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ObjectivesPublic awareness and the dissemination of tailored information to lay populations are essential for highly endemic countries like Senegal to achieve hepatitis B elimination targets by 2030. In Senegal, despite its high prevalence, hepatitis B has not received sufficient attention in health communication campaigns compared with other health issues like HIV. We aimed to explore knowledge and perceptions surrounding hepatitis B virus (HBV), as well as the influence of digital media on the information accessed by individuals living with HBV in Senegal.DesignWe employed a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative semistructured interviews conducted with people living with HBV enrolled in the Senegalese hepatitis B cohort (SEN-B), with a quantitative content analysis of online news coverage focused on HBV within the online media of Senegal.SettingA referral University hospital in Dakar, Senegal.Participants29 individuals aged >18 years presenting with a positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) with a median age of 40 years (IQR 27–54), of whom 51.7% were female.Outcomes and analysisQualitative interviews were conducted between December 2019 and October 2021, and we employed purposive sampling to select participants enrolled in SEN-B. Thematic analysis facilitated a systematic synthesis of respondents’ narratives. All data analyses were performed using Atlas.ti (V.22). For content analysis of online media news collected from September 2019 to May 2022, a structured data extraction form was developed to collect relevant information from the selected online news articles. Data on readers’ comments spaces were extracted using an inductive approach and were processed using thematic analyses. The quantitative data issued from content analysis were exported to Stata SE V.17.0 (StataCorp) for statistical analysis.ResultsWe observed a generalised lack of knowledge about HBV among participants, some of whom had never heard of the virus prior to their screening. Incomprehension regarding the disease contributed to feelings of fear and anxiety, leading participants to express various concerns about their personal health status, transmission, cure and treatment(s). The presence of rumours surrounding the disease further underscored the limited awareness of HBV revealing the marginal recognition of HBV as a significant societal concern. In many cases, the absence of effective health communication strategies at the national level resulted in individuals turning to traditional and online media for information, which often intensified their fears and concerns about HBV. An analysis of Senegalese media coverage about HBV included 157 articles published between 2009 and 2022. 55.4% (87/157) of these publications appeared in July, coinciding with World Hepatitis Day, while 65.0% (102/157) focused on general HBV epidemiology and activities led by the National Hepatitis Programme. Online media also served as informal spaces where unaccredited actors within the health sector promoted treatments lacking official verification. Additionally, the reactions’ spaces provided a venue for the exchange of information, though without any guarantee of its accuracy.ConclusionsFacilitating collaboration and engagement between health communication stakeholders and communities is crucial for effectively disseminating structured information and culturally appropriate messages, ultimately contributing to raising awareness of HBV.

Background The overlap in the epidemiology of malaria and helminths has been identified as a potential area to exploit for the development of an integrated control strategy that may help to achieve elimination of malaria and helminths. A randomized, controlled, observer-blind trial was conducted to assess the feasibility and safety of combining mass drug administration (MDA) for schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths (STH) with seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) among children living in Senegal. Methods Female and male children aged 1–14 years were randomized 1:1:1, to receive Vitamin A and Zinc on Day 0, followed by SMC drugs (sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine) on Days 1–3 (control group); or praziquantel and Vitamin A on Day 0, followed by SMC drugs on Days 1–3 (treatment group 1); or albendazole and praziquantel on Day 0, followed by SMC drugs on Days 1–3 (treatment group 2). Safety assessment was performed by collecting adverse events from all children for six subsequent days following administration of the study drugs. Pre- and post-intervention, blood samples were collected for determination of haemoglobin concentration, malaria microscopy, and PCR assays. Stool samples were analyzed using Kato-Katz, Merthiolate-iodine-formalin and PCR methods. Urine filtration, PCR and circulating cathodic antigen tests were also performed. Results From 9 to 22 June 2022, 627 children aged 1–14 years were randomized into the three groups described above. Mild, transient vomiting was observed in 12.6% (26/206) of children in treatment group 2, in 10.6% (22/207) in group 1, and in 4.2% (9/214) in the control group (p = 0.005). Pre-intervention, the geometric mean value of Plasmodium falciparum parasite density was highest among children who received albendazole, praziquantel with SMC drugs. Post-intervention, the parasite density was highest among children who received SMC drugs only. Children who received praziquantel and SMC drugs had a lower risk of developing severe anaemia than their counterparts who received SMC drugs alone (OR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.13–5.00, p = 0.63). Conclusions Integration of MDA for helminths with SMC drugs was safe and feasible among Senegalese children. These findings support further evaluation of the integrated control model. Trial registration : The study is registered at Clinical Trial.gov NCT05354258.

BackgroundIntegration of vertical programmes for the control of malaria, schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis has been recommended to achieve the elimination of malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTD) by 2030. Given the dearth of studies on the acceptability of the integrated approach, we conducted this qualitative study within the context of a randomized controlled trial to explore the perceptions and views of parents/caregivers of at-risk children and healthcare providers to determine their acceptability of the integrated malaria-helminth treatment approach. MethodsRandomly selected parents/caregivers of children enrolled in the trial, health care providers, trial staff, malaria and NTD programme managers were interviewed using purpose-designed topic guides. Transcripts obtained from the interviews were coded and common themes identified using content analysis were triangulated. Fifty-seven study participants comprising 26 parents/caregivers, 10 study children aged ≥10 years, 15 trial staff, four health care providers and two managers from the Senegal Ministry of Health were interviewed.ResultsThirty-eight of the participants (66.7%) were males and their ages ranged from 10–65 years. Overall, the integrated malaria-helminth treatment approach was considered acceptable but the study participants expressed concerns about the taste, smell and side effects associated with amodiaquine and praziquantel in the combination package. Reluctance to accept the medications was also observed among children aged 10–14 years, due to peer influence and gender-sensitive cultural beliefs. ConclusionAddressing concerns about the taste and smell of amodiaquine and praziquantel is needed to optimize the uptake of the integrated treatment programme. Also, culturally appropriate strategies need to be put in place to cater for the inclusion of children aged 10–14 years in this approach.

Background Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a mature B-cell neoplasm characterized by the expansion of CD5-positive lymphocytes in peripheral blood. While CLL is the most common type of leukemia in Western populations, the disease is rare in Africans. Hence, clinical and laboratory data and studies of CLL in Sub Saharan populations have been limited. The aims of this study were to analyze the characteristics of senegalese patients with CLL at the time of the diagnosis and to identify the correlation between clinical characteristics (Binet stage) with age, gender, laboratory parameters and chromosomal abnormalities. Methods In this study, we investigated the clinical and laboratory characteristics of CLL in Senegal. A total of 40 patients who had been diagnosed with CLL during the period from July 2011 to April 2015 in Senegal were evaluated. Cytology and immunophenotype were performed in all patients to confirm the diagnosis. The prognosis factors such as Binet staging, CD38 and cytogenetic abnormalities were studied. The statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 13 (Stata college station Texas). Each patient signed a free and informed consent form before participating in the study. Results The mean age was 61 years ranged from 48 to 85. There were 31 males and only 9 females (sex ratio M : F = 3,44). At diagnosic, 82.5 % of the patients were classified as having advanced Binet stages B or C. The prognosis marker CD38 was positive in 28 patients. Cytogenetic abnormalities studied by FISH were performed in 25 patients, among them, 68 % (17 cases) had at least one cytogenetic abnormality and 28 % had 2 simultaneous cytogenetic abnormalities. Conclusion Africans may present with CLL at a younger age and our data suggest that CLL in Senegal may be more aggressive than in Western populations.

[...]the middle of the last century, the only real danger to wood dust was its flammability. [5-7] In Senegal, no data are available on the importance of respiratory function abnormalities among carpenters, but working conditions in the timber industry are rather degraded and they are working without any awareness of the risk of excessive atmospheric wood dust. In the carpentry workshops of our subjects, there is an absence of dust extraction device at the source, appropriate breathing masks and effective cleaning of dusts and chips resulting in wood dust concentrations probably very high in workplace atmospheres. Rastogi SK, Gupta BN, Husain T, Mathur N. Respiratory health effects from occupational exposure to wood dust in sawmills.

BackgroundThe overlap in the epidemiology of malaria and helminths has been identified as a potential area to exploit for the development of an integrated control strategy that may help to achieve elimination of malaria and helminths. We conducted a randomised, controlled, observer-blind trial to assess the feasibility and safety of combining mass drug administration (MDA) for schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminths (STH) with seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) among children living in Senegal.MethodsFemale and male children aged 1-14 years were randomised 1:1:1, to receive Vitamin A and Zinc on Day 0, followed by SMC drugs (SPAQ) on Days 1-3 (control group); or praziquantel and Vitamin A on Day 0, followed by SMC drugs on Days 1-3 (treatment group 1); or albendazole and praziquantel on Day 0, followed by SMC drugs on Days 1-3 (treatment group 2). Safety assessment was performed by collecting adverse events from all children for six subsequent days following administration of the study drugs. Pre- and post-intervention, blood samples were collected for determination of haemoglobin concentration, malaria microscopy, and PCR assays. Stool samples were analysed using Kato-Katz, Merthiolate-iodine-formalin and PCR methods. Urine filtration, PCR and Circulating Cathodic Antigen tests were also performed.ResultsFrom 9-22 June 2022, we randomised 627 children aged 1-14 years into the three treatment groups described above. Mild, transient vomiting was observed in 12.6% (26/206) of children in treatment group 2, in 10.6% (22/207) in group 1, and in 4.2% (9/214) in the control group (p=0.005). Pre-intervention, the geometric mean value of P.falciparum parasite density was highest among children who received albendazole, praziquantel with SMC drugs. Post-intervention, the parasite density was highest among children who received SMC drugs only. Children who received praziquantel and SMC drugs had a lower risk of developing severe anaemia than their counterparts who received SMC drugs alone (OR=0.81, 95% CI: 0.13-5.00, p=0.63).ConclusionsIntegration of MDA for helminths with SMC drugs was safe and feasible among Senegalese children. These findings support further evaluation of the integrated control model.Trial registrationThe study is registered at Clinical Trial.gov NCT05354258