Conference Material > Slide Presentation
Lavilla KM, Teal J, Schausberger B, Sankoh M, Conteh AB, et al.
MSF Scientific Days International 2022. 2022 May 11; DOI:10.57740/pyhg-f359
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
BMC Infect Dis. 2018 June 26; Volume 18 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1186/s12879-018-3194-6
Vernier L, Lenglet AD, Hogema B, Moussa AM, Ariti C, et al.
BMC Infect Dis. 2018 June 26; Volume 18 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1186/s12879-018-3194-6
From September 2016-April 2017, Am Timan, Chad, experienced a large HEV outbreak in an urban setting with a limited impact in terms of morbidity and mortality. To better understand HEV epidemiology in this context, we estimated the seroprevalence of anti-HEV antibodies (IgM and IgG) and assessed the risk factors for recent HEV infections (positive anti-HEV IgM) during this outbreak.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Vaccine. 2023 March 3; Volume S0264-410X (Issue 23); 00037-3.; DOI:10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.01.026
Gelormini M, Gripenberg M, Marke D, Murray MB, Yambasu S, et al.
Vaccine. 2023 March 3; Volume S0264-410X (Issue 23); 00037-3.; DOI:10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.01.026
Background: On 14 August 2017, massive landslides and floods hit Freetown (Sierra Leone). More than 1,000 people lost their lives while approximately 6,000 people were displaced. The areas most affected included parts of the town with challenged access to basic water and sanitation facilities, with communal water sources likely contaminated by the disaster. To avert a possible cholera outbreak following this emergency, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and international partners, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and UNICEF, launched a two-dose pre-emptive vaccination campaign using Euvichol™, an oral cholera vaccine (OCV).
Methods: We conducted a stratified cluster survey to estimate vaccination coverage during the OCV campaign and also monitor adverse events. The study population - subsequently stratified by age group and residence area type (urban/rural) - included all individuals aged 1 year or older, living in one of the 25 communities targeted for vaccination.
Results: In total 3,115 households were visited, 7,189 individuals interviewed; 2,822 (39%) people in rural and 4,367 (61%) in urban areas. The two-dose vaccination coverage was 56% (95% confidence interval (CI): 51.0-61.5), 44% (95%CI: 35.2-53.0) in rural and 57% (95%CI: 51.6-62.8) in urban areas. Vaccination coverage with at least one dose was 82% (95%CI: 77.3-85.5), 61% (95%CI: 52.0-70.2) in rural and 83% (95%CI: 78.5-87.1) in urban areas.
Conclusions: The Freetown OCV campaign exemplified a timely public health intervention to prevent a cholera outbreak, even if coverage was lower than expected. We hypothesised that vaccination coverage in Freetown was sufficient in providing at least short-term immunity to the population. However, long-term interventions to ensure access to safe water and sanitation are needed.
Methods: We conducted a stratified cluster survey to estimate vaccination coverage during the OCV campaign and also monitor adverse events. The study population - subsequently stratified by age group and residence area type (urban/rural) - included all individuals aged 1 year or older, living in one of the 25 communities targeted for vaccination.
Results: In total 3,115 households were visited, 7,189 individuals interviewed; 2,822 (39%) people in rural and 4,367 (61%) in urban areas. The two-dose vaccination coverage was 56% (95% confidence interval (CI): 51.0-61.5), 44% (95%CI: 35.2-53.0) in rural and 57% (95%CI: 51.6-62.8) in urban areas. Vaccination coverage with at least one dose was 82% (95%CI: 77.3-85.5), 61% (95%CI: 52.0-70.2) in rural and 83% (95%CI: 78.5-87.1) in urban areas.
Conclusions: The Freetown OCV campaign exemplified a timely public health intervention to prevent a cholera outbreak, even if coverage was lower than expected. We hypothesised that vaccination coverage in Freetown was sufficient in providing at least short-term immunity to the population. However, long-term interventions to ensure access to safe water and sanitation are needed.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Health Policy Plan. 2019 November 7
Elston JWT, Danis K, Gray NSB, West H, West KP, et al.
Health Policy Plan. 2019 November 7
Sierra Leone has the world’s highest estimated maternal mortality. Following the 2014–16 Ebola outbreak, we described health outcomes and health-seeking behaviour amongst pregnant women to inform health policy. In October 2016–January 2017, we conducted a sequential mixed-methods study in urban and rural areas of Tonkolili District comprising: household survey targeting women who had given birth since onset of the Ebola outbreak; structured interviews at rural sites investigating maternal deaths and reporting; and in-depth interviews (IDIs) targeting mothers, community leaders and health workers. We selected 30 clusters in each area: by random GPS points (urban) and by random village selection stratified by population size (rural). We collected data on health-seeking behaviours, barriers to healthcare, childbirth and outcomes using structured questionnaires. IDIs exploring topics identified through the survey were conducted with a purposive sample and analysed thematically. We surveyed 608 women and conducted 29 structured and 72 IDIs. Barriers, including costs of healthcare and physical inaccessibility of healthcare facilities, delayed or prevented 90% [95% confidence interval (CI): 80–95] (rural) vs 59% (95% CI: 48–68) (urban) pregnant women from receiving healthcare. Despite a general preference for biomedical care, 48% of rural and 31% of urban women gave birth outside of a health facility; of those, just 4% and 34%, respectively received skilled assistance. Women expressed mistrust of healthcare workers (HCWs) primarily due to payment demanded for ‘free’ healthcare. HCWs described lack of pay and poor conditions precluding provision of quality care. Twenty percent of women reported labour complications. Twenty-eight percent of villages had materials to record maternal deaths. Pregnant women faced important barriers to care, particularly in rural areas, leading to high preventable mortality and morbidity. Women wanted to access healthcare, but services available were often costly, unreachable and poor quality. We recommend urgent interventions, including health promotion, free healthcare access and strengthening rural services to address barriers to maternal healthcare.
Protocol > Research Study
Zizhou S, Gashu T, Ahmad B, Dhliwayo R, Aluma T, et al.
2018 July 1
Summary
Epworth poly-clinic is found in Epworth district, Harare. It is a clinic jointly run by Epworth local board (on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Child Care) and Médecins sans Frontiers (MSF). One of the major MSF activities in the clinic is early detection and management of patients who fail first line ART. Patients with elevated viral load (VL), HIV RNA greater than 1000 copies/ml, undergo five to six sessions of two weekly enhanced adherence counseling (EAC) support. After enhanced adherence counseling sessions, those with elevated repeat VL test result are then switched to second line ART. Since the number of patients on second line ART is growing, there is an increased need to know the outcomes of second line ART and predictors of treatment failure.
The main objective of this study is to evaluate the prognosis and determinants of second line ART regimen for cohort of HIV patients in Epworth MoH/MSF poly-clinic, Zimbabwe. The study will also identify cumulative incidence of SL ART treatment failure through clinical, immunological or virological criteria at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months of second line ART initiation for a cohort of patients enrolled from March 2009 to January 2016 in Epworth poly-clinic.
This is a retrospective cohort study of patients on second line ART in Epworth poly-clinic enrolled since 2009. We describe baseline characteristics and outcomes of treatment using descriptive analysis. Multivariate cox proportional hazard modeling is used to model predictors of time to treatment failure. Kaplan–Meier curve is used to calculate cumulative incidence of treatment failure at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months of second line ART initiation.
The study is expected to be finished and communicated to relevant stakeholders in December 2016. The report will be published on peer reviewed journals in January 2017. All the costs needed for this study will be covered by MSF OCA.
Epworth poly-clinic is found in Epworth district, Harare. It is a clinic jointly run by Epworth local board (on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Child Care) and Médecins sans Frontiers (MSF). One of the major MSF activities in the clinic is early detection and management of patients who fail first line ART. Patients with elevated viral load (VL), HIV RNA greater than 1000 copies/ml, undergo five to six sessions of two weekly enhanced adherence counseling (EAC) support. After enhanced adherence counseling sessions, those with elevated repeat VL test result are then switched to second line ART. Since the number of patients on second line ART is growing, there is an increased need to know the outcomes of second line ART and predictors of treatment failure.
The main objective of this study is to evaluate the prognosis and determinants of second line ART regimen for cohort of HIV patients in Epworth MoH/MSF poly-clinic, Zimbabwe. The study will also identify cumulative incidence of SL ART treatment failure through clinical, immunological or virological criteria at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months of second line ART initiation for a cohort of patients enrolled from March 2009 to January 2016 in Epworth poly-clinic.
This is a retrospective cohort study of patients on second line ART in Epworth poly-clinic enrolled since 2009. We describe baseline characteristics and outcomes of treatment using descriptive analysis. Multivariate cox proportional hazard modeling is used to model predictors of time to treatment failure. Kaplan–Meier curve is used to calculate cumulative incidence of treatment failure at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months of second line ART initiation.
The study is expected to be finished and communicated to relevant stakeholders in December 2016. The report will be published on peer reviewed journals in January 2017. All the costs needed for this study will be covered by MSF OCA.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Water Health. 2018 April 1; Volume 16 (Issue 2); 223-232.; DOI:10.2166/wh.2018.258
Spina A, Beversluis D, Irwin A, Chen A, Nassariman JN, et al.
J Water Health. 2018 April 1; Volume 16 (Issue 2); 223-232.; DOI:10.2166/wh.2018.258
In September 2016, Médecins Sans Frontières responded to a hepatitis E (HEV) outbreak in Chad by implementing water treatment and hygiene interventions. To evaluate the coverage and use of these interventions, we conducted a cross-sectional study in the community. Our results showed that 99% of households interviewed had received a hygiene kit from us, aimed at improving water handling practice and personal hygiene and almost all respondents had heard messages about preventing jaundice and handwashing. Acceptance of chlorination of drinking water was also very high, although at the time of interview, we were only able to measure a safe free residual chlorine level (free chlorine residual (FRC) ≥0.2 mg/L) in 43% of households. Households which had refilled water containers within the last 18 hours, had sourced water from private wells or had poured water into a previously empty container, were all more likely to have a safe FRC level. In this open setting, we were able to achieve high coverage for chlorination, hygiene messaging and hygiene kit ownership; however, a review of our technical practice is needed in order to maintain safe FRC levels in drinking water in households, particularly when water is collected from multiple sources, stored and mixed with older water.
Conference Material > Poster
Mohan Kumar H, Lin Oo W, Gurung P, Spencer H, Shougrakpam J, et al.
MSF Scientific Days International 2021: Research. 2021 May 18
Protocol > Research Study
Lenglet AD, Monge S, Ndumbi P, Nyarwangu J, Hamdan M, et al.
2018 July 1
Conference Material > Abstract
Lavilla KM, Teal J, Schausberger B, Sankoh M, Conteh AB, et al.
MSF Scientific Days International 2022. 2022 May 11; DOI:10.57740/8sd6-2h56
INTRODUCTION
MSF and the MoHS implemented a partnership model of free and accessible maternal and child healthcare at primary and hospital-level health facilities in Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone, in order to reduce barriers to care and improve health outcomes. We conducted a health-seeking behaviour (HSB) study in 2021 to evaluate impact and change since a previous HSB study conducted in 2016/17. We also compared MSF-supported primary health unit (PHU) catchment areas with MSF-unsupported PHU’s. In addition, we explored adolescent reproductive health, family planning, and female genital mutilation (FGM).
METHODS
Study design was mixed-methods, similar to that used in 2016/17, including a quantitative household survey, structured interviews with key informants, and qualitative in-depth interviews (IDI’s). We randomly selected 60 clusters; 30 in MSF-supported areas, and 30 in unsupported areas. IDI’s explored topics identified through the survey, and were conducted with purposively-sampled participants, and analyzed thematically.
ETHICS
This study was approved by the Sierra Leone Ethical and Scientific Review Committee and by the MSF Ethics Review Board
RESULTS
Between February and August 2021, 1,164 women and 1,177 carers (of 1,559 children aged under 5) participated in the survey; 59 structured interviews and 42 IDI’s were conducted. Compared to the 2016/17 study, access to healthcare improved, with the proportion of women delivering in a health facility increasing from 52.0% (95% confidence intervals (CI) 42-64) to 90.9% (95% CI 89.2-92.5), and the proportion of mothers reporting at least one barrier to accessing care decreasing from 90.0% (95% CI 80-95) to 45.9% (95% CI 43.0-48.8). Outcomes of care also improved over this period, with under-5 mortality decreasing from 1.55 per 10,0000/day (95% CI 1.30-1.86) to 0.25 per 10,000/day (95% CI 0.17-0.36).When comparing unsupported PHU’s versus supported areas in 2021, complications during labour or delivery were higher in unsupported areas (10.9%; 95% CI 8.6-13.6) vs 7.2% (95% CI 5.3-9.7), as was stillbirth (4.5%; 95% CI 3.1-6.5) vs 1.4% (95% CI 0.6-2.8). Under-5 mortality was 0.44 per 10,000/day (95% CI 2.4-7.2) in unsupported areas and 0.17 per 10,000/day (95% CI 0.8-2.9) in supported areas. 42.9% (95% CI 34.7-51.4) of adolescents in unsupported areas and 39.7% (95% CI 31.3- 48.7) in supported areas reported unmet need for contraception. More than 90% (96.6%, 95% CI 95.3-97.5) of women reported FGM. Qualitative data suggests that communities recognized the importance of delivering in a health facility with trained assistance. Nevertheless, health staff and community members felt the current fine system for home births was applied inflexibly in circumstances when distance, transport, or cost restricted or delayed access.
CONCLUSION
Since 2016/17, access to healthcare and outcomes have improved in all areas, but improvement has been greatest in areas where, in addition to hospital care, MSF supported MoHS PHU’s. This provides evidence for ongoing implementation and scale-up of comprehensive models of care. Progress made must not overshadow areas requiring further attention, such as care for adolescents, access to contraception, and the need to reduce stillbirths.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
None declared.
MSF and the MoHS implemented a partnership model of free and accessible maternal and child healthcare at primary and hospital-level health facilities in Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone, in order to reduce barriers to care and improve health outcomes. We conducted a health-seeking behaviour (HSB) study in 2021 to evaluate impact and change since a previous HSB study conducted in 2016/17. We also compared MSF-supported primary health unit (PHU) catchment areas with MSF-unsupported PHU’s. In addition, we explored adolescent reproductive health, family planning, and female genital mutilation (FGM).
METHODS
Study design was mixed-methods, similar to that used in 2016/17, including a quantitative household survey, structured interviews with key informants, and qualitative in-depth interviews (IDI’s). We randomly selected 60 clusters; 30 in MSF-supported areas, and 30 in unsupported areas. IDI’s explored topics identified through the survey, and were conducted with purposively-sampled participants, and analyzed thematically.
ETHICS
This study was approved by the Sierra Leone Ethical and Scientific Review Committee and by the MSF Ethics Review Board
RESULTS
Between February and August 2021, 1,164 women and 1,177 carers (of 1,559 children aged under 5) participated in the survey; 59 structured interviews and 42 IDI’s were conducted. Compared to the 2016/17 study, access to healthcare improved, with the proportion of women delivering in a health facility increasing from 52.0% (95% confidence intervals (CI) 42-64) to 90.9% (95% CI 89.2-92.5), and the proportion of mothers reporting at least one barrier to accessing care decreasing from 90.0% (95% CI 80-95) to 45.9% (95% CI 43.0-48.8). Outcomes of care also improved over this period, with under-5 mortality decreasing from 1.55 per 10,0000/day (95% CI 1.30-1.86) to 0.25 per 10,000/day (95% CI 0.17-0.36).When comparing unsupported PHU’s versus supported areas in 2021, complications during labour or delivery were higher in unsupported areas (10.9%; 95% CI 8.6-13.6) vs 7.2% (95% CI 5.3-9.7), as was stillbirth (4.5%; 95% CI 3.1-6.5) vs 1.4% (95% CI 0.6-2.8). Under-5 mortality was 0.44 per 10,000/day (95% CI 2.4-7.2) in unsupported areas and 0.17 per 10,000/day (95% CI 0.8-2.9) in supported areas. 42.9% (95% CI 34.7-51.4) of adolescents in unsupported areas and 39.7% (95% CI 31.3- 48.7) in supported areas reported unmet need for contraception. More than 90% (96.6%, 95% CI 95.3-97.5) of women reported FGM. Qualitative data suggests that communities recognized the importance of delivering in a health facility with trained assistance. Nevertheless, health staff and community members felt the current fine system for home births was applied inflexibly in circumstances when distance, transport, or cost restricted or delayed access.
CONCLUSION
Since 2016/17, access to healthcare and outcomes have improved in all areas, but improvement has been greatest in areas where, in addition to hospital care, MSF supported MoHS PHU’s. This provides evidence for ongoing implementation and scale-up of comprehensive models of care. Progress made must not overshadow areas requiring further attention, such as care for adolescents, access to contraception, and the need to reduce stillbirths.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
None declared.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
PLOS One. 2017 November 27; Volume 12 (Issue 11); DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0188240
Spina A, Lenglet AD, Beversluis D, de Jong M, Vernier L, et al.
PLOS One. 2017 November 27; Volume 12 (Issue 11); DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0188240
In September 2016, three acutely jaundiced (AJS) pregnant women were admitted to Am Timan Hospital, eastern Chad. We described the outbreak and conducted a case test-negative study to identify risk factors for this genotype of HEV in an acute outbreak setting.