Effect of Haemophilus influenzae type b and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on childhood pneumonia hospitalizations and deaths in Botswana.

2020

2020 Jul 08

1537-6591

<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Globally, pneumonia is the leading cause of death among children. Few data exist regarding the effect of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13) on the burden of childhood pneumonia in African settings.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>We collected data on children 1 to 59 months of age at three hospitals in Botswana. Hib vaccine and PCV-13 were introduced in Botswana in November 2010 and July 2012, respectively. We compared pneumonia hospitalizations and deaths pre-vaccine (January 2009 to October 2010) to post-vaccine (January 2013 to December 2017) using seasonally-adjusted interrupted time-series analyses.</p>

<p><strong>FINDINGS: </strong>We identified 6943 pneumonia hospitalizations and 201 pneumonia deaths. In the pre-vaccine period, pneumonia hospitalizations and deaths increased by 24% (rate: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.94, 1.64) and 59% (rate: 1.59; 95% CI: 0.87, 2.90) per year, respectively. Vaccine introduction was associated with a 48% (95% CI: 29%, 62%) decrease in the number of pneumonia hospitalizations and a 50% (95% CI: 1%, 75%) decrease in the number of pneumonia deaths between the end of the pre-vaccine period (October 2010) and the beginning of the post-vaccine period (January 2013). During the post-vaccine period, pneumonia hospitalizations and deaths declined by 6% (rate 0.94; 95% CI: 0.89, 0.99) and 22% (rate: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.92) per year, respectively.</p>

<p><strong>INTERPRETATION: </strong>Pneumonia hospitalizations and deaths among children declined sharply following introduction of Hib vaccine and PCV-13 in Botswana. This effect was sustained for more than five years after vaccine introduction, supporting the long-term effectiveness of these vaccines in preventing childhood pneumonia in Botswana.</p>

10.1093/cid/ciaa919

Clin. Infect. Dis.

32634831

High Rate of Serotype V Carriage in Pregnant Women in Botswana.

2019

2019 Mar 25

1476-1645

<p>Maternal rectovaginal colonization is the major risk factor for early-onset neonatal sepsis due to Group B (GBS), a major cause of early life morbidity and mortality. Transmission generally occurs perinatally from colonized mothers to infants. Vaccines targeting a subset of GBS serotypes are under development, but GBS epidemiology remains poorly understood in many African nations. We performed a cross-sectional study of GBS colonization among pregnant women at two sites in Botswana, a country with minimal prior GBS carriage data. We found a rectovaginal colonization rate of 19%, comparable with studies in other regions; however, we also noted a striking predominance of serotype V (&gt; 45% of strains). Although further studies are required to delineate the burden of invasive GBS disease in Botswana and the generalizability of type V epidemiology, these data provide a useful baseline for understanding the potential local impact of GBS prevention strategies, including vaccines.</p>

10.4269/ajtmh.18-0847

Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.

30915949

A standardized low-cost peer role-playing training intervention improves medical student competency in communicating bad news to patients in Botswana.

2018

1-6

2018 Oct 17

1478-9523

<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>The purpose of this study was to demonstrate effectiveness of an educational training workshop using role-playing to teach medical students in Botswana to deliver bad news.</p>

<p><strong>METHOD: </strong>A 3-hour small group workshop for University of Botswana medical students rotating at the Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone was developed. The curriculum included an overview of communication basics and introduction of the validated (SPIKES) protocol for breaking bad news. Education strategies included didactic lecture, handouts, role-playing cases, and open forum discussion. Pre- and posttraining surveys assessed prior exposure and approach to breaking bad news using multiple-choice questions and perception of skill about breaking bad news using a 5-point Likert scale. An objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) with a standardized breaking bad news skills assessment was conducted; scores compared two medical student classes before and after the workshop was implemented.ResultForty-two medical students attended the workshop and 83% (35/42) completed the survey. Medical students reported exposure to delivering bad news on average 6.9 (SD = 13.7) times monthly, with 71% (25/35) having delivered bad news themselves without supervision. Self-perceived skill and confidence increased from 23% (8/35) to 86% (30/35) of those who reported feeling "good" or "very good" with their ability to break bad news after the workshop. Feedback after the workshop demonstrated that 100% found the SPIKES approach helpful and planned to use it in clinical practice, found role-playing helpful, and requested more sessions. Competency for delivering bad news increased from a mean score of 14/25 (56%, SD = 3.3) at baseline to 18/25 (72%, SD = 3.6) after the workshop (p = 0.0002).Significance of resultsThis workshop was effective in increasing medical student skill and confidence in delivering bad news. Standardized role-playing communication workshops integrated into medical school curricula could be a low-cost, effective, and easily implementable strategy to improve communication skills of doctors.</p>

10.1017/S1478951518000627

Palliat Support Care

30328405

Hearing Impairment Among Children Referred to a Public Audiology Clinic in Gaborone, Botswana.

2018

2333794X18770079

2018 Apr 20

2333-794X

<p><strong>Objective.</strong> To describe and quantify hearing impairment among children referred to the audiology clinic in Princess Marina Hospital, a public referral hospital in Botswana. . In a retrospective case series, we reviewed medical records of children aged 10 years and younger whose hearing was assessed between January 2006 and December 2015 at the audiology clinic of Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone, Botswana.</p>

<p><strong>Results.</strong> Of 622 children, 50% were male, and median age was 6.7 years (interquartile range = 5.0-8.3). Hearing impairment was diagnosed in 32% of clinic attendees, comprising sensorineural (23%), conductive (25%), and mixed (11%) hearing loss, while 41% of children with diagnosed hearing impairment did not have a classification type. Hearing impairment was mild in 22.9%, moderate in 22.4%, severe in 19.4%, profound in 16.9%, and of undocumented severity in 18.4%. Children younger than 5 years were 2.7 times (95% confidence interval = 1.29-5.49; = .008) more likely to be diagnosed with sensorineural hearing impairment compared with those older than 5 years. By contrast, children older than 5 years were 9.6 times (95% confidence interval = 2.22-41.0; = .002) more likely to be diagnosed with conductive hearing loss compared with those under 5 years.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion.</strong> Hearing impairment was common among children referred to this audiology clinic in Botswana. Of those with hearing impairment, more than a third had moderate or severe deficits, suggesting that referrals for hearing assessments are not occurring early enough. Hearing awareness programs individually tailored to parents, educators, and health care workers are needed. Neonatal and school hearing screening programs would also be beneficial.</p>

10.1177/2333794X18770079

Glob Pediatr Health

29761140