Infectious Diseases
- Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis to Sustain Community-Based Malaria Interventions in Cambodia
Despite the impacts of an unforeseen concomitant disaster such as COVID-19, malaria elimination efforts were able to continue because of successful efforts to build trust, relevance, and connection with communities to promote community health malaria workers' acceptance. With lessons learned from the COVID-19 response, community health workers can be repurposed for broader public health interventions in preparation for future disease outbreaks.
- Real-Time Tracking of COVID-19 Rumors Using Community-Based Methods in Côte d'Ivoire
Addressing rumors is critical for managing and ending a public health emergency. We piloted a system for real-time rumor tracking using community-based collection methods, open-source software, and a rapid coding and visualization process to systematically understand and help actors respond to COVID-19 misinformation in Côte d'Ivoire.
- Improving Services for HIV-Exposed Infants in Zambia and Cameroon Using a Quality Improvement Collaborative Approach
To bridge the gap between what is known and what is done, quality improvement collaboratives (QICs) enable health programs to rapidly address quality challenges at scale. Two QICs in Cameroon and Zambia improved coverage of early infant HIV testing and initiating antiretroviral therapy in HIV-exposed infants. The QIC approach empowers health care workers to design solutions tailored for their specific settings.
- Global Access to Technology-Enhanced Medical Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Students in Narrowing the Gap
Althoughsome medical education institutions in high-income countries have the capacity to shift education to eLearning during the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions in low- and middle-income countries might struggle to fully implement it. We argue for medical students to advocate for national and international collaboration in adopting technology-enhanced learning globally.
- Pathways to Care for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes and HIV/AIDS Comorbidities in Soweto, South Africa: An Ethnographic Study
Patients with type 2 diabetes are referred to tertiary hospitals in Soweto although their care could be managed at primary health care clinics. Primary health care needs to be strengthened by addressing health systemic challenges to provide integrated care for comorbid type 2 diabetes and HIV/AIDS.
- Remote Interviewer Training for COVID-19 Data Collection: Challenges and Lessons Learned From 3 Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
Remote training of interviewers in low-resource settings can be an effective approach during the COVID-19 pandemic when data are critically needed and in-person learning is not possible. We demonstrate that remote interviewer training is possible when interviewers: have at least an intermittent Internet connection, have select physical materials available, and are experienced and part of a cohesive team.
- Egypt's Ambitious Strategy to Eliminate Hepatitis C Virus: A Case Study
A national hepatitis C virus elimination strategy rooted in mass screening and treatment can be effective in many middle-income countries. A strong public health infrastructure, political commitment, and technological advances are essential to such initiatives.
- Inpatient Point-of-Care HIV Early Infant Diagnosis in Mozambique to Improve Case Identification and Linkage to Antiretroviral Therapy
Introduction of point-of-care early infant diagnosis on the inpatient wards of 2 of the largest pediatric referral hospitals in Mozambique increased HIV testing volume and pediatric HIV case identification with improved linkage to antiretroviral therapy.
- Test and Prevent: Evaluation of a Pilot Program Linking Clients With Negative HIV Test Results to Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in Zimbabwe
Widespread HIV testing is identifying individuals who are not infected but are at high risk of HIV exposure. These individuals may be good candidates for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We developed an intervention called Test and Prevent to intentionally link individuals with negative HIV test results to PrEP, which led to high rates of completed PrEP referrals and uptake.
- Go Where the Virus Is: An HIV Micro-epidemic Control Approach to Stop HIV Transmission
Essentially all HIV transmission is from people living with HIV who are not virally suppressed. An HIV micro-epidemic control approach that differentiates treatment support and prevention services for people living with HIV and their network members according to viral burden could optimize the impact of epidemic control efforts.