INTRODUCTION
The retention in care of patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a cornerstone for preventing AIDS‐associated morbidity and mortality, as well as further transmission of HIV. Adherence to ART poses particular challenges in conflict‐affected settings like the Central African Republic (CAR). The study objective was to estimate the rate of lost‐to‐follow‐up (LTFU) and determine factors associated with LTFU among patients living with HIV under ART in CAR.
METHODS
A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using data from patients being managed at 42 representative ART dispensing sites (i.e. management of ≥200 patients) in the seven health regions of CAR which started ART between January 2019 to September 2021 and followed up to December 2021. The outcome of LTFU was defined as a failure of a patient to attend a scheduled ART refill appointment for at least 90 days from the last appointment. Patients were censored at the first LTFU event.
RESULTS
A total of 6844 patients enrolled in ART care were included in the analysis, of whom 67.5% were females. The mean age (standard deviation) was 35.3 years (10.5). Forty‐two per cent (n = 2874/6844) had an LTFU event during the follow‐up period. However, 23.2% (n = 666/2874) returned to care after LTFU. Overall retention in antiretroviral care at 12 months was 64.2% (CI 63.0−65.5), which ranged from 76.1% in the capital to 48.2% in the inner country region. Risk factors related to LTFU were being male (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.33; CI 1.1−1.5), age < 25 (aHR 1.46; CI 1.1−1.9), living in regions outside the capital (aHR 1.83; CI 1.6−2.3) and undernutrition (aHR 1.13; CI 1.0−1.3).
CONCLUSIONS
Retention to care in CAR is suboptimal, especially in the inner country. Our results underline the difficulties involved in retaining patients in ART in complex settings, the interplay between poor retention, social unrest, stigma, food insecurity and HIV epidemic control, and the need for tailored programming and interventions like differentiated treatment strategies and complementary food provision.
BACKGROUND
Abortion-related complications remain a main cause of maternal mortality. There is little evidence on the availability and quality of post-abortion care (PAC) in humanitarian settings. We assessed the quality of PAC in two hospitals supported by an international organization in Jigawa State (Nigeria) and Bangui (Central African Republic, CAR).
METHODS
We mapped indicators corresponding to the eleven domains of the WHO Maternal and Newborn Health quality-of-care framework to assess inputs, processes (provision and experience of care), and outcomes of PAC. We measured these indicators in four components of a cross-sectional multi-methods study: 1) an assessment of the hospitals’ PAC signal functions, 2) a survey of the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and behavior of 140 Nigerian and 84 CAR clinicians providing PAC, 3) a prospective review of the medical records of 520 and 548 women presenting for abortion complications and, 4) a survey of 360 and 362 of these women who were hospitalized in the Nigerian and CAR hospitals, respectively.
RESULTS
Among the total 27 PAC signal functions assessed, 25 were available in the Nigerian hospital and 26 in the CAR hospital. In both hospitals, less than 2.5% were treated with dilatation and sharp curettage. Over 80% of women received blood transfusion or curative antibiotics when indicated. However, antibiotics were given to about 30% of patients with no documented indication. Among discharged women in CAR, 99% received contraceptive counseling but only 39% did in Nigeria. Over 80% of women in Nigeria reported positive experiences of respect and preservation of dignity. Conversely, in CAR, 37% reported that their privacy was always respected during examination and 62% reported short or very short waiting time before seeing a health provider. In terms of communication, only 15% felt able to ask questions during treatment in both hospitals. The risk of abortion-near-miss happening ≥ 24h after presentation was 0.2% in Nigeria and 1.1% in CAR. Only 65% of women in the Nigerian hospital and 34% in the CAR hospital reported that the staff provided them best care all the time.
CONCLUSIONS
Our comprehensive assessment identified that these two hospitals in humanitarian settings provided lifesaving PAC. However, hospitals need to strengthen the patient-centered approach engaging patients in their own care and ensuring privacy, short waiting times and quality provider-patient communication. Health professionals would benefit from instituting antibiotic stewardships to prevent antibiotic-resistance.
In Carnot, Central African Republic, MSF collaborates with the Ministry of Health at the District Hospital (DH), providing comprehensive care for chronic diseases, including integrated HIV services. Since 2016, HIV differentiated treatment models (DTMs) have been introduced, including multi-monthly dispensing of antiretroviral therapy, Community ART Groups (CAGs), and decentralized care. A multi-methods study was conducted to describe and understand the continuum of care of patients in the cohort, including retention indicators, treatment adherence, perceptions of DTMs and reasons for late presentation to care.
METHODS
Programmatic data of the HIV cohort in Carnot between 2011 and 2022 was analysed retrospectively. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of active patients who underwent a clinical examination, CD4, viral load (VL) and ARV resistance tests to estimate the proportion of virological failures and resistance profiles. Lastly, semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants, health care workers, active patients, and patients late for their appointments (<6months).
RESULTS
In 2023, the cohort included 4,745 patients on treatment, with 35.5% (N=1,684) lost-to-follow-up. The probability of retention in care decreased over time and adherence to care (% of late appointment to the health centre) was lower than 80%. Among the 341 patients surveyed, 96% of them were on a treatment based on dolutegravir (DTG), and 12% (N=40, 95%CI 8-16) had virological failure. Among those, nearly one third (29.6%) presented drug resistances to the class of molecules currently used and 2.4% presented resistance to DTG, indicating that lack of adherence was likely the cause of virological failure. DTMs were not optimally implemented, and perceptions were mixed. Reasons for late presentations to appointments included access and service-related barriers, stigmatisation and socio-economic vulnerability, however, patients facing these barriers were often excluded from accessing DTM.
CONCLUSION
Despite DTMs, patients’ retention in care remains low. Strategies for better implementation and equitable access for patients are urgently needed.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) initiated three cycles of dihydroartemisin-piperaquine (DHA-PQ) mass drug administration (MDA) for children aged three months to 15 years within Bossangoa sub-prefecture, Central African Republic. Coverage, clinical impact, and community members perspectives were evaluated to inform the use of MDAs in humanitarian emergencies.
METHODS
A household survey was undertaken after the MDA focusing on participation, recent illness among eligible children, and household satisfaction. Using routine surveillance data, the reduction during the MDA period compared to the same period of preceding two years in consultations, malaria diagnoses, malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) positivity in three MSF community healthcare facilities (HFs), and the reduction in severe malaria admissions at the regional hospital were estimated. Twenty-seven focus groups discussions (FGDs) with community members were conducted.
RESULTS
Overall coverage based on the MDA card or verbal report was 94.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 86.3–97.8%). Among participants of the household survey, 2.6% (95% CI 1.6–40.3%) of round 3 MDA participants experienced illness in the preceding four weeks compared to 30.6% (95% CI 22.1–40.8%) of MDA non-participants. One community HF experienced a 54.5% (95% CI 50.8–57.9) reduction in consultations, a 73.7% (95% CI 70.5–76.5) reduction in malaria diagnoses, and 42.9% (95% CI 36.0–49.0) reduction in the proportion of positive RDTs among children under five. A second community HF experienced an increase in consultations (+ 15.1% (− 23.3 to 7.5)) and stable malaria diagnoses (4.2% (3.9–11.6)). A third community HF experienced an increase in consultations (+ 41.1% (95% CI 51.2–31.8) and malaria diagnoses (+ 37.3% (95% CI 47.4–27.9)). There were a 25.2% (95% CI 2.0–42.8) reduction in hospital admissions with severe malaria among children under five from the MDA area. FGDs revealed community members perceived less illness among children because of the MDA, as well as fewer hospitalizations. Other indirect benefits such as reduced household expenditure on healthcare were also described.
CONCLUSION
The MDA achieved high coverage and community acceptance. While some positive health impact was observed, it was resource intensive, particularly in this rural context. The priority for malaria control in humanitarian contexts should remain diagnosis and treatment. MDA may be additional tool where the context supports its implementation.
The increasing resistance of Enterobacterales to third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a major public health concern. We did a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies to estimate the carriage prevalence of Enterobacterales not susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins or carbapenems among paediatric populations in SSA.
METHODS
We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional and cohort studies to estimate the prevalence of childhood (0-18 years old) carriage of extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (ESCR-E) or carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) in SSA. Medline, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched for studies published from 1 January 2005 to 1 June 2022. Studies with <10 occurrences per bacteria, case reports, and meta-analyses were excluded. Quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Meta-analyses of prevalences and odds ratios were calculated using generalised linear mixed-effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics. The protocol is available on PROSPERO (CRD42021260157).
FINDINGS
Of 1111 studies examined, 40 met our inclusion criteria, reporting on the carriage prevalence of Enterobacterales in 9408 children. The pooled carriage prevalence of ESCR-E was 32.2% (95% CI: 25.2%-40.2%). Between-study heterogeneity was high (I2 = 96%). The main sources of bias pertained to participant selection and the heterogeneity of the microbiological specimens. Carriage proportions were higher among sick children than healthy ones (35.7% vs 16.9%). The pooled proportion of nosocomial acquisition was 53.8% (95% CI: 32.1%-74.1%) among the 922 children without ESCR-E carriage at hospital admission. The pooled odds ratio of ESCR-E carriage after antibiotic treatment within the previous 3 months was 3.20 (95% CI: 2.10-4.88). The proportion of pooled carbapenem-resistant for Enterobacterales was 3.6% (95% CI: 0.7%-16.4%).
INTERPRETATION
This study suggests that ESCR-E carriage among children in SSA is frequent. Microbiology capacity and infection control must be scaled-up to reduce the spread of those multidrug-resistant microorganisms.
The burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been estimated to be the highest in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The current study estimated the proportion of drug-resistant Enterobacterales causing infections in SSA children.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library to identify retrospective and prospective studies published from 01/01/2005 to 01/06/2022 reporting AMR of Enterobacterales causing infections in sub-Saharan children (0-18 years old). Studies were excluded if they had unclear documentation of antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods or fewer than ten observations per bacteria. Data extraction and quality appraisal were conducted by two authors independently. The primary outcome was the proportion of Enterobacterales resistant to antibiotics commonly used in paediatrics. Proportions were combined across studies using mixed-effects logistic regression models per bacteria and per antibiotic. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021260157).
FINDINGS
After screening 1111 records, 122 relevant studies were included, providing data on more than 30,000 blood, urine and stool isolates. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. were the predominant species, both presenting high proportions of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, especially in blood cultures: 40.6% (95% CI: 27.7%-55%; I2: 85.7%, number of isolates (n): 1032) and 84.9% (72.8%-92.2%; I2: 94.1%, n: 2067), respectively. High proportions of resistance to other commonly used antibiotics were also observed. E. coli had high proportions of resistance, especially for ampicillin (92.5%; 95% CI: 76.4%-97.9%; I2: 89.8%, n: 888) and gentamicin (42.7%; 95% CI: 30%-56.5%; I2: 71.9%, n: 968). Gentamicin-resistant Klebsiella spp. were also frequently reported (77.6%; 95% CI: 65.5%-86.3%; I2: 91.6%, n: 1886).
INTERPRETATION
High proportions of resistance to antibiotics commonly used for empirical treatment of infectious syndromes were found for Enterobacterales in sub-Saharan children. There is a critical need to better identify local patterns of AMR to inform and update clinical guidelines for better treatment outcomes.
During the same period, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA) documented 14,907 other cases of sexual violence in CAR reported by other humanitarian organisations working in the country, or by state structures.
This report outlines the public health emergency that sexual violence has become in CAR, with recommendations to address the crisis.
Tongolo (“star” in local language Sango), a holistic project opened by MSF at the end of 2017 in the capital, Bangui, accounted for 66% of the cases seen by MSF. The project provides medical treatment and mental health support, as well as guidance to pursue legal action and obtain protection, such as emergency shelter or socio-economic support.
MSF teams also took care of patients for sexual violence at a dozen other locations, in nearly every corner of the Central African Republic. Numerous gaps were noted at different levels in terms of assistance for the survivors as well as huge challenges for them to access care.