Journal
BMC PUBLIC HEALTH
Volume 21, Issue 1, Pages -Publisher
BMC
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11529-7
Keywords
COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; West Africa; Intervention; Public health; Spatial analyses
Categories
Funding
- Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), Covid-19 -Health in Common initiative
- Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking [800176]
- European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
- European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Association
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This article analyses the epidemiological evolution of COVID-19 in seven Francophone West African countries and the public health measures implemented during the first 7 months of the pandemic. The countries reacted quickly to the crisis and implemented public measures in a relatively homogeneous manner. With varying attack rates, they began lifting certain restrictive measures at the end of June 2020. Further research is needed to better understand the dynamics of the pandemic in West Africa and evaluate state responses.
Background In early March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit West Africa. In response, countries in the region quickly set up crisis management committees and implemented drastic measures to stem the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The objective of this article is to analyse the epidemiological evolution of COVID-19 in seven Francophone West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal) as well as the public health measures decided upon during the first 7 months of the pandemic. Methods Our method is based on quantitative and qualitative data from the pooling of information from a COVID-19 data platform and collected by a network of interdisciplinary collaborators present in the seven countries. Descriptive and spatial analyses of quantitative epidemiological data, as well as content analyses of qualitative data on public measures and management committees were performed. Results Attack rates (October 2020) for COVID-19 have ranged from 20 per 100,000 inhabitants (Benin) to more than 94 per 100,000 inhabitants (Senegal). All these countries reacted quickly to the crisis, in some cases before the first reported infection, and implemented public measures in a relatively homogeneous manner. None of the countries implemented country-wide lockdowns, but some implemented partial or local containment measures. At the end of June 2020, countries began to lift certain restrictive measures, sometimes under pressure from the general population or from certain economic sectors. Conclusion Much research on COVID-19 remains to be conducted in West Africa to better understand the dynamics of the pandemic, and to further examine the state responses to ensure their appropriateness and adaptation to the national contexts.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available