Welcome to AfricArXiv
This initiative showcases UbuntuNet's commitment to fostering knowledge sharing, collaboration, and accessibility within the African research community. With AfricArxiv, researchers across the continent have a dedicated platform to disseminate their findings, making them accessible to a global audience. By facilitating open access to scholarly work, UbuntuNet Alliance plays a pivotal role in advancing the principles of open science, enhancing research visibility, and driving innovation across Africa.
Communities in AfricArxiv
Select a community to browse its collections.
- The general repository is open for individual submissions by researchers, librarians and research administrators.
- Showcase of project activities, presentations, and scholarly contributions curated by the AfricArXiv initiative.
- A Rapid Grant Fund to address research questions and implement science engagement activities associated with COVID-19
- An initiative to support the development of a harmonised quality assurance and accreditation system at institutional, national, regional and Pan-African continental level.
- Facilitating knowledge sharing and collaboration among institutions, researchers, and educators within the Ubuntunet Alliance network.
Recent Submissions
Keeping Africa Connected
(2024-11-01) Nyabera, Winston
Seroconversion of Hepatitis B Vaccine in Young Children in Kwadaso District of Ghana.
(Prof. Samuel Sakyi., 2023-07-15) Nathaniel Afriyie; Lucas A. Visser; Kwabena O. Boateng; Anthony A. A. Awuah; Francis A. Yeboah; Joseph Tetteh
1.1. Background
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is an important public health problem that requires high priority efforts towards prevention and control. Active immunization is the single most important and effective preventive measure against HBV infection. As a protective measure, Ghana—after introducing the mass immunization program against hepatitis B infection in children in 2002—continued her Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in 2019. This study evaluated seroconversion (the point in time when the amount of antibody in the blood becomes detectable) and seroprotection (the point in time when the amount of antibody in the blood is enough to confer protection from the antigen that induced it production) status of children under this mass immunization program and measured their antibody levels four years after immunization.
1.2. Materials and Method
220 archived plasma samples of children between the ages of 1–10 years were retrieved from a previous cross-sectional study by researchers from KCCR between 2010 and 2014. Of these, 105 have completed the EPI and were screened for HBsAg. Those found to be HBsAg-seronegative were stratified into three groups according to their age at which the last vaccine was administered. Their anti-HBsAg titer levels were estimated by enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA).
1.3. Results
Four (1.9%) samples were HBsAg seropositive and were excluded from further analyses. 9 more samples were excluded from analyses because they were insufficient. The anti-HBs titers recorded ranged from 1.021 IU/L to 751.64 IU/L indicating a 100% seroconversion rate. In group one (0–6 months), 87.9% were seroprotected. Group two (2-3yrs) had 78.3% seroprotection and group three (3-5yrs) had 41.7% seroprotection. There was no significant difference between group 1 and 2. However, there was a significant difference between group 1 and 3 (p = 0.0137) and between group 2 and 3 (p = 0.0390) respectively. There was no significant difference between male and female children.
1.4. Conclusion
All the children who received doses of hepatitis B vaccine at 6, 10 and 14 weeks in the immunization program seroconverted, but their levels of protection waned with increasing years. Booster doses are therefore recommended after 5 years.
Factors Impacting HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Uptake and Coverage Among At-Risk Populations in West Africa: A Scoping Review
(2024-11-14) Cudjoe , Julius; Atatsi , Wisdom Kwabla
Introduction: Various PrEP projects and studies have been centered in Western Africa, as a result of high incidence of HIV in recent times, which explore various facets needed to be looked at in improving PrEP uptake and coverage particularly among high-risk populations, a key measure in helping to fight the HIV pandemic.
Objectives: This scoping review explores available evidence, outlining the factors and affecting HIV PrEP uptake and coverage among vulnerable and key populations in West Africa.
Methodology: This study adopted Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) scoping review framework for conducting the scoping review. A search was conducted on four digital databases – Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar - from January 2013 to December 2023. The PRISMA flow diagram was utilized and data were analyzed through thematic content analysis, following the socio-ecological model.
Results: Thirty-seven studies were included in this review that met the eligibility criteria. 24 of these studies were conducted among MSM and 12 were conducted among FSW. 12 and 10 of the 37 studies reported on PrEP awareness and knowledge respectively. Awareness as reported by these studies was generally low among high-risk populations, however, 17 of the 37 studies reported high willingness and intention to take up PrEP following its introduction and education.
From the study, facilitating factors that helped increase the uptake and usage of PrEP in the study were individual facilitators such as perception of high risk, having a good understanding of PrEP and HIV interpersonal factors such as peer education and support, and environmental factors like convenient access to PrEP and services tailored for at-risk populations.
Barriers to PrEP included personal obstacles like money issues and socioeconomic uncertainties, as well as social barriers like stigma and the belief that taking PrEP means having HIV, and environmental barriers logistical constraints in providing services, stigma, and lack of healthcare setting motivation.
Conclusion: PrEP as a preventive tool holds much promise in the fight against HIV, however, high- risk populations in West Africa for whom PrEP is mainly intended for still demonstrate low level of awareness and knowledge with various barriers to its use accounting for this. Therefore, in order to encourage facilitators and address barriers to PrEP uptake and usage, it is necessary to expand PrEP sensitization programs and tailor PrEP delivery services.
Enhancing the Policy Impact of African Research: Strategies for Visibility and Influence through Overton
(2024-11-14) Adie, Euan
Enhancing the Policy Impact of African Research: Strategies for Visibility and Influence through Overton - AfricArXiv Open Science Webinar Series 2024
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Transforming Education & Research through AI Services – Assets – Frame Agreement
(2024-11-01) Carrozzo, Antonio