Achille Massougbodji

Background: Despite substantial global progress, child mortality remains a major public health burden, with sub-Saharan Africa disproportionately affected. In West Africa, deaths from preventable causes remain alarmingly high, yet longitudinal evidence on the rates and risk factors of child mortality in the region is scarce. This study is among the first in Benin to examine child mortality from birth to 14 years in a community-based, longitudinal cohort.Methods: Data originate from the Malaria in Pregnancy Preventive Alternative Drugs (MiPPAD) trial (NCT00811421), an open-label, randomized controlled trial that recruited pregnant women in their second trimester across four sub-Saharan African countries between September 2009 and December 2012. This analysis uses data from 1183 women enrolled at three health centers in the semi-rural Allada district of Benin, with offspring follow-up at 1, 9, and 12 months, 6 years, and 13–14 years.Findings: Among 1093 live births, 99 deaths were recorded between birth and 14 years of follow-up, alongside 44 stillbirths and 10 spontaneous abortions. The majority of deaths occurred within the first six years of life: 22 (22∙2%) in the neonatal period, 34 (34∙3%) between 28 days and 12 months, and 37 (37∙4%) between one and six years, with only 6 (6∙1%) deaths between six and 14 years. Respiratory distress was the predominant cause of neonatal death (81%), with half of those babies having low birthweight (<2500 g). Beyond 28 days, malaria became the leading cause, accounting for 45% of deaths between 28 days and 14 years. In adjusted analyses, having a previous live birth was associated with reduced overall mortality (RR 0∙52, 95% CI 0∙29, 0∙94) while low birthweight (<2500 grams) was associated with elevated risk (RR 2∙32, 95% CI 1∙44, 3∙73).Interpretation: Child mortality in this semi-rural Beninese cohort was concentrated in early life and driven primarily by respiratory distress in the neonatal period and malaria thereafter. These findings underscore the need for strengthened neonatal care infrastructure, expanded preterm birth support, and scaled-up malaria prevention strategies targeting young children — priorities critical for advancing progress toward SDG 3∙2 in West Africa.

Le syndrome hémorragique contribue à une grande partie de la mortalité et de la morbidité associées aux morsures de serpent en Afrique subsaharienne. L’hyperfibrinolyse rapportée dans certains cas suggère l’intérêt des antifibrinolytiques mais ces derniers ont été peu étudiés dans ce contexte. L’objectif de cette étude était d’évaluer l’intérêt de l’association de l’acide tranexamique et d’un antivenin dans le traitement du syndrome hémorragique et de la coagulopathie associés à l’envenimation par Echis ocellatus (échide ocellée). Des patients envenimés présentant un syndrome hémorragique ont été inclus prospectivement à l’hôpital Saint Jean de Dieu de Tanguiéta, au Bénin. Les patients ont été randomisés en deux groupes : un groupe recevant un antivenin et de l’acide tranexamique (groupe SAV + AT) versus un groupe recevant uniquement l’antivenin (groupe SAV). Tous les patients ont reçu deux flacons d’antivenin Inoserp^TM PAN-AFRICA à leur admission. Dans le groupe SAV + AT, les patients ont reçu 1 g d’acide tranexamique en 30 minutes, puis 1 g en 8 heures. La survenue d’un saignement et le résultat du test de coagulation sanguine (test de coagulation sur tube sec ou TCTS) ont été recueillis 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48 et 72 heures après la première administration d’antivenin. L’administration d’antivenin était renouvelée en cas de saignement à l’un de ces temps. L’INR (International Normalized Ratio) a été mesuré à 6 et 12 heures. La tolérance a été évaluée à 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48 et 72 heures. La créatinine plasmatique a été mesurée à 24 et 72 heures. Vingt-cinq patients ont été inclus : 12 patients dans le groupe SAV + AT contre 13 patients dans le groupe SAV. Six patients ont présenté une persistance ou une récidive du saignement dans le groupe SAV + AT contre 5 dans le groupe SAV (p = 0,695). Aucune différence significative du TCTS n’a été observée aux différents temps entre les deux groupes, ni pour l’INR à 6 et 12 h. Aucun effet indésirable suggérant une intolérance à l’acide tranexamique n’a été constaté (anomalie oculaire, convulsions, thrombose), tandis que la créatinine plasmatique était sans différence significative entre les deux groupes. L’utilisation systématique de l’acide tranexamique n’a montré aucun bénéfice dans le syndrome hémorragique et la coagulopathie associés à E. ocellatus au Bénin. Les indications de ce traitement d’appoint méritent donc d’être précisées.

: Anemia in pregnancy, defined by a hemoglobin level (Hb) of less than 110 g/L, contributes to infant mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. Maternal Hb changes physiologically and pathologically during pregnancy. However, the impact of these changes on long-term child neurocognitive function is unknown. This study therefore investigates the association between Hb at specific antenatal care visits and prenatal Hb trajectories during pregnancy and long-term child neurocognitive function. We analyzed data from a prospective cohort study that included 6-year-old singleton children born to women enrolled before 29 weeks of gestation into an antimalarial drug clinical trial. Hemoglobin level was analyzed from venous blood collected at least twice during pregnancy and at delivery. We used group-based trajectory modeling to identify distinct prenatal Hb trajectories. In total, 478 children (75.1% of eligible children) had assessment of cognitive and motor functions at 6 years of age. Three distinct Hb trajectories were identified: persistently anemic (Hb <110 g/L throughout the second and third trimesters), anemic to nonanemic (Hb <110 g/L at second trimester with increasing Hb toward the third trimester to Hb ≥110 g/L), and persistently nonanemic (Hb ≥110 g/L throughout the second and third trimesters). Children of women in the persistently anemic and anemic-to-nonanemic groups had significantly lower neurocognitive scores than children of women in the persistently nonanemic group (β = −6.8, 95% CI: −11.7 to −1.8; and β = −6.3, 95% CI: −10.4 to −2.2, respectively). The study shows that maintaining an elevation of Hb at or above 110 g/L from the second to third trimester of pregnancy may be associated with optimal long-term child neurocognitive function.

Echis ocellatus envenomings are a public health problem in West Africa, leading to bleeding and hypocoagulability. The aim of this study was to assess the hemostasis disorders associated with E. ocellatus envenoming. Envenomed patients with an abnormal whole blood clotting test (WBCT) were prospectively included at Tanguiéta, Benin. A WBCT with a sequential reading (i.e., at 20, 30, and 60 min), viscoelastic analysis (VA) using the Quantra analyzer, and blood count were performed on admission. VA and the WBCT were also assessed at 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after antivenom administration. Nineteen patients were included. On admission, the main results were an absence of a clot on VA and a slight decrease in platelets. Clot time gradually decreased over time while clot stiffness, fibrinogen, and platelet contributions to stiffness increased. Sequential reading improved the sensitivity of the WBCT. At H48, all patients with recurrence bleeding after antivenom administration had an abnormal WBCT while patients with a normal WBCT never had bleeding during their follow-up. VA allows the identification of various hemostasis disorders. Hypofibrinogenemia was the main disorder that persisted for several days after treatment. A WBCT with a sequential reading is an effective alternative for monitoring hypocoagulability in the absence of a laboratory.

Studies suggest that elevated postnatal blood lead levels (BLLs) are negatively associated with child growth. This study aimed to investigate the associations of childhood BLLs at age one year and growth outcomes at age six years (n = 661) in a cohort of children in Allada, Benin. The growth outcomes studied are weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), BMI-for-age Z-score (BMIZ), weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ), head circumference (HC), growth velocities, underweight, stunting, and wasting. Multivariable regression models examined the associations between BLLs and growth outcomes, with adjustment for potential confounders. The geometric mean BLLs was 59.3 μg/L and 82% of children had BLLs >35 μg/L at the age of 12.8 months. After adjusting for confounding factors, no overall association was found between BLL quartiles and HAZ, WAZ, BMIZ, WHZ, growth velocities, wasting, and underweight. However, boys in the highest quartile had a 1.02 cm lower HC (95% CI: [−1.81, −0.24]) as compared to the lowest quartile. Furthermore, an increased odds of being stunted was observed in children in the highest quartile of exposure compared to the first (OR: 2.43; 95% CI: [1.11–5.33]) which remained statistically significant only among girls in sex-specific strata. Blood lead was found to be associated with an increased risk of childhood stunting and a lower head circumference in a resource-limited setting.

Studies suggest that elevated postnatal blood lead levels (BLLs) are negatively associated with child growth. This study aimed to investigate associations of childhood BLLs at age one-year and growth outcomes at age six-years (n=661) in a cohort of children in Allada, Benin. The growth outcomes studied are weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) and BMI-for-age Z-score (BMIZ), head circumference (HC), underweight, stunting, and wasting. Multivariable regression models examined associations between blood lead levels, growth outcomes with adjustment for potential confounders. The geometric mean BLLs was 59.3 μg/L and 82% of children had BLLs >35 μg/L at one year. After adjusting for confounding factors, no association was found between BLLs quartiles and HAZ, WAZ, BMIZ, and height and weight growth velocities. However, boys in the highest quartile had 1.02 cm lower HC (95% CI: [-1.81, -0. 24]) as compared to those in the lowest quartile with a dose-response trend across quartiles (Ptrend =0.02). Furthermore, an increased risk of being stunted was observed in children in the highest quartile of exposure compared to the first (OR: 2.43; 95% CI: [1.11 – 5.33]) with a dose-response trend (Ptrend =0.03). Blood lead was found to be associated with an increased risk of childhood stunting and lower head circumference in a resource-limited setting.

Lead exposure is associated with poor cognitive development in children. Very few studies in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have studied blood lead levels (BLLs) and non-gasoline sources of exposure in children. Data from a birth cohort in Benin (2011–2013) suggested that 58% of 1-year-old children had BLLs > 50 ug/L. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of elevated BLLs (>50 µg/L and >100 µg /L) among 425 of these children at 6 years of age in 2016–2018 and to compare BLLs between age 1 and 6 years, and study sources of lead at age 6 years. BLLs were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Multiple linear regression and quantile regressions were used to study potential sources of lead. The prevalence of BLLs > 50 µg/L in children was 59.5% (Geometric Mean (GM) 56.4 µg/L, 95% CI: 54.1–58.7) at 6 years of age compared to 54.8% (GM 56.5 µg/L, 95% CI: 53.4–59.6) at 1 year of age. The prevalence of children with BLLs > 100 µg/L decreased from 14.4% at 1 year of age to 8.2% at 6 years of age. After adjustment for all other covariates, consumption of peanuts more than once per month was significantly associated with a 22.0% (95% CI: 4.6, 42.5) increment in BLLs at age 6 years compared with no consumption. Consumption of bushmeat killed by lead bullets at age 6 years was associated with an increase in the higher percentiles of BLLs (P75) compared with the absence of this source. Other potential sources of lead associated with BLLs with marginal significance were consumption of rice, paternal occupational exposure, and the presence of activity with the potential use of lead. This prospective cohort confirms the persistently high prevalence of elevated BLLs in children residing in a rural region in the south of Benin, as well as the presence of multiple and continuous sources of lead. These results highlight the need for prevention programs to reduce and eliminate lead exposure in children.