The COVID-19 pandemic in francophone West Africa: from the first cases to responses in seven countries

Abstract

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, Côte 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.

A mixed-methods study of maternal health care utilisation in six referral hospitals in four sub-Saharan African countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…In sub-Saharan Africa, including three of our study countries (Guinea, Tanzania and Uganda), the politicisation of the public health response altered the perception of the population. 26 By the second wave, despite rising cases in many African countries, several countries had limited stringent public measures in place. 20 As per our results, service utilisation across the continuum of care was lower in many public hospitals compared with the slow period and the prepandemic year.…”

“…To be clear, COVID-19 cases were down, but the pandemic was not over. In sub-Saharan Africa, including three of our study countries (Guinea, Tanzania and Uganda), the politicisation of the public health response altered the perception of the population 26…”

‘We are not going to shut down, because we cannot postpone pregnancy’: a mixed-methods study of the provision of maternal healthcare in six referral maternity wards in four sub-Saharan African countries during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…In Guinea, we noted a rapid and efficient revival of response committees which were functioning during the EVD outbreak at the hospital levels. Nationally, a multidisciplinary scientific committee for the COVID-19 responses was established, and this committee was chaired by a woman, a gynaecologist, and two vice-chairmen, an anthropologist and a virologist46; which could have contributed to maintaining maternity care as a priority during the pandemic. Additionally, many of the challenges to care provision during the COVID-19 pandemic were common with those experienced during the EVD outbreak, such as travel restrictions, facility closure, exclusion of pregnant women from services and fear among SHP 47.…”

Incidence and Predictors of Imported Cases of COVID-19 in Burkina Faso

“…This could be explained by the origin of our participants. Indeed, the majority of passengers (65.1%) arrived from African countries where the epidemic burden was less important than other continents at this period ( 8 ). Moreover, the lower incidence may be due to reduced international air travel ( 22 ).…”

“…As of October 30, 2020, there were 46,166,518 confirmed cases with 1,196,362 deaths worldwide with a case fatality of 2.6%. Africa remains one of the regions least affected by the coronavirus pandemic (7)(8)(9).…”