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As a result of the high disease burden and advent of effective preventive and therapeutic measures for viral hepatitis, the UN has included its control in its Sustainable Development Goals, and the WHO has developed a viral hepatitis elimination strategy. Only with a genuine understanding of viral hepatitis can people living with these infections fully commit to a treatment program. New WHO guidelines on HBV/HCV testing published in Februay 2017, however, make little mention of communicating with populations about chronic viral hepatitis. Our recent anthropological research investigating local understandings of hepatitis B in five sub-Saharan African countries (The Gambia, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Central African Republic and Madagascar) underscore the communication challenges that treatment programmes must tackle: a lack of knowledge about hepatitis B; complex local terms describing visible symptoms of liver disease; and the inappropriate use of other pathologies to explain hepatitis B.

Background In the last decade, an important scale-up was observed in malaria control interventions. Madagascar entered the process for pre-elimination in 2007. Policy making needs operational indicators, but also indicators about effectiveness and impact of malaria control interventions (MCI). This study is aimed at providing data about malaria infection, morbidity, and mortality, and MCI in Madagascar. Methods Two nationwide surveys were simultaneously conducted in 2012–2013 in Madagascar: a study about non-complicated clinical malaria cases in 31 sentinel health facilities, and a cross-sectional survey (CSS) in 62 sites. The CSS encompassed interviews, collection of biological samples and verbal autopsies (VA). Data from CSS were weighted for age, sex, malaria transmission pattern, and population density. VA data were processed with InterVA-4 software. Results CSS included 15,746 individuals of all ages. Parasite rate (PR) as measured by rapid diagnostic tests was 3.1%, and was significantly higher in five to 19 year olds, in males, poorer socio-economic status (SES) quintiles and rural areas. Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) use was 41.7% and was significantly lower in five to 19 year olds, males and wealthier SES quintiles. Proportion of persons covered by indoor residual spraying (IRS) was 66.8% in targeted zones. Proportion of persons using other insecticides than IRS was 22.8%. Coverage of intermittent preventive treatment during pregnancy was 21.5%. Exposure to information, education and communication messages about malaria was significantly higher in wealthier SES for all media but information meetings. The proportion of fever case managements considered as appropriate with regard to malaria was 15.8%. Malaria was attributed as the cause of death in 14.0% of 86 VA, and 50% of these deaths involved persons above the age of five years. The clinical case study included 818 cases of which people above the age of five accounted for 79.7%. In targeted zones, coverage of LLIN and IRS were lower in clinical cases than in general population. Conclusions This study provides valuable data for the evaluation of effectiveness and factors affecting MCI. MCI and evaluation surveys should consider the whole population and not only focus on under-fives and pregnant women in pre-elimination or elimination strategies.

IntroductionCervical cancer (CC) causes thousands of deaths each year. Nearly 100% of cases are caused by oncogenic strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). In most industrialised countries, CC screening (CCS) is based on the detection of HPV infections. For many reasons including lower adherence to CCS, underserved women are more likely to develop CC, and die from it. We aim to demonstrate that the use of incentives could improve screening rates among this population.Methods and analysisOur cluster randomised, controlled trial will include 10 000 women aged 30–65 years eligible for CCS, living in deprived areas in four French departments, two mainlands and two overseas, and who did not perform physician-based HPV testing within the framework of the nationally organised screening programme. HPV self-sampling kit (HPVss) will be mailed to them. Two interventions are combined in a factorial analysis design ending in four arms: the possibility to receive or not a financial incentive of €20 and to send back the self-sampling by mail or to give it to a health professional, family doctor, gynaecologist, midwife or pharmacist. The main outcome is the proportion of women returning the HPVss, or doing a physician-based HPV or pap-smear test the year after receiving the HPVss. 12-month follow-up data will be collected through the French National Health Insurance database. We expect to increase the return rate of HPV self-samples by at least 10% (from 20% to 30%) compared with the postal return without economic incentive.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was first obtained on 2 April 2020, then on July 29 2022. The ethics committee classified the study as interventional with low risk, thus no formal consent is required for inclusion. The use of health insurance data was approved by the Commission Nationale Informatique et Libertés on 14 September 2021 (ref No 920276). An independent data security and monitoring committee was established. The main trial results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration numberNCT04312178.

malnutrition due to inadequate food supply is a major challenge in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study is to identify the sociocultural drivers of malnutrition. we conducted a qualitative study in the Amoron´I Mania region, Madagascar. The study involved pregnant women, mothers and fathers, grandmothers and health actors such as \"matrones\", community workers and health workers. A total of 24 semi-structured individual interviews and 6 focus groups were used to collect data. Thematic analysis was used. malnutrition refers to a lack of food and undernourishment. It revolves around the amount of rice consumption, socio-cultural factors and insufficient financial resources. Vulnerable groups were mainly composed of children and pregnant women. Severe malnutrition including signs was reported, but there was evidence for local adaptation. Thus, families were trying by different means to fight against malnutrition. the socio-cultural context modulates knowledge and perception of the causes, the manifestations and the vulnerability or non-vulnerability of an individual as well as the severity of malnutrition.

Background Although it is accepted that long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) use is an effective means to prevent malaria, children aged 5 to 15 years do not appear to be sufficiently protected in Madagascar; the malaria prevalence is highest in this age group. The purpose of this research is to summarize recent qualitative studies describing LLIN use among the Malagasy people with a focus on children aged 5–15 years. Methods Qualitative data from three studies on malaria conducted between 2012 and 2016 in 10 districts of Madagascar were analysed. These studies cover all malaria epidemiological profiles and 10 of the 18 existing ethnic groups in Madagascar. A thematic analysis was conducted on the collected data from semi-structured interviews, direct observation data, and informal interviews. Results A total of 192 semi-structured interviews were conducted. LLINs are generally perceived positively because they protect the health and well-being of users. However, regional representations of mosquito nets may contribute to LLIN lower use by children over 5 years of age including the association between married status and LLIN use, which leads to the refusal of unmarried young men to sleep under LLINs; the custom of covering the dead with a mosquito net, which leads to fear of LLIN use; and taboos governing sleeping spaces for siblings of opposite sexes, which leads to LLIN shortages in households. Children under 5 years of age are known to be the most vulnerable age group for acquiring malaria and, therefore, are prioritized for LLIN use when there are limited supplies in households. In contrast, children over 5 years of age, who are perceived to be at less risk for malaria, often sleep without LLINs. Conclusions Perceptions, social practices and regional beliefs regarding LLINs and vulnerability to malaria contribute to the nonuse of LLINs among children over 5 years of age in Madagascar. Modifying LLIN policies to account for these factors may increase LLIN use in this age group and reduce disease burden.

Although its incidence has been decreasing during the last decade, malaria is still a major public health issue in Madagascar. The use of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) remains a key malaria control intervention strategy in Madagascar, however, it encounters some obstacles. The present study aimed to explore the local terminology related to malaria, information channels about malaria, attitude towards bed nets, and health care seeking practices in case of fever. This article presents novel qualitative findings about malaria. Until now, no such data has been published for Madagascar. A comparative qualitative study was carried out at four sites in Madagascar, each differing by malaria epidemiology and socio-cultural background of the populations. Seventy-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with biomedical and traditional caregivers, and members of the local population. In addition, observations of the living conditions and the uses of bed net were conducted. Due to the differences between local and biomedical perspectives on malaria, official messages did not have the expected impact on population in terms of prevention and care seeking behaviors. Rather, most information retained about malaria was spread through informal information circulation channels. Most interviewees perceived malaria as a disease that is simple to treat. Tazomoka (\"mosquito fever\"), the Malagasy biomedical word for malaria, was not used by populations. Tazo (\"fever\") and tazomahery (\"strong fever\") were the terms more commonly used by members of the local population to refer to malaria related symptoms. According to local perceptions in all areas, tazo and tazomahery were not caused by mosquitos. Each of these symptoms required specific health recourse. The usual fever management strategies consisted of self-medication or recourse to traditional and biomedical caregivers. Usage of bed nets was intermittent and was not directly linked to protection against malaria in the eyes of most Malagasy people. This article highlights the conflicting understanding of malaria between local perceptions and the biomedical establishment in Madagascar. Local perceptions of malaria present a holistic vision of the disease that includes various social and cultural dimensions, rather than reflecting one universal understanding, as in the biomedical image. The consideration of this \"holistic vision\" and other socio-cultural aspects surrounding the understanding of malaria is essential in implementing successful control intervention strategies.

Background In Madagascar, maternal mortality remains stable and high (426 deaths per 100,000 live births). This situation is mainly due to a delay or lack of use of maternal healthcare services. Problems related to maternal healthcare services are well documented in Madagascar, but little information related to maternal healthcare seeking is known. Thus, this paper aims to identify and analyze the factors that influence the utilization of maternal services, specifically, the use of antenatal care (ANC) during pregnancy and the use of skilled birth attendants (SBAs) at delivery. Method We used quantitative and qualitative approaches in the study. Two communes of the Vakinankaratra region, which are located in the highlands, were the settings. Data collection occurred from October 2016 to July 2017. A total of 245 pregnant women were included and followed up in the quantitative survey, and among them, 35 participated in in-depth interviews(IDIs). Logistic regressions were applied to explore the influencing factors of antenatal and delivery healthcare seeking practices through thematic qualitative analysis. Results Among the 245 women surveyed, 13.9% did not attend any ANC visits. School level, occupation and gravidity positively influenced the likelihood of attending one or more ANC visits. The additional use of traditional caregivers remained predominant and was perceived as potentially complementary to medical care. Nine in ten (91%) women expressed a preference for delivery at healthcare facilities (HFs), but 61% of births were assisted by a skilled birth attendant (SBA).The school level; the frequency of ANCs; the origin region; and the preference between modern or traditional care influenced the use of SBAs at delivery. A lack of preparation (financial and logistics problems) and women’s low involvement in decision making at delivery were the main barriers to giving birth at HFs. Conclusion The use of maternal healthcare services is starting to gain ground, although many women and their relatives still use traditional caregivers at the same time. Relatives play a crucial role in maternal healthcare seeking. It would be necessary to target women’s relatives for awareness-raising messages about ANC and childbirth in healthcare facilities and to support and formalize collaborations between traditional healers and biomedical caregivers.

Background Cervical cancer incidence is high among women living with HIV due to high-risk HPV persistence in the cervix. In low-income countries, cervical cancer screening is based on visual inspection with acetic acid. Implementing human papilloma virus (HPV) screening through self-sampling could increase women’s participation and screening performance. Our study aims to assess the preintervention acceptability of HPV screening among HIV-infected women in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Methods Applying the Health Belief Model theoretical framework, we collected qualitative data through in-depth interviews with 21 HIV-infected women treated in an HIV-dedicated clinic. Maximum variation sampling was used to achieve a diverse sample of women in terms of level of health literacy. Interviews were recorded and transcribed with the participants’ consent. Data analysis was performed using NVivo 12. Results Screening acceptability relies on cervical cancer representations among women. Barriers were the fear of diagnosis and the associated stigma disregard for HIV-associated health conditions, poor knowledge of screening and insufficient resources for treatment. Fees removal, higher levels of knowledge about cervical cancer and of the role of HIV status in cancer were found to facilitate screening. Healthcare providers are obstacle removers by their trusting relationship with women and help navigating through the healthcare system. Self-confidence in self-sampling is low. Conclusions Free access to cervical screening, communication strategies increasing cervical cancer knowledge and healthcare provider involvement will foster HPV screening. Knowledge gathered through this research is crucial for designing adequate HPV-based screening interventions for women living with HIV in this setting.

Background Cervical cancer screening in sub-Saharan countries relies on primary visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). Primary human papillomavirus (HPV)-based screening is considered a promising alternative. However, the implementation and real-life effectiveness of this strategy at the primary-care level in limited-resource contexts remain under explored. In Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, free HPV-based screening was implemented in 2019 in two primary healthcare centers. We carried out a process and effectiveness evaluation of this intervention. Methods Effectiveness outcomes and implementation indicators were assessed through a cohort study of screened women, observations in participating centers, individual interviews with women and healthcare providers and monitoring reports. Effectiveness outcomes were screening completeness and women’s satisfaction. Logistic regression models and concurrent qualitative analysis explored how implementation variability, acceptability by women and the context affected effectiveness outcomes. Results After a 3-month implementation period, of the 350 women included in the cohort, 94% completed the screening, although only 26% had their screening completed in a single visit as planned in the protocol. The proportion of highly satisfied women was higher after result disclosure (95%) than after sampling (65%). A good understanding of the screening results and recommendations increased screening completeness and women’s satisfaction, while time to result disclosure decreased satisfaction. Adaptations were made to fit healthcare workers’ workload. Conclusion Free HPV-based screening was successfully integrated within primary care in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, leading to a high level of screening completeness despite the frequent use of multiple visits. Future implementation in primary healthcare centers needs to improve counseling and reduce wait times at the various steps of the screening sequence.

Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern. In France, women in deprived areas face a 62% higher risk, yet nearly 40% of eligible women are under-screened. While HPV self-sampling can double or triple screening rates, these rarely exceed 30%. Prior studies have overlooked women experiencing both insufficient screening and socioeconomic disadvantage. The RESISTE trial addressed these gaps using combined quantitative and qualitative methods. In this work, we evaluated behavioural strategies targeting both women's capacity to perform self-sampling and their perception of screening opportunities, in Réunion Island. 35 semi-structured interviews were conducted among women who had received a RESISTE self-sampling kit: 16 were respondents who had returned the kit and 13 were non-respondents. These participants came from across the island and were of varying age groups. We also interviewed health professionals who had been contacted by women during the trial (6). Following an inductive thematic analysis, the Behaviour Change Wheel was used to identify factors relating to capability, motivation and external opportunities. After receiving the kit, several women underwent screening either by self-sampling or by visiting a health professional. Ease of use, convenience and privacy were key factors in self-sampling uptake. Receiving the kit at home creates a sense of being targeted which reinforces the perceived relevance of screening. Relatives generally had a facilitating effect, encouraging self-sampling and follow-up. An HPV positive result was a strong motivator to undergo a follow-up smear test. Nevertheless, a lack of prior knowledge of vaginal self-sampling led to a lack of trust in the programme amongst women. This and the perceived complexity of the procedure were the main demotivating factors. The financial incentive contributed to doubts regarding authenticity. In addition, the health professionals contacted rarely encouraged women to self-sample. Women appreciated receiving an HPV vaginal self-sampling kit at home. Their motivation and capability could be improved by increasing prior communication - to both women and health professionals - on self-sampling in general, and more specifically on reliability, sample preservation and ease of use. Future research should be conducted among healthcare professionals, to identify the obstacles to including self-sample screening into their practices. 6 February 2020 \"SudOuest et OutreMer II\" ethics committee Version 04 dated 29 July 2023 is currently in force IDRCB no. 2020A0002237 (File 220006 id6698) 2°HPs.