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Background: Malaria remains a major public health threat in Burkina Faso. In most sub-Saharan African countries, malaria control relies mainly on long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) and indoor residual spray (IRS). In Burkina Faso, long-term selection pressure exerted on malaria vectors by insecticide used in agriculture, has been exacerbated by countrywide LLINs distribution campaigns conducted every three years since 2010. The current study investigated insecticide resistance and the mechanisms involved in the malaria vector populations of the Anopheles gambiae complex in urban localities of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Methods: Anopheles gambiae s. l. larvae were collected from three localities of Ouagadougou from July to September 2018, and reared in the laboratory to adults. The susceptibility profile to pyrethroid, carbamate, and organophosphate insecticides was assessed using World Health Organization (WHO) tube assays. PCR was used for mosquito species identification and to detect insecticide target-site mutations involved in insecticide resistance. Results: More than 95% of the collected An. gambiae s. l. were identified as An. arabiensis. WHO susceptibility assays revealed that, in all localities, An. arabiensis displayed high resistance to permethrin and deltamethrin (mortalities both kdr mutations 1014F (0.81) and 1014S (0.18) were recorded, although carbamate and organophosphate-associated Ace-1 119S mutation was not found. Conclusion: High pyrethroid resistance, underpinned, at least in part by high-frequency knockdown resistance mutations, in the urban malaria vector population suggests the potentially poor performance of pyrethroid-only LLINs in the cities where they are distributed. This result supported the switch to next generation LLINs, which are not solely reliant on pyrethroids to kill host-seeking mosquitoes in the cities of Burkina Faso.

Background Outbreaks of dengue fever caused by viruses transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are repeatedly reported in West Africa. Burkina Faso has experienced major dengue outbreaks most notably in 2016 and 2017, with 80% of cases recorded in Ouagadougou (Central health region). In order to better understand the ecology of this vector to provide information for control, a study on the productivity of Aedes breeding sites measured by abundance of immature stages, and resultant adult body size, and breeding site characteristics was undertaken in three Health Districts (Baskuy, Bogodogo, and Nongremassom) of the city of Ouagadougou. Methods Adult mosquitoes were collected indoors and outdoors in 643 households during the rainy season from -month- to -month- 2018. Water containers were systematically recorded and prospected for larval presence or absence. Breeding container characteristics including size, temperature, pH and conductivity were recorded as well as water volume. Traditional Stegomyia indices were calculated; generalised mixed models were fitted to larval and pupal densities, and the contribution of each covariate to the model evaluated by the Z-value and associated P-value. Results A total of 1,061 breeding sites were inspected, of which 760 were positive for Aedes aegypti immature stages. Tires, medium (Buckets/Cans/Pots) and large (Bin/barrel/drums) containers were the most frequent, positive and productive larval habitats in each health district. Of the Stegomyia indices, the Breteau, house and container indices exceeded WHO dengue risk thresholds. Generalised Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs) showed that larval and pupal abundances were each associated with container type, physicochemical characteristics and collection month, but with significant differences among container types among health districts. Aedes aegypti body size was positively associated with containers type, diameter, electrical conductivity; and negatively associated with pH, temperature, and a containers’ level of exposure to sunshine. Conclusion We provide data on putative determinants of Aedes aegypti immature habitat productivity, which are useful to better understand Aedes aegypti proliferation. The results suggest that targeting the most productive containers could contribute to dengue vector control strategies in Burkina Faso.

The aim of this study was to examine the role of caregivers of cancer patients at Yalgado Ouédraogo University Hospital, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, using a proximological approach. We carried out a cross-sectional, observational study of 72 patient/caregiver dyads that included patients followed for at least one month as outpatients for confirmed cancer and their primary caregiver from May-October 2021. Caregiver burden was assessed using the Caregiver Reaction Assessment questionnaire (CRA). Mean scores of the CRA dimensions were compared according to selected patient/caregiver characteristics. In 53% of dyads, the relationship was parent/child. Administrative formalities and emotional support were the main tasks undertaken by the primary caregivers. Strength of the parental bond, living in the same home, and knowledge of the seriousness of the patient’s illness had a significant impact on CRA scores. In our setting, we need to reflect on measures to lighten the burden of the cancer patient’s caregiver.

Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), which combines amodiaquine (AQ) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP), is an effective and promising strategy, recommended by WHO, for controlling malaria morbidity and mortality in areas of intense seasonal transmission. Despite this strategy, the number of malaria cases in the target group, children under five years old, has increased while the implementation of SMC will be extended in several African countries. This increase in the prevalence of malaria cases suggests the need to evaluate SMC and understand some of the factors that may hinder the success of this strategy in the intervention areas. The present review discusses the impact of SMC on target population morbidity, parasite resistance to antimalarial drugs, molecular and the immunity affecting the incidence of malaria in children under five years old. This approach will contribute to improving the malaria control strategy in highly seasonal transmission areas.

Background Prostate cancer (Pca) is a public health problem that affects men, usually of middle age or older. It is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men and the fifth leading cause of death. The RNASEL gene located in 1q25 and identified as a susceptibility gene to hereditary prostate cancer, has never been studied in relation to prostate cancer in Burkina Faso. The aim of this study was to analyze the carriage of RNASEL R462Q and D541E mutations and risks factors in patients with prostate cancer in the Burkina Faso. Methods This case–control study included of 38 histologically diagnosed prostate cancer cases and 53 controls (cases without prostate abnormalities). Real-time PCR genotyping of R462Q and D541E variants using the TaqMan® allelic discrimination technique was used. Correlations between different genotypes and combined genotypes were investigated. Results The R462Q variant was present in 5.3% of cases and 7.5% of controls. The D541E variant was present in 50.0% of cases and 35% of controls. There is no association between R462Q variants (OR = 0.60; 95%IC, 0.10–3.51; p = 0.686) and D541E variants (OR = 2.46; 95%IC, 0.78–7.80; p = 0.121) and genotypes combined with prostate cancer. However, there is a statistically significant difference in the distribution of cases according to the PSA rate at diagnosis (p ˂ 0.001). For the Gleason score distribution, only 13.2% of cases have a Gleason score greater than 7. There is a statistically significant difference in the Gleason score distribution of cases (p ˂ 0.001). Conclusions These variants, considered in isolation or in combination, are not associated with the risk of prostate cancer.

Background: Women participation in decision-making fora is key to ensure that their concerns are take into consideration, especially in maternal, newborn and child health issues. The objective of this study was to analyse the participation of stakeholders in the various meetings organized as part of the project "Moving for Maternal, Newborn and Child Evidence into Policy in West Africa".Methods: A gender analysis was conducted using data drawn from the attendance lists at the various meetings organized during the project implementation. Results: This analysis showed that women were under-represented in the various meetings organized by the project, but that their profile was not different from that of men. There was a higher proportion of women among the decision-makers during the engagement, dialogue workshops and at the international workshops without significant difference. Nevertheless, in the training workshops, there was a low proportion of women among the decision-makers with statistical significant difference. Conclusion: The women participating in the regional platform meeting have the same profile as men in terms of decision-making power. An inequitable participation of women in the health research meetings in West Africa noted in this analysis need to be addressed in the future by the application of some innovative approaches including women as part of the organizers or by the introduction of quotas.

Background: Malaria in pregnancy remains a public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. Identifying risk factors for malaria in pregnancy could assist in developing interventions to reduce the risk of malaria in Burkina Faso and other countries in the region.Methodology: Two cross-sectional surveys were carried out to measure Plasmodium falciparum infection using microscopy in pregnant women in Saponé Health District, central Burkina Faso. Data were collected on individual, household and environmental variables and their association with P. falciparum infection assessed using multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 356 pregnant women were enrolled in the surveys, 174 during the dry season and 182 during the wet season. The mean number of doses of sulphadoxine pyrimethamine for Intermittent Preventive Treatment in pregnancy (IPTp-SP) was 0.4 doses during the first trimester, 1.1 doses at the second and 2.3 doses at the third. Overall prevalence of P. falciparum infection by microscopy was 15.7%; 17.8% in the dry season and 13.7% in the wet season. 88.2% of pregnant women reported sleeping under an insecticide-treated net on the previous night. P. falciparum infection risk in pregnancy was reduced in those women who reported using an ITN (Odds ratio, OR=0.31, 95% CI 0.12-0.79, p=0.02) and an increasing number of IPTp-SP doses during pregnancy, with each additional dose reducing the odds by 40% (OR=0.59, 95% CI 0.43–0.81, pP. falciparum infection among pregnant women remains high in Burkina Faso although use of IPTp-SP and ITNs were found to reduce the odds of infection. Despite this, compliance with IPTp remains far from that recommended by the National Malaria Control Programme and World Health Organization. Behaviour change communication should be improved to encourage compliance with protective malaria control tools during pregnancy.

Background Between 2008 and 2013, the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) conducted a series of post-graduate capacity building in research methodology in West Africa. This work evaluated the contribution of these trainings in terms of knowledge acquisition and influence of research and policy practice. Methods Cooke's conceptual framework for assessing research capacity building was used with three data sources to construct the indicators (training reports, research project implementation reports and WAHO research programme evaluation report). Results There was an improvement in the knowledge of the 84 participants between the pre- and post-test. At the end of the training, the learners developed 19 protocols, 14 of which were finalised, financed and implemented, reflecting the learners' confidence to engage in research at the end of the training. The implementation of the protocols was conducted with the partnership and collaboration between the agents of the control programmes and the research centres. Some research results have been disseminated and a small portion used to strengthen the programmes. Conclusion This evaluation showed that the training was linked to practice with little publication and use of the results to improve the programmes. This regional capacity building programme should be maintained and strengthened by adding modules in data analysis, scientific communication and knowledge transfer.

Background The Economic Commission of the West African States (ECOWAS), through her specialised health Institution, the West African Health Organization (WAHO) is supporting Members States to improve health outcomes in West Africa. There is a global recognition that evidence-based health policies are vital towards achieving continued improvement in health outcomes. The need to have a tool that will provide systematic guide on the use of evidence in policymaking necessitated the production of the evidence-based policy-making (EBPM) Guidance. Methods Google search was performed to identify existing guidance on EBPM. Lessons were drawn from the review of identified guidance documents. Consultation, interaction and interviews were held with policymakers from the 15 West African countries during WAHO organized regional meetings in Senegal, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso. The purpose was to elicit their views on the strategies to promote the use of evidence in policymaking to be included in the EBPM Guidance. A regional Guidance Validation Meeting for West African policymakers was thereafter convened by WAHO to review findings from review of existing guidance documents and validate the EBPM Guidance. Results Out of the 250 publications screened, six publications fulfilled the study inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Among the important issues highlighted include: what evidence informed decision-making is; different types of research methods, designs and approaches, and how to judge the quality of research. The identified main target end users of the EBPM Guidance are policy/decision makers in the West African sub-region, at local, sub-national, national and regional levels. Among the key recommendations included in the EBPM Guidance include: properly defining/refining policy problem; reviewing contextual issues; initiating policy priority setting; considering political acceptability of policy; commissioning research; use of rapid response services, use of policy advisory/technical/steering committees; and use of policy briefs and policy dialogue. Conclusion The EBPM Guidance is one of the emerging tools that can enhance the understanding of evidence to policy process. The strategies to facilitate the use of evidence in policymaking outlined in the Guidance, can be adapted to local context, and incorporated validated approaches that can be used to promote evidence-to-policy-to-practice process in West Africa.

Background From the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in late December 2019, countries have been stepping up their pandemic preparedness and response activities in accordance with WHO recommendations. Informed by the recent lessons learned from the West Africa Ebola Virus Disease outbreak, and subsequent investments made in public health emergency preparedness and response in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region, the West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO) is providing regional leadership in the COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and response. We assessed the COVID-19 pandemic readiness status of West Africa. Methods We conducted survey of all 15 ECOWAS member states between February 27 and March 15, 2020. We purposively selected a minimum of two respondents from each of the 15 ECOWAS member states – interviewing 37 in all using an interviewer-administered questionnaire based on the nine item WHO national capacity review tool for novel corona virus (nCOV). We also reviewed reports of COVID-19 pandemic preparedness meetings and trainings organized by WAHO. We performed a thematic analysis on the data and described the strengths and weaknesses of the ongoing pandemic readiness efforts of West Africa. Results Overall, the strengths of pandemic readiness of the region were: capacity to test 86.7% (13/15) of member states; functional incident management systems (100%); rapid response teams 100%, and at least two of the three tiers of field epidemiology workforce (100%). Within the region also, there existed good cross-border collaborations among member states, active participation of health ministers of member states in regional coordination meetings and decision making. Member states described the numbers of qualified biomedical scientists/technicians, field epidemiologists, risk communicators, and COVID-19 case management teams as inadequate. None of the member states had stockpiles of COVID-19 test kits, laboratory supplies, and personal protective equipment. Conclusion ECOWAS member states are taking appropriate COVID-19 pandemic preparedness measures in all pillars towards a regional response. Rather than a total lack, there are insufficiencies in numbers of skilled workforce, logistics, and supplies. Governments of member states are supportive of the coordination and technical direction of WAHO and WHO.

Background: Several studies have been undertaken on the subject of HIV. To improve the research findings into practices, stronger scientific evidences are suitable and have improved HIV control programmes in many countries including Burkina Faso. The objective of this study is to review the various HIV/AIDS researches related to HIV control programme in Burkina Faso and their implication for policy and practice. Methods: This study was a systematic review. A MEDLINE Entrez PubMed search was performed in August 2019 and implementation studies that investigated HIV control programmes and HIV health policy in Burkina Faso. Search key words included « HIV programmes in Burkina Faso », « HIV control programme in Burkina Faso », « Burkina Faso, health policy, HIV ». Only policy relevant studies which generated evidence to improve HIV control prgramme in Burkina Faso were eligible and were selected. Results: A total of 23 relevant studies that fulfilled the study inclusion criteria were identified out of 89 studies found. Among the 23 scientific publications included in the review, 73.9% were published in English language and 26.1% in French language. The main issues reviewed were related to prevention and other topics associated to prevention as an intervention on HIV control programme already operated in Burkina Faso, related to monitoring and evaluation to better control HIV programme. Others included studies were related to prevalence and risk factors, stigma, access to care to Non-gouvernmental-organizations-(NGO), access to and quality of care, gender, service delivery, priority setting and resource allocation. These studies generated high quality policy relevant evidence which indicated significant improvements in HIV programmes outcomes where the studies were undertaken Conclusion: There is a need for more implementation of research related to HIV in low income settings because of the priority to improve HIV outcomes and the challenge for implementing research and equity issues for interventions within complex health systems.