Current Issue : January-March Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 1 Articles : 5 Articles
Therapeutic monitoring of people living with HIV (PLHIV) relies mainly on HIV viral load (VL) measurement. This study evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on HIV-1 viral load testing among PLHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) in Guinea from 2014 to 2024.Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the HIV/Hepatitis Molecular Biology Laboratory of INSP on 29,529 samples from PLHIV. Viral load was measured by real-time PCR using NorDiag/HAIN and Abbott platforms. Data were analyzed with R software. Virological failure was defined as a VL ≥ 1000 copies/mL. Results: A marked improvement in virological control was observed over time, increasing from 77.5% before the COVID-19 pandemic to 88.8% after, with a decrease in failure rates from 22.5% to 11.2%. Most samples were from women (72.8%) and adults aged 18-49 years. The average treatment duration increased from 3.9 to 6.3 years between the two periods. Health centers became the main referring structures post-pandemic, reflecting increased decentralization. Multivariate analyses showed that men, individuals under 18 years, and patients followed in university hospitals before the pandemic had a higher risk of virological failure. Conversely, patients followed in NGOs or health centers during the pandemic had better outcomes. Adult age, longer treatment duration, and first-line follow-up were associated with better viral suppression. Conclusion: The results reveal improved virological monitoring in Guinea despite disruptions caused by the pandemic. However, persistent inequalities call for targeted interventions to improve equity and achieve UNAIDS viral suppression targets....
Introduction: Adolescents living with HIV/AIDS (ALHIV) treated in pediatrics at the Bouaké Teaching Hospital, face numerous physical, psychological and social challenges exposing them to risky behaviours. The aim of the study was to analyze their knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) related to HIV/AIDS. Methods: The study, conducted between April 1 to 30, 2024, included adolescents followed up in the pediatrics department of Bouaké Teaching Hospital, with the consent of their parents or legal parents or legal guardians. The variables studied included knowledge about HIV, attitudes to the disease and the practices. Variables were compared at the significance level p ≤ 0.05. Results: A total of 61 of the 71 adolescents in the active file participated in the study (85.9%). Full disclosure was made in 16.4% of cases. School was the place of information for 76.4%. In 18% of cases, they knew that HIV was transmissible. In 52.5%, they knew the means of prevention. They were noncompliant with treatment in 22.9% of cases. In 11.5% of cases, they stated that they had sexual relations but had not informed their partner of their serological status. Factors significantly associated with good knowledge, attitude and practice were age ≥ 15 years (p < 0.01), high level of education (p = 0.031) and full disclosure (p < 0.01). Conclusion: It thus becomes imperative to reinforce therapeutic adherence, the total announcement process and communication relating to sexual and reproductive health for the attention of AVVIH....
The hepatitis B virus is transmitted in the same ways as HIV. With an estimated prevalence rate of over 8% in the general population, Chad is classified as a country with a high endemicity of hepatitis B virus infection. This study examines the prevalence of HIV/HBV co-infection and hepatitis B vaccination status among individuals who underwent voluntary HIV and hepatitis B screening at three HIV treatment centers in N’Djamena, Chad. Over an eight-month period, 2210 participants were tested, of whom 133 were co-infected with HIV/HBV, representing a prevalence of 6%. The prevalence of HIV/HBV coinfection was higher among females, 9.40%, with a sex ratio (M/F) of 0.60. The prevalence of HIV/HBeAg was 1%, while that of HIV/anti-HBcAb was 2.4%, HIV/anti-HBs antibodies was 100% negative. The average age of patients was 35 years, ranging from 18 to 70 years. The most represented age group was 25 to 35 years (36.8%). None of the co-infected participants had been vaccinated against HBV. HIV/HBV co-infection is considered a significant public health problem in Chad, requiring early diagnosis through awareness and screening campaigns among the general population, thereby enabling better care for patients co-infected with HIV/HBV....
Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) represent a major public health challenge in Burkina Faso due to their high morbidity and mortality rates among the working-age population. To limit their impact, national strategies have been implemented, including awareness campaigns, screening, subsidized treatment, and prevention of mother-tochild transmission. Objective: To analyze the epidemiological trends of HIV and HCV from 2013 to 2024, with a view to strengthening control strategies and improving the medical care of patients. Methods: A retrospective crosssectional study was conducted between 2013 and 2023 among adult male and female patients who presented at the CERBA (Center for Research and Evaluation in Health and Social Care) for HIV and/or HCV screening. In addition, a prospective study was conducted in 2024 during a community-based HIV and HCV screening campaign in Ouagadougou, using rapid tests. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0 and EpiInfo 7. Results were considered statistically significant for a p-value < 0.05. The sociodemographic and epidemiological data collected were analyzed to highlight the main epidemiological trends. Results: The study included 2,576 patients, of whom 1133 were women (44.0%) and 1443 were men (56.0%), with a mean age of 30.1 ± 10.8 years. Between 2013 and 2024, the overall observed seroprevalence was 2.1% (53/2576) for HIV and 3.4% (87/2576) for HCV. A statistically significant de-crease was observed for both infections. The prevalence of HIV decreased from 2.2% (14/630) in 2013 to 1.5% (10/663) in 2024, as described by linear regression (y = −0.154x + 2.55). Similarly, HCV prevalence decreased from 4.3% (27/630) in 2013 to 1.4% (9/663) in 2024, according to a linear regression (y = −0.899x + 5.63). First-line antiretroviral therapy dominates HIV management (83.44%) in Burkina Faso, while second-line regimens remain essential in cases of resistance. Furthermore, pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are effective against HCV regardless of genotype, rapidly suppressing viral load and confirming their therapeutic superiority. Conclusion: To achieve the goals set by the WHO, it is necessary to strengthen screening strategies, intensify prevention measures among at-risk populations and ensure optimal care, based on antiretrovirals for people living with HIV and on pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals for patients infected with HCV....
Introduction: In sub-Saharan Africa, the high prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infections (TTIs) such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Treponema pallidum remains a major challenge for blood safety. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HIV, HBV and Treponema pallidum among first-time blood donors in Lambaréné, a semi-urban area in central western Gabon. Methods: Screening for HIV, HBV and Treponema pallidum was performed using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Results: Of the 1530 predominantly male donors, 150 (9.8%) were seropositive for at least one infectious marker and 5 (0.33%) had serological suspicion of multiple infections. The overall seropositive of HIV, HBsAg and syphilis was 2.68%, 5.16% and 1.63%, respectively. The seropositivity of HIV and syphilis was not associated with either sex or donors’ age. Only HBsAg was significantly higher in donors of the age groups 20 - 29 years and ≥50 years compared to donors of the age group 30 - 39 years (7% vs 3.1, AOR = 2.24, P = 0.016; 13% vs 3.1, AOR = 4.5, P = 0.017). Conclusion: Low seropositivity of HIV, HBsAg and syphilis were found among first-time blood donors in Lambaréné compared to those reported in the general population or among blood donors in Libreville. This could be due to the difference of blood-borne epidemiology between Libreville and Lambaréné or the use of RDTs in the qualification of blood donations, which could underestimate the detection of TTIs, particularly in blood donors in the seroconversion phase....
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