The Critical Need for Pooled Data on Coronavirus Disease 2019 in African Children: An AFREhealth Call for Action Through Multicountry Research Collaboration

Abstract

Globally, there are prevailing knowledge gaps in the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection among children and adolescents; however, these gaps are especially wide in African countries. The availability of robust age-disaggregated data is a critical first step in improving knowledge on disease burden and manifestations of COVID-19 among children. Furthermore, it is essential to improve understanding of SARS-CoV-2 interactions with comorbidities and co-infections such as HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, sickle cell disease and malnutrition, which are highly prevalent among children in sub-Saharan Africa. The African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth) COVID-19 Research Collaboration on Children and Adolescents is conducting studies across Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa to address existing knowledge gaps. This consortium is expected to generate key evidence to inform clinical practice and public health policymaking for COVID-19, while concurrently addressing other major diseases affecting children in African countries.

The impact of COVID-19 on diet quality, food security and nutrition in low and middle income countries: A systematic review of the evidence

“…COVID-19 has also posed significant obstacles to collecting information on maternal and child nutritional outcomes [53], or standardized indices such as the MDD-W. We retrieved no data on such outcomes. Diet diversity and food security data were collected via phone and online surveys.…”

Opportunities and Challenges in North-South and South-South Global Health Collaborations During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The AFREhealth-CUGH Experience (as Reported at the CUGH 2021 Satellite Meeting)

“…As is now apparent, many aspects of research and teaching can be continued quite effectively via virtual platforms like Zoom and others. A successful example of the leverage of virtual video platforms for research collaborations is demonstrated by AFREhealth's multi-country, South-South COVID-19 research project among pregnant women and children [7,8]. While deficiencies and concerns in education (especially clinical teaching and training) remain, several have been quite effectively addressed in some form through video-enhanced platforms like Lecturio, Osmosis, and Scholar-X [6].…”

“…Such initiatives will also strengthen Southto-South multi-disciplinary and interprofessional research collaborations. AFREhealth's COVID-19 Research Working Group has embarked upon such a collaboration across Western, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa [7,8].…”

Clinical features and predictors of mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Niger

“…Although the literature on COVID-19 is growing at an exponential pace, there is still a shortage of observational studies from several African countries. However, local epidemiology is essential to enable the adaptation of the evidence-based response of COVID-19 at local levels as well as national and regional levels, once pooled [ 6 , 7 ]. For example, in typical resource constrained settings, not every facility would have adequate intensive care beds, access to ventilators, continuous oxygen, CT scanners, or even basic biological testing kits.…”