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Background: Burkina Faso is one of the countries in West Africa most affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, despite the implementation of a mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention program as a strategy to reduce the risk of vertical transmission of the disease. Objective: To assess the current risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Burkina Faso. Materials and methods: A prospective study was conducted between December 2014 and July 2016, in the 13 health regions of Burkina Faso. Women who were screened HIV-positive during a prenatal consultation were followed until delivery. Their babies received dry blood spot (DBS) at birth, at week 6 and at 1year, to screen for HIV. Results: Overall, 186 pregnant women were included in the study, with a mean age of 29.17±6.13 years. Of their children, 430 DBS actually received a PCR test, giving a 91.1% PCR implementation rate. After analyses, 6 (1.3%) babies were identified as carriers of HIV1. The newborn’s serological status was associated with delivery pattern (p=0.000), the administration of antiretroviral drugs to the mother after delivery (p=0.0064), the administration of Nevirapine to the newborn at birth (p=0.022), the use of contraceptive methods after delivery (p=0.028) and the presence of breast affections/infections since delivery (p=0.013). Conclusion: The results of our study are encouraging and demonstrate the effectiveness of interventions in the mother-tochild prevention program (PMTCT) for HIV-positive pregnant women can be improved through early initiation of triple therapy in early pregnancy and improved adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. Keywords: Burkina Faso, HIV/AIDS, mother-to-child transmission, antiretroviral drugs, pregnant women

Background Despite the severity of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic in Burkina Faso, data on specific groups are scant especially concerning prisoners. Aims The objective of this study was to determine HIV prevalence and risky behavior in Burkina Faso prisons in order to assist in HIV prevention and AIDS case management decision making among prisoners. Methods This was a cross-sectional study carried out from September 3–10, 2014 among 18 years aged and over prisoners, in prisons of each of the 13 administrative regions of Burkina Faso with prisoners’ informed consent. Data were collected using a questionnaire that covered general informations on HIV/autoimmune insufficiency syndrome (AIDS) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), coupled with blood samples collection, for HIV laboratory analysis purpose. Results A total of 1,079 prisoners participated in this study. The participation rate for interviews was and blood samples collections were 100 per cent. The majority of participants (97.8 per cent) were men, among whom 9.7 per cent reported a history of STIs. Nearly 50 per cent of these took no precautions to avoid infecting their sexual partners. Implementation of HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities in prisons was low (43.2 per cent). Condom use was also low (11.2 per cent). HIV infection Screening was insufficient: only two out of five prisoners had at least one HIV screening. HIV screening opportunities was uncommon and prisoners pointed out the lack of organization of screening campaigns in prisons. HIV prevalence was nearly 3 per cent. Conclusion The exposure level of prisoners to HIV transmission prevention interventions was low. Specific measures are needed to increase condom use for HIV/AIDS and STIs prevention in prisons.

To determine the prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women in Burkina Faso and to identify factors associated with HIV infection in this population, we performed in 4 antenatal clinics in 4 urban centres located in the centre, the north, the east and the south-west of the country cross-sectional serological surveys between 7 October 1994 and 7 February 1995 using unlinked anonymous HIV screening method. In the towns included in the study more than 94% of pregnant women attend at least 2 antenatal consultations. In each centre all pregnant women attending an antenatal consultation during a 2-week period were invited to take part in a study to measure the prevalence of syphilis. Women with positive syphilis serology were offered treatment free of charge. A total of 1294 pregnant women were recruited into the study. There were no refusals. Thirty-two women (2.5%) had positive syphilis serology. The overall seroprevalence of HIV infection was 8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.6-9.6). There was no evidence that the prevalence of syphilis or HIV infection varied between the 4 towns ( P =0.12 and 0.52 respectively). In logistic regression analyses only the presence of syphilis infection was associated with risk of HIV (odds ratio=3.4; 95% CI: 1.4-7.9). The prevalence of syphilis among pregnant women in Burkina Faso is relatively low compared with that of HIV infection. These results suggest that HIV epidemic in Burkina Faso is important and that there is an urgent need to intensify HIVprevention activities. The need for HIV surveillance in this sentinel population is urgent to follow the course of the epidemic and to measure the impact of interventions. One of the consequences of the high prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women which requires greater attention in Burkina Faso is the increasing number of children who will be infected with HIV by vertical transmission.

In order to offer wide and efficient health care to patients, Burkina Faso has instituted the syndromic approach to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) since 1996. The current assessment has been carried out in view of measuring the degree of application of this approach in the management of the STIs in the health centres of the country. The assessment should specifically allow to: i) analyse the quality of the clinical health care of the patients coming in the health services with STI symptoms;ii) to determine the proportions of those patients to whom the care-provider give basic counselling on the use of condoms and the information of their sexual partners.The study has been carried out from the 1(st) to the 28(th) July 2001 in all the 53 health districts and the two national hospitals of Burkina Faso. A one-day cross-section survey per health centres was used. The data were collected from a direct observation of the provider-patient relationship; and the handling of the anamnesis, the physical examination, the diagnosis and the prescriptions were analysed.During the survey, 358 patients had been consulted in the health centres. Only 4% of the patients who came in the health centres with STI or for STI consultation had been assessed and treated in accordance with national algorithm or WHO recommendations (Prevention indicator n degrees 6=4%); and 13% of those who came to consult with or for STI in the health centres had received basic counselling on condoms and the notification to their sexual partners (Prevention indicator n degrees 7=13%).These prevention indicators remain of a very weak level, showing therefore a poor quality of the management of STIs. Meanwhile, they show the areas of deficiencies on which a supervision and a recycling of the providers might bear.

Truck drivers are a well recognized high risk population for sexually transmitted diseases. Prior to start-up of a health care program and an information/education campaign, a cross-sectional study using the unlinked, anonymous screening method was carried out to assess seroprevalence of HIV and syphilis infections in truck drivers in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. During the month of November 1994, 236 truck drivers were recruited at a cotton-producing factory. The prevalence of HIV infection was 18.6% and the prevalence of syphilis was 9.3%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between HIV infection and the following factors: age under 30 years, claimed systematic use of condoms, and previous genital ulcers. These findings suggest that truck drivers are highly exposed to the risk of contracting and disseminating HIV infection due to their high mobility and the high incidence of sexually transmitted diseases among their ranks. Prevention of HIV infection in truck drivers in Burkina Faso will require education to promote systematic use of condoms at each sexual contact as well as screening and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases at truck stops.

It is important for HIV/AIDS control programmes to determine population knowledge on AIDS in order to develop appropriate Information, Education and Communication (IEC) messages. The objectives of our study were to determine the seroprevalence of HIV and syphilis among pregnant women, female prostitutes and long-distance truck drivers and to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practice (KABP) with respect to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in these three groups in Burkina Faso.We performed three cross-sectional serosurveys including face-to-face interviews on KABP between October 1994 and February 1995 in three population groups.Overall, 1,294 pregnant women, 236 long-distance truck drivers and 426 female prostitutes were recruited. HIV seroprevalence was 8% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 6.6-9.6) among pregnant women, 18.6% (95% CI: 13.9-24.2) among long-distance truck drivers and 58.2% (95% CI: 53.4-62.9) in female prostitutes. The prevalence of syphilis was 2.5%, 9.3% and 15%, respectively. Most pregnant women (98%), long-distance truck drivers (96%) and female prostitutes (98%) had already heard of AIDS. However, the level of knowledge of HIV transmission routes, of risk factors for HIV transmission and of available preventive measures was very low. Consequently, 41% of pregnant women, 40% of long-distance truck drivers and an alarming 61% of female prostitutes reported that they did not feel themselves at risk for HIV. In each group, high levels of knowledge on AIDS were associated with increased awareness of AIDS risk and the adoption of preventive behaviours. Level of education was associated with knowledge of AIDS and condom use. However, in the 12 months preceding the surveys, condom use was very low among pregnant women (0.1%), long-distance truck drivers (18%) and among female prostitutes (42%).These results indicate that HIV is widespread in Burkina Faso and that there is an urgent need to develop and evaluate HIV prevention strategies in the general population and among core groups such as female prostitutes and long-distance truck drivers. Interventions must include information campaigns, condom promotion and distribution, and sexually transmitted diseases control.

Summary: Little information is available regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among female sex workers (FSW) in Burkina Faso, West Africa. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, the 2 largest cities of the country, to determine the prevalence of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among FSWs, and to investigate the factors which were associated with HIV infection in this population. From October to November 1994, 426 FSWs were recruited. The method of anonymous and unlinked HIV screening recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) was used. The overall HIV seroprevalence was 58.2% (95% confidence interval: 53.4-62.9) and 52.6% of FSWs had at least one STD agent. The most common STDs were trichomoniasis (23%), syphilis (15%) and gonorrhoea (13%). In a logistic regression analysis, risk factors for HIV infection were high gravidity ( 2 pregnancies), low perception of personal risk of HIV infection, syphilis and the presence of genital warts. These results suggest that FSWs in Burkina Faso need better information about HIV transmission and prevention and then need better access to STD detection and management services.

Authors report on epidemiologic, bacteriology and therapeutic data related to 1991 cholera outbreak in Benin in the general context of the 7th world pandemic. 7474 cases were notified from all over the country. Vibrio cholerae 01, El Tor biotype, was identified in many patients stools and in the surroundings. Control measures implemented in this situation are described: early parenteral and mainly oral rehydration, antibiotic treatments for patients and contacts, systematic home control around cases, wells disinfection and general hygiene promotion, mobilization of the Civil Service Authorities and population education. Authors conclude that strict epidemiologic monitoring is necessary in epidemic circumstances as well as during endemo-sporadic period.