L’annonce des résultats du diagnostic d’une maladie grave est toujours un moment difficile à vivre pour le patient et, dans une moindre mesure, pour le médecin. Lorsqu’il s’agit du VIH/SIDA, la difficulté est d’autant plus importante que bien souvent, cette maladie véhicule honte et culpabilité avec risque de stigmatisation de la personne séropositive. Chez les femmes enceintes burundaises, cette situation est encore plus préoccupante. Des barrières liées au contexte socio-culturel les poussent à des conduites d’évitement du test du VIH, alors que le dépistage constitue une porte d’entrée pour les soins de prévention de la transmission du VIH de la mère à l’enfant. <p><p>L’objectif de cette thèse était de comprendre l’état psychologique des femmes enceintes lors du dépistage du VIH dans les services de Prévention de la Transmission Mère-Enfant (PTME) du VIH à Bujumbura. Cette compréhension permettrait d’optimiser la prise en charge psychologique de ces femmes enceintes au moment du dépistage du VIH et de mettre en place un accompagnement psychosocial dans leur milieu de vie. De façon spécifique, ce travail visait à :(1) analyser le contenu verbal des entretiens de conseils pré et post-test tels qu’ils sont faits dans les services de PTME, et de les comparer avec les normes proposées en la matière par l’OMS ;(2) évaluer l’anxiété chez les femmes enceintes à différents moments du dépistage du VIH; (3) analyser les raisons du refus du dépistage et du renoncement aux soins par les femmes enceintes séropositives à VIH. <p><p>La recherche a été réalisée principalement auprès des femmes enceintes rencontrées dans les services de consultation prénatale à Bujumbura, capitale du Burundi. Les outils de récolte des données étaient des entretiens conseillers-femmes enceintes au cours des activités de dépistage, les échelles d’évaluation de l’anxiété (HADS et STAI), des questionnaires de rétention/impact de l’information, des focus groups et un récit de vie. Ces outils nous ont permis de recueillir des données que nous avons traitées qualitativement par analyse de contenu et quantitativement par des analyses statistiques avec le logiciel SPSS.<p><p>Les résultats sont présentés dans cinq études. Notre première étude a montré que l’adaptation locale du schéma proposé par l’OMS pour les conseils pré et post-test en dépistage prénatal du VIH est une nécessité. Cela permettrait aux conseillers de mieux communiquer avec les femmes enceintes. Les trois autres études portant sur l’évaluation de l’anxiété ont montré que les besoins psychologiques des femmes enceintes au cours du dépistage du VIH devraient être reconnus et pris en compte. La détection de l’anxiété devrait être systématique afin de commencer une prise en charge psychologique dès le début du processus de dépistage et ainsi aller au devant des conduites d’évitement. La cinquième et dernière étude a montré que la stigmatisation et ses conséquences seraient à la base du refus du dépistage du VIH et du traitement en cas de séropositivité. Dès lors, le suivi médical doit être associé à un suivi psychologique pour réaliser une prise en charge intégrée des femmes enceintes dans les services de PTME. En continuité avec cette prise en charge au niveau des structures de santé, des stratégies d’accompagnement psychosocial adéquates devraient être planifiées au niveau des communautés. En outre, nous recommandons des études visant les problématiques psychologiques et sociales liées au VIH/SIDA chez la femme enceinte au Burundi. <p><p>Abstract:The announcement of the diagnosis of a serious illness is always a difficult experience for the patient and to a lesser extent, to the doctor. When it comes to HIV / AIDS, the challenge is even more important that in many cases, this disease vehicle with shame, guilt and risk of stigmatization of HIV-positive person. For pregnant women in Burundi, the situation is even more worrying. Socio-cultural barriers cause avoidance of HIV testing, while the screening is a gateway to care for the prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child.<p><p>The objective of this thesis was to understand the psychological state of pregnant women in HIV testing services in the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in Bujumbura. This understanding would maximize the psychological care of pregnant women at the time of HIV testing and to develop psychosocial support in their living environment. Specifically, this work aimed to: (1) analyzing the verbal content of counseling interviews pre and post-test as they are made in PMTCT services, and compare them with the proposed standards in this area by WHO, (2) assess anxiety in pregnant women at different stages of HIV testing, (3) analyze the reasons for refusal of screening and seeking care for pregnant HIV-positive.<p><p>The research was conducted mainly among pregnant women encountered in antenatal clinics in Bujumbura, Burundi's capital. Tools for data collection were interviews between counselors and pregnant women during routine screening, rating scales of anxiety (HADS and STAI), questionnaires of retention / impact of information, focus groups and a life story. These tools have allowed us to collect data that we have treated qualitatively by content analysis and quantitatively by statistical analysis using SPSS.<p><p>The results are presented in five studies. Our first study showed that local adaptation of the scheme proposed by the WHO for counseling pre and post-test in antenatal HIV testing is a necessity. This would allow counselors to better communicate with pregnant women. The other three studies of anxiety assessment showed that the psychological needs of pregnant women in HIV testing should be recognized and taken into account. Anxiety screening should be systematic to begin psychological support early in the process of HIV testing. The fifth and final study showed that stigma and its consequences would be the causes for refusal of HIV testing and treatment in HIV positive cases. Therefore, medical care should be combined with psychological support to achieve an optimal management of pregnant women in PMTCT services. In continuity with this support in the structures of health, psychosocial support strategies should be planned at the community level. In addition, we recommend studies related to psychological and social issues of HIV / AIDS among pregnant women in Burundi.<p> / Doctorat en Sciences Psychologiques et de l'éducation / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) colonizes the intestine and produces the phage-encoded Shiga toxin (Stx) which is absorbed systemically and can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) characterized by hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal failure. EHEC, and two related pathogens, Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), and the murine pathogen, Citrobacter rodentium, are attaching and effacing (AE) pathogens that intimately adhere to enterocytes and form actin “pedestals” beneath bound bacteria. The actin pedestal, because it is a unique characteristic of AE pathogens, has been the subject of intense study for over 20 years. Investigations into the mechanism of pedestal formation have revealed that to generate AE lesions, EHEC injects the type III effector, Tir, into mammalian cells, which functions as a receptor for the bacterial adhesin intimin. Tir-intimin binding then triggers a signaling cascade leading to pedestal formation. In spite of these mechanistic insights, the role of intimin and pedestal formation in EHEC disease remains unclear, in part because of the paucity of murine models for EHEC infection. We found that the pathogenic significance of EHEC Stx, Tir, and intimin, as well as the actin assembly triggered by the interaction of the latter two factors, could be productively assessed during murine infection by recombinant C. rodentium expressing EHEC virulence factors. Here we show that EHEC intimin was able to promote colonization of C. rodentium in conventional mice. Additionally, previous in vitro data indicates that intimin may have also function in a Tir-independent manner, and we revealed this function using streptomycin pre-treated mice. Lastly, using a toxigenic C. rodentium strain, we assessed the function of pedestal formation mediated by Tir-intimin interaction and found that Tir-mediated actin polymerization promoted mucosal colonization and a systemic Stx-mediated disease that shares several key features with human HUS.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) progresses faster in males than females; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Sex differences in glomerular capillary morphology has been hypothesized to contribute, in part, to the increased susceptibility to hypertension-induced renal injury and CKD progression in males, but this has not been investigated. The goal of the present study was to assess glomerular capillary morphology in male vs. female rats with intact kidneys and after uninephrectomy (UNX). We hypothesized that glomerular capillary radii (RCAP) and length (LCAP) would be greater in male rats. Male (n=4) and female (n=4) with intact kidneys and UNX (n=4 males, n=4 females) provided a 0.4% NaCl diet and water ad libitum. Kidneys were perfusion-fixed, the left kidney was excised, and a 3 mm transverse section through the midline of the kidney was selected for further processing. Multiple 1 mm3 cubes were randomly excised from the left, middle, and right regions of the outer cortex, embedded in EPONTM, sectioned (1 μm), and stained with toluidine blue. Four glomeruli from each region were randomly selected for stereological analysis. Glomerular tuft volume (VG), RCAP, and LCAP were assessed. In rats with intact kidneys, no significant sex differences were observed in VG, RCAP, or LCAP. VG, RCAP, and LCAP were significant greater in both male and female rats with UNX vs. respective rats with intact kidneys. In rats with UNX, males exhibited a significantly greater VG and LCAP, but not RCAP, as compared to females despite no significant differences in relative kidney weight. These data indicate that males exhibit greater compensatory increases in LCAP following UNX. The greater capillary length may lead to reduced podocyte density, a well-known mechanism that increases the susceptibility to CKD progression.

Sweden's maternal and childcare services have received recognition for maintaining high standards and employing effective risk-reduction strategies, leading to improved childbirth outcomes. However, these services face contemporary challenges exacerbated by evolving public health dynamics, including the increasing prevalence of obesity among Swedish adults, which mirrors trends in maternal healthcare and poses significant risks during pregnancy. Two significant risks during pregnancy are gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preeclampsia. The rise in these pathophysiological conditions emphasizes the necessity for specialized maternal care approaches. In response, there is growing interest in utilizing technological innovations like glucose and blood pressure sensors for enhanced monitoring and proactive healthcare solutions during pregnancy.  This thesis investigates the intersection of maternal healthcare, technological advancements, and public health challenges in Sweden, aiming to identify innovative approaches to maternal care and explore the potential of glucose and blood pressure sensors in improving outcomes. To achieve it, an extensive literature review established a robust foundation, focusing on women's and maternity care trends and the impact of BMI on pregnancy outcomes. Interviews with healthcare professionals from diverse fields provided further insights, leading to an in-depth cause analysis and technology assessment. Subsequently, a mockup was developed based on the gathered information, utilizing JavaScript for program development and incorporating user feedback. Real-world data acquisition was explored using APIs, particularly Dexcom, for glucose monitoring. The design process employed Figma, ensuring visual appeal and functional integration, followed by comprehensive evaluation involving functional, usability, and compatibility testing to refine the mockup interface in alignment with stakeholder expectations.  The results of this study reveal two primary insights into maternal healthcare enhancement: Firstly, through a comprehensive literature review and stakeholder interviews, key challenges and potential solutions were identified, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration. Secondly, developing and evaluating a mockup integrating sensor technology demonstrated promising prospects for real-time monitoring and management, highlighting the potential for improving maternal health outcomes. These findings underscore the importance of integrating self-monitoring technology into maternal healthcare to enhance monitoring capabilities and address contemporary challenges in pregnancy care. / Sveriges mödra- och barnavårdstjänster har fått erkännande för att upprätthålla höga standarder och använda effektiva riskminskningsstrategier, vilket har lett till förbättrade förlossningsresultat. Emellertid möter dessa tjänster samtida utmaningar förvärrade av utvecklande folkhälsodynamik, inklusive den ökande förekomsten av fetma bland svenska vuxna, vilket speglar trender inom mödrahälsovård och innebär betydande risker under graviditeten. Två av dessa risker är graviditetsdiabetes mellitus och preeklampsi. Ökningen av dessa patofysiologiska tillstånd understryker behovet av nyanserade mödravårdsmetoder. Som svar finns det ett växande intresse för att använda teknologiska innovationer som glukos- och blodtryckssensorer för förbättrad övervakning och proaktiva hälsolösningar under graviditeten. Denna avhandling undersöker korsningen mellan mödrahälsovård, tekniska framsteg och folkhälsoutmaningar i Sverige, med målet att identifiera innovativa angreppssätt för mödraomsorg och utforska potentialen hos glukos- och blodtryckssensorer för att förbättra resultat.  För att uppnå detta etablerades en gedigen litteraturgenomgång som fokuserade på trender inom kvinnors och mödravård samt BMI:s påverkan på graviditetsresultat. Intervjuer med vårdpersonal från olika områden gav ytterligare insikter, vilket ledde till en djupgående orsaksanalys och teknisk bedömning. Därefter utvecklades en prototyp baserad på den insamlade informationen, med användning av JavaScript för programutveckling och inkorporering av användarfeedback. Verklig datainsamling utforskades med hjälp av API:er, särskilt Dexcom, för glukosövervakning. Designprocessen använde Figma för visuellt tilltalande och funktionell integration, följt av omfattande utvärderingar som involverade funktions-, användbarhets- och kompatibilitetstester för att förbättra prototypens gränssnitt i linje med intressenternas förväntningar.  Resultaten av denna studie belyser två primära insikter om förbättringar inom mödrahälsovård: För det första identifierades nyckelutmaningar och potentiella lösningar genom en omfattande litteraturgenomgång och intervjuer med intressenter, vilket betonar vikten av tvärvetenskapligt samarbete. För det andra visade utveckling och utvärdering av en prototyp som integrerar sensorteknik lovande framtidsutsikter för realtidsövervakning och hantering, vilket belyser potentialen för att förbättra mödrahälso-resultat. Dessa resultat understryker vikten av att integrera självövervakningsteknik i mödrahälsovård för att förbättra övervakningsmöjligheter och adressera samtida utmaningar inom graviditetsvård.

Background: Group B streptococcus (GBS) is regarded as one of the most important causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world. GBS recto-vaginal colonization is important in the health of a mother and her neonate, especially in developing countries. Maternal vaginal colonization with GBS at the time of delivery can cause vertical transmission to the neonate. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is a technique used to characterize microbial isolates by means of sequencing internal fragments of housekeeping genes and has the advantage of reproducibility and has been shown to correlate with the other typing techniques and thus has emerged as the standard for delineating the clonal population of GBS. The study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of GBS colonization among pregnant women and their neonates, and to characterize the isolates by multilocus sequence typing technique at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Pretoria. Methodology: A total of 413 pregnant women who visited the antenatal clinic were recruited and screened. Participants were interviewed using a questionnaire to gather demographic and other relevant information such as history of current pregnancy, previous miscarriages and still births. Samples from maternal rectum and vagina as well as neonate ear and umbilical cord were taken for culture using colistin and nalidixic acid (CNA) blood agar and incubated for 24-48 hours. If negative after 48 hours, Todd-Hewitt broth was subcultured after 18-48 hours onto sheep blood agar. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to characterize seven group B streptococcus isolates collected at Dr George Mukhari academic hospital. Fragments of seven housekeeping genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for each strain and sequenced. CLC bio software (Inqaba biotech, South Africa; Pretoria) was used to analyse sequenced loci and UPGMA dendrogram was constructed. Results: The colonization rate for GBS in pregnant women and their neonates was 30.9% and 0%, respectively. A higher proportion of GBS were isolated from the rectum (37.9%) as compared to the vagina (20.6%). Most socio-economic, demographic and obstetric factors analysed were not significantly associated with.GBS colonization. On 128 positive samples, the results of Todd-Hewitt enrichment broth and direct plating method using CNA were compared. A total of 45.3% of colonised were positive on direct selective agar (CNA); an additional 54.7% samples were recovered from Todd-Hewitt broth. Three genes (adhP, glnA and tkt) were sequenced successfully for six samples (1, 2. 4,6,12 and 65). The UPGMA tree with 1000 bootstrap showing the relationship between six samples was drawn.Conclusion: This study revealed that pregnant women of all ages are at risk of group B streptococcus colonization. Group B streptococcus was common among pregnant women at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital. No socio-economic risk factor was associated with group B streptococcus colonization. Results confirm that the combination of Todd-Hewitt broth and CNA agar plate is a time saving and sensitive method. The allelic profile, characteristics such as G+C (guanine+cytosine) content and dN/dS ratio were not analysed because of the smaller sample size used in this study, which shows that the MLST method was unsuccessful in this study. The UPGMA tree based on differences in consensus of the isolates showed that all group B streptococcus isolates are clustered and descend from a single node. / Life & Consumer Sciences / Life Sciences / M.Sc. (Life Sciences)

Text in English / Malaria is endemic throughout Uganda and the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Malaria causes complications in 80.0% of all pregnancies in Uganda. This study attempted to identify factors that influence pregnant women’s utilisation of anti-malaria services in the Buikwe district of Uganda. These factors were contextualised within the Social Learning Theory’s major concepts. The target populations comprised pregnant women attending antenatal clinics (phase 1) and midwives providing antenatal services (phase 2) at 16 clinics in the Buikwe district of Uganda during the data collection phase of the study. Structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 400 randomly selected pregnant women and with the accessible population of 40 midwives. Pregnant women, who had progressed beyond primary school level education, were more likely to take intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) drugs and to use long lasting insecticide treated nets (LLINs) to prevent malaria. Pregnant women were more likely to implement malaria-preventive actions if they lived within five kilometres of clinics, were satisfied with available health services, were knowledgeable about the malaria preventive measures and had used IPT during previous pregnancies. Pregnant women who implemented one malaria-preventive action were likely to implement other actions as well (Pearson’s correlation coefficient was 0.65; p<0.05). Midwives’ provision of malaria-preventive services to pregnant women were influenced by the availability of IPT drugs, accessibility of safe drinking water, frequency of giving health education to pregnant women, cooperation with village health teams, malaria-related in-service training, midwives’ education level and experience. Although 97.9% of the pregnant women had taken IPT and 84.2% of those who had received LLINs, utilised these nets, malaria prevention during pregnancy could be improved. All pregnant women should attend antenatal clinics at least four times during each pregnancy, commencing during the first trimester of pregnancy to receive adequate health education and prenatal services, including IPT and LLINs. All midwives should receive malaria-related in-service training. Regular audits of midwives’ records should identify and address strengths and weaknesses related to the prevention and management of malaria during pregnancy. Such actions could enhance the prevention and management of malaria, estimated to affect 80% of pregnant women in Uganda. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Background: Group B streptococcus (GBS) is regarded as one of the most important causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality in many parts of the world. GBS recto-vaginal colonization is important in the health of a mother and her neonate, especially in developing countries. Maternal vaginal colonization with GBS at the time of delivery can cause vertical transmission to the neonate. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) is a technique used to characterize microbial isolates by means of sequencing internal fragments of housekeeping genes and has the advantage of reproducibility and has been shown to correlate with the other typing techniques and thus has emerged as the standard for delineating the clonal population of GBS. The study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of GBS colonization among pregnant women and their neonates, and to characterize the isolates by multilocus sequence typing technique at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital, Pretoria. Methodology: A total of 413 pregnant women who visited the antenatal clinic were recruited and screened. Participants were interviewed using a questionnaire to gather demographic and other relevant information such as history of current pregnancy, previous miscarriages and still births. Samples from maternal rectum and vagina as well as neonate ear and umbilical cord were taken for culture using colistin and nalidixic acid (CNA) blood agar and incubated for 24-48 hours. If negative after 48 hours, Todd-Hewitt broth was subcultured after 18-48 hours onto sheep blood agar. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to characterize seven group B streptococcus isolates collected at Dr George Mukhari academic hospital. Fragments of seven housekeeping genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for each strain and sequenced. CLC bio software (Inqaba biotech, South Africa; Pretoria) was used to analyse sequenced loci and UPGMA dendrogram was constructed. Results: The colonization rate for GBS in pregnant women and their neonates was 30.9% and 0%, respectively. A higher proportion of GBS were isolated from the rectum (37.9%) as compared to the vagina (20.6%). Most socio-economic, demographic and obstetric factors analysed were not significantly associated with.GBS colonization. On 128 positive samples, the results of Todd-Hewitt enrichment broth and direct plating method using CNA were compared. A total of 45.3% of colonised were positive on direct selective agar (CNA); an additional 54.7% samples were recovered from Todd-Hewitt broth. Three genes (adhP, glnA and tkt) were sequenced successfully for six samples (1, 2. 4,6,12 and 65). The UPGMA tree with 1000 bootstrap showing the relationship between six samples was drawn.Conclusion: This study revealed that pregnant women of all ages are at risk of group B streptococcus colonization. Group B streptococcus was common among pregnant women at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital. No socio-economic risk factor was associated with group B streptococcus colonization. Results confirm that the combination of Todd-Hewitt broth and CNA agar plate is a time saving and sensitive method. The allelic profile, characteristics such as G+C (guanine+cytosine) content and dN/dS ratio were not analysed because of the smaller sample size used in this study, which shows that the MLST method was unsuccessful in this study. The UPGMA tree based on differences in consensus of the isolates showed that all group B streptococcus isolates are clustered and descend from a single node. / Life Sciences / M.Sc. (Life Sciences)

Adolescent pregnancies are high risks obstetric occurrences. Antenatal care (ANC) provides opportunities to recognise and treat obstetric complications, enhancing the pregnancy outcomes for mothers and babies. This study investigated factors influencing pregnant adolescents' utilisation of ANC services in Bulawayo, using the Health Belief Model's major tenets. A quantitative descriptive design was used in four phases: 80 adolescents' ANC records were audited; structured interviews were conducted with 200 adolescents attending ANC and with 80 adolescents who had delivered their babies without attending ANC; and 52 midwives completed questionnaires portraying their perceptions on adolescents' utilisation of ANC services in Bulawayo. Documentation of ANC services provided to adolescents did not meet the expected standards. Poor or non utilisation of ANC services was influenced by socio demographic factors, individual perceptions of adolescents about antenatal care, perceived benefits of and perceived barriers to the utilisation of ANC. Most pregnant adolescents could not access these services because they could not pay the ANC and/or delivery fees charged at government clinics/hospitals. Midwives required more training in providing and recording adequate ANC services. Free ANC and delivery services could enhance adolescents' pregnancy outcomes in Zimbabawe. An information brochure on the importance of ANC attendance for adolescents has been compiled, based on the research results (see Annexure J). / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

Adolescent pregnancies are high risks obstetric occurrences. Antenatal care (ANC) provides opportunities to recognise and treat obstetric complications, enhancing the pregnancy outcomes for mothers and babies. This study investigated factors influencing pregnant adolescents' utilisation of ANC services in Bulawayo, using the Health Belief Model's major tenets. A quantitative descriptive design was used in four phases: 80 adolescents' ANC records were audited; structured interviews were conducted with 200 adolescents attending ANC and with 80 adolescents who had delivered their babies without attending ANC; and 52 midwives completed questionnaires portraying their perceptions on adolescents' utilisation of ANC services in Bulawayo. Documentation of ANC services provided to adolescents did not meet the expected standards. Poor or non utilisation of ANC services was influenced by socio demographic factors, individual perceptions of adolescents about antenatal care, perceived benefits of and perceived barriers to the utilisation of ANC. Most pregnant adolescents could not access these services because they could not pay the ANC and/or delivery fees charged at government clinics/hospitals. Midwives required more training in providing and recording adequate ANC services. Free ANC and delivery services could enhance adolescents' pregnancy outcomes in Zimbabawe. An information brochure on the importance of ANC attendance for adolescents has been compiled, based on the research results (see Annexure J). / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)