Browsing by Author "Gasparinho, Carolina"
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- Aetiology of diahrroea in children under five at the Bengo General Hospital, AngolaPublication . Gasparinho, Carolina; Mirante, Maria Clara; Lima, Sónia; Nery, Susana Vaz; Istrate, Cláudia; Mayer, António Carlos; Brito, MiguelDiarrhoea is the second leading cause of death in children under five years being responsible for 760.000 deaths, corresponding to 9% of the total deaths in this age group. Africa is the region with more deaths due to diarrhoea (46%), followed by South Asia (38%). Three quarters of the total of deaths occurs within only 15 countries and Angola is in the 15th position with a record of 20,000 annual childhood deaths. Diarrhoeal disease can be caused by bacterial, viral and parasitic infectious agents and can be transmited through contaminated food or drinking water, or directly from person to person. Rotavirus and Escherichia coli were shown the most frequent pathogenic agents in developing countries. This study aims to identify the most frequent pathogenic agents of diarrhoea in children under five atttending the Bengo General Hospital (BGH)..
- Characterization of rotavirus infection in children with acute gastroenteritis in Bengo province, Northwestern Angola, prior to vaccine introductionPublication . Gasparinho, Carolina; Piedade, João; Mirante, Maria Clara; Mendes, Cristina; Mayer, Carlos; Nery, Susana Vaz; Brito, Miguel; Istrate, ClaudiaRotavirus group A (RVA) is considered the leading cause of pediatric diarrhea, responsible for the high burden of diarrheal diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite recent studies, the existent data are scarce for some African countries like Angola, a country with one of the highest RVA-related death estimates. The aim of this study was to determine the RVA detection rate and circulating genotypes in children less than five years of age with acute gastroenteritis attended at the Bengo General Hospital in Caxito, Bengo province, Angola, before vaccine introduction.
- Diarreia em crianças menores de cinco anos no Hospital Geral do BengoPublication . Gasparinho, Carolina; Mirante, Clara; Mayer, António Carlos; Brito, MiguelA doença diarreica constitui uma das principais causas de morte em crianças menores de cinco anos em Angola. O presente estudo assume como principal objectivo identificar os agentes patogénicos causadores de diarreia, entre eles vírus, parasitas e bactérias, das crianças admitidas no Hospital Geral do Bengo. Material de estudo - O estudo iniciou-se em Setembro de 2012, tendo sido incluídas crianças menores de 5 anos admitidas no Hospital Geral do Bengo por diarreia (serviço de urgência e consulta externa) até Outubro de 2013, sem história de antibioterapia.
- Etiology of diarrhea in children younger than 5 years attending the Bengo General Hospital in AngolaPublication . Gasparinho, Carolina; Mirante, Clara; Centeno-Lima, Sónia; Istrate, Claudia; Mayer, Carlos; Tavira, Luis; Nery, Susana Vaz; Brito, MiguelBackground - Diarrheal disease is among the leading causes of death in children younger than 5 years, especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the most frequent etiological agents of diarrhea and its associated factors in children younger than 5 years attending the Bengo General Hospital in Angola. Methods - From September 2012 through December 2013, stool samples were collected from 344 children presenting with diarrhea to investigate the presence of viral, bacterial and parasitic agents. Relevant sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained from parents and caregivers. Results - An enteric pathogen was detected in 66.6% of stool samples: Cryptosporidium spp. (30.0%), rotavirus (25.1%), Giardia lamblia (21.6%), diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (6.3%), Ascaris lumbricoides (4.1%), adenovirus (3.8%), Strongyloides stercoralis (3.5%), astrovirus (2.6%), Hymenolepis nana (1.7%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (0.9%), Taenia spp. (0.6%), Trichuris trichiura (0.3%) and Entamoeba histolytica (0.3%). Children younger than 12 months were more frequently infected with Cryptosporidium spp. compared with older children (age: 12-59 months), independently of sex, season, lethargy and wasting [odds ratio (OR): 3.5, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 2.0-6.2]. Age (OR: 5.0, 95% CI: 2.6-9.3), vomiting (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.5-4.8) and type of admission (inpatients, OR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.9) were significantly associated with rotavirus infection. Conclusions - This study demonstrates high rates of infection with an enteric pathogen, particularly in children younger than 12 months, emphasizing the need to address diarrheal disease in this age group.
- Impact of annual albendazole versus four-monthly test-and-treat approach of intestinal parasites on children growth: a longitudinal four-arm randomized parallel trial during two years of a community follow-up in Bengo, AngolaPublication . Gasparinho, Carolina; Kanjungo, Aguinaldo; Zage, Félix; Clemente, Isabel; Santos-Reis, Ana; Brito, Miguel; Sousa-Figueiredo, José Carlos; Fortes, Filomeno; Gonçalves, LuziaMalnutrition and intestinal parasites continue to have serious impacts on the growth and cognitive development of children in Angola. A longitudinal four-arm randomized parallel trial was conducted to investigate if deworming with a single annual dose of albendazole (annual-ALB) or a four-monthly test-and-treat (4TT) intestinal parasites approach at an individual or household levels improve nutritional outcomes of pre-school children in Bengo province. Children with intestinal parasites (n = 121) were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1) to arm A1: annual-ALB*individual level; A2: annual-ALB*household level; A3: 4TT*individual; and A4: 4TT*household level. At baseline, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 months of follow-up, growth was assessed by height, weight, height-for-age, weight-for-height, weight-for-age, and mid-upper arm circumference. Intention-to-treat analysis was done using a non-parametric approach, mixed effect models, and generalized estimating equations (GEE). Initially, 57% and 26% of the children were infected by Giardia lamblia and Ascaris lumbricoides, respectively. This study did not show that a 4TT intestinal parasites approach results in better growth outcomes of children (height, weight, HAZ, WAZ, WHZ, and MUACZ) when compared with annual ALB, with exception of height and WHZ using the GEE model at 5% level. Positive temporal effects on most nutrition outcomes were observed. Implementing a longitudinal study in a poor setting is challenging and larger sample sizes and ‘pure and clean’ data are difficult to obtain. Nevertheless, learned lessons from this intensive study may contribute to future scientific research and tailor multidisciplinary approaches to minimize malnutrition and infections in resource-poor countries.
- Molecular characterization of Giardia lamblia in children less than 5 years of age with diarrhoea attending the Bengo General Hospital, AngolaPublication . Gasparinho, Carolina; Ferreira, Filipa S.; Mayer, António Carlos; Mirante, Maria Clara; Vaz Nery, Susana; Santos-Reis, Ana; Portugal-Calisto, Daniela; Brito, MiguelIntroduction - Giardia lamblia is a pathogenic intestinal protozoan with high prevalence in developing countries, especially among children. Molecular characterization has revealed the existence of eight assemblages, with A and B being more commonly described in human infections. Despite its importance, to our knowledge, this is the first published molecular analysis of G. lamblia assemblages in Angola. Methods - The present study aimed to identify the assemblages of G. lamblia in children with acute diarrhoea presenting at the Bengo General Hospital, Angola. A stool sample was collected and microscopy and immunochromatographic tests were used. DNA was extracted and assemblage determination was performed through amplification of the gene fragment ssu-rRNA (175 bp) and β-giardin (511 bp) through polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. Results - Of the 16 stool samples screened, 12 were successfully sequenced. Eleven isolates were assigned to assemblage B and one to assemblage A. Subassemblage determination was not possible for assemblage B, while the single isolate assigned to assemblage A was identified as belonging to subassemblage A3. Conclusion - This study provides information about G. lamblia assemblages in Bengo Province, Angola and may contribute as a first step in understanding the molecular epidemiology of this protozoan in the country. GenBank accession numbers for the ssur-RNA gene: MF479750, MF479751, MF479752, MF479753, MF479754, MF479755, MF479756, MF479757, MF479758, MF479759, MF479760, MF479761. GenBank accession numbers for the β-giardin gene: MF565378, MF565379, MF565380, MF565381.
- Recreation and alcohol consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa: addressing gender and age differences in urban areas (Praia, Cabo Verde)Publication . Alves, Daniela; Delgado, António Pedro; Amado, Miguel; Craveiro, Isabel; Santos, Zélia; Goggins, Alexander; Gasparinho, Carolina; Correia, Artur; Gonçalves, LuziaBackground: Reducing alcohol consumption and improving urban planning in African cities are public health priorities. The aim of this study was to explore gender and age differences in recreational activity participation and their link with self-reported alcohol consumption in three urban areas of Praia. Methods: A questionnaire was applied to a probabilistic sample of 1912 adults, with a median age of 35.0 (IQR: 26.0–48.8) years, living in informal, transition, and formal areas of the capital of Cabo Verde. Results: More than 80% of the participants reported rarely or never participating in recreational activities. Going daily or weekly to the café was the most reported recreational activity, regardless of the urban area. Participation in recreational activities was higher in men than women, decreasing with age in both cases. Alcohol consumption was significantly higher in men than in women (72.4% versus 47.4%, p < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression models showed that going at least once to the bar/nightclub (for men and women) and going to the café (for women) were associated with alcohol consumption. Furthermore, age (for women), in a protective way, and having children (for men) appeared to be associated with alcohol consumption. Conclusions: This study provides new data on the recreational environment in Praia and can contribute to the development of local and national public health policies and interventions in line with several SDGs to reduce alcohol consumption, enhance healthy leisure/recreation practices, and promote better living conditions for its inhabitants.
- Sistema de vigilância de morbilidade pediátrica no Hospital Geral do BengoPublication . Oliveira, Ana; Gasparinho, Carolina; Mayer, António Carlos; Ribeiro, Natália; Brito, MiguelAngola tem registado avanços significativos na redução da mortalidade infantil. Não obstante, verifica-se ainda a necessidade de implementar novas medidas no sentido de reduzir a morbimortalidade infantil. Para atingir este objectivo foi implementado um Sistema de Vigilância de Morbilidade (SVM) no serviço de Pediatria do Hospital Geral do Bengo (HGB). O objectivo deste trabalho é a identificação das doenças mais frequentes detectadas no serviço de urgência do HGB.