Research: Prevention and Control
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Research that investigated anticipated models of spread of COVID-19; measures that have been employed on the continent, including lockdowns and their efficacy; contextual methodologies of identifying potentially infectious asymptomatic subjects on the continent considering country testing capabilities; and innovations that can address the needs of healthcare workers and care facilities, given the global lack of sufficient personal protective equipment (PPEs) and ventilators that could be developed/scaled/produced on the continent.
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Item Socio-Ecological Factors Associated with Preventive Behavior(Brill, 2024-06-28) Engdawork, Kibur; Amdework, Ezana; Assefa, SamuelUnderstanding factors influencing the adoption of preventive behaviors is crucial in pandemic prevention and control. This study employs the social-ecological model to examine the determinants of preventive actions against COVID-19 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data from a household survey were analyzed using a linear regression model. The findings indicate a moderate level of preventive behavior adoption among residents. Interpersonal behavior, community norms, and organizational-level factors are identified as significant predictors, while personal and demographic factors have little influence. These results highlight the need for context-specific health interventions, addressing social and structural aspects, to effectively combat COVID-19 in Addis Ababa and similar low- and middle-income settings.Item Assessing the performance of regular surgical nose masks as a sampling method for SARSCoV- 2 detection in a cross-sectional study(PLoS ONE, 2023-10-17) Opoku, Millicent; Obeng-Aboagye, Elizabeth; Yaa Kwartemaa Boamah, Georgina; Adu-Asamoah, Dina; Ismail, Rahmat bint Yusif; Akpo, Margaret Sena; Dogbatse, Elizabeth Etornam; Abraham, Joseph; Odoom, John Kofi; Owusu Donkor, Irene; Akorli, JewelnaNose masks are widely worn for protection against respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2. They have been reported as possible substrates for viral sampling and testing for COVID-19 but, evaluations have so far been purposive; involving individuals known to have the infection and using improved materials on the nose masks to trap the virus. We investigated the feasibility of using the regular 3-ply surgical masks and, voluntary coughing as a mode of particle expulsion for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infections in a cross-sectional study at Ghana’s first COVID-19 testing reference laboratory, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana. Paired samples of naso-oropharyngeal swabs and nose masks already worn by 103 consenting adult participants (retro masks) were collected. Participants were also required to produce three strong coughs into a newly supplied sterile surgical nose mask. Pre-wetted swabs in Viral Transport Media (VTM) were used in swabbing the inner lining of each nose mask. The swabs used were then stored in VTM to maintain the integrity of the samples. PCR results of SARS-CoV-2 detection from the nose masks were compared to those from naso-oropharyngeal swabs (‘gold-standard’). Out of the 103 participants tested with all three methods, 66 individuals sampled with naso-oropharyngeal swabs were detected as positive, and the retro and new masks matched 9 and 4, respectively. Only 3 individuals were positive across all three sampling methods accessed. The retro nose masks performed better in matching the gold-standard results than the new mask + coughing method, with 90% vs 80% sensitivity, positive predictive value of 13.6% vs 6%, and a weak but significant linear relationship (adj. R2 = 0.1; P = 0.0004). Importantly, we also show that the nose masks would work for sampling whether individuals are symptomatic or asymptomatic since gold-standard PCR cycling threshold (Ct) values for positive individuals did not differ between the two groups (P< 0.05). We recommend including features such as talking during participant engagement, use of a spontaneous cough inducer and increased coughing bouts > 3, to improve the performance of sterile nose masks for SARS-CoV-2 detection.Item COVID ANIMATIONS: Bringing film to life (Presentation)(2023) Lugemwa, Abbas; Gibb, TomTraditional journalists, politicians, elders, and opinion leaders dominated ‘information’ and communications about the pandemic. Scientists were either side-lined, or didn’t know how to communicate the right information they had, had no resources to do it or all the information there was, wasn’t reaching them in time. The ‘COVID ANIMATIONS: Bringing film to life’ project employed a collaborative approach to science engagement and journalism with the aim of bridging the gap between COVID-19 scientific evidence generated and public health messaging. Using science-based community engagement to fight COVID-19 through animations and film journalism. Themes: -Creating COVID-19 community awareness and response through film -Mitigating the negative impact of COVID-19 on; Maternal and child health and HIV/AIDS care servicesItem COVID animations – Bringing Film to Life (Poster)(2023) Lugemwa, Abbas; Gibb, Tom; Kityo, Cissy; Ahebwa, Iqra; Ssempiri, Geofrey; Nakisekka, Mariam; Mugerwa, HenryAt the pick of COVID 19 pandemic there was limited scientific information reaching the political and technical teams for timely and evidence-based information sharing with the general population. Restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus along with disinformation, affected pandemic control measures and general health care delivery. It threatened to undermine public health targets and achievements built up over many years in areas such as Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Childhood Vaccination and Maternal and Child Healthcare. We adopted a collaborative approach to confront this, building on existing relationships and previous collaborations between diverse disciplines and institutions. This involved researchers, community organisers, community leaders, frontline healthcare providers and health communicators and journalists. The aim was to provide core and relevant information to help communities to improve outcomes from the COVID 19 pandemic, including shielding the elderly and vulnerable and vaccination; to inform about the interaction between COVID and other conditions.Item Experiences and Lessons from Structural Interventions Against COVID-19 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia(2024-01-26) Engdawork, Kibur; Amdework, Ezana; Assefa, Samuel; Ayode, Desta; Tadele, Getnet