PAGEPress and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

المؤلفون: Marí Sáez, Almudena, Ronse, Maya, Delamou, Alexandre, Haba, Nyankoye, Bigey, Frédéric, van Griensven, Johan, Peeters Grietens, Koen

المصدر: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases; 4/22/2020, Vol. 14 Issue 4, p1-17, 17p

مصطلحات موضوعية: MEDICAL technology, TECHNOLOGY transfer, EBOLA virus disease, COMMUNICABLE diseases, PANDEMICS

مصطلحات جغرافية: GUINEA, WEST Africa, CONAKRY (Guinea)

مستخلص: During the West African Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) epidemic from 2014 to 2016, a variety of technologies travelled considering the context of the emergency: a highly contagious fast-killing disease outbreak with no known remedy and a rapidly increasing number of cases. The Ebola-Tx clinical trial tested the efficacy of Convalescent Plasma (CP) as a treatment for EVD in Guinea. This paper is based on ethnographic research in the Ebola-Tx trial and focuses on the introduction of a mobile plasma collection centre, referred to as the 'Plasma Mobile', equipped with plasmapheresis and pathogen inactivation technologies, as well as how the transfer itself of this technology entailed complex effects on CP donors as trial participants (i.e. providers of the therapeutic product), directly involved staff and more broadly on the trial implementation as a whole. The transfer led to the emergence of a dimension of hope as CP donors hoped that the plasma would cure and, as providers of the therapeutic, hoped it would decrease their stigmatization and the economic impact of the disease. We conclude that, in light of the intricate effects that the transfer of such health technology can entail–in the localization to the specific context, as well as in the consequences they can have on actors involved in the implementation of such technologies–global health technologies should be put at the services of next epidemic and pandemic (preparedness) on condition that they are accompanied by an understanding of the technologies' own cultural meanings and social understandings. Author summary: The Ebola-Tx trial tested the efficacy of Convalescent Plasma (CP) as a treatment for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Guinea during the 2014–2016 West African outbreak. As part of the trial, a bus equipped with plasmapheresis and pathogen inactivation technologies, referred to as the 'Plasma Mobile', was used to collect plasma from Ebola survivors, hence recruited as CP donors. Previous studies on clinical trials during the EVD outbreak in West Africa showed positive impact triggered by the introduction of technologies such as improvements in work conditions and care. In our ethnographic research on the Plasma Mobile as transferred technology, we show that technologies contributed to bringing less stress and mistrust in the (highly sensitive issue of the) use of blood products. The organization of the technology in the Plasma Mobile aimed at avoiding mistakes and improving staff performance. In sum, we describe the effects of technologies in staff and CP donors, including the hope for new and improved futures for donors and EVD patients. These results may shed light upon epidemic preparedness, for instance on the need for providing cultural meaning and social understandings to the transfer of technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: Copyright of PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases is the property of Public Library of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)