Suzanna C. Francis
YOU?
Author Swipe
View article: Assessing Vaccine Confidence Using the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women at Risk of HIV Acquisition Living in Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa
Assessing Vaccine Confidence Using the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women at Risk of HIV Acquisition Living in Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa Open
Background: Vaccine hesitancy (VH) remains a major threat to global health that can reverse the progress in tackling vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccine uptake among adolescent Girls and young women (AGYW) is often low. We assessed VH us…
View article: Unveiling masturbatory sexual behaviours in Nigeria: insights into the prevalence and factors associated with self- and mutual masturbation among the sexually active population
Unveiling masturbatory sexual behaviours in Nigeria: insights into the prevalence and factors associated with self- and mutual masturbation among the sexually active population Open
Self- and mutual masturbation are highly prevalent among sexually active Nigerians, with distinct factors influencing each behaviour.
View article: Assessing Vaccine Confidence using the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale among Adolescent Girls and Young Women at risk of HIV acquisition living in Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa
Assessing Vaccine Confidence using the Vaccine Hesitancy Scale among Adolescent Girls and Young Women at risk of HIV acquisition living in Uganda, Zambia, and South Africa Open
Background: Vaccine hesitancy (VH) remains a major threat to global health and can reverse the progress in tackling vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccine uptake among adolescents and young women (AGYW) is often low. We assessed VH using a …
View article: Sex differences in the prevalence of high-risk oral and anal human papillomavirus infections among heterosexually active populations in Ibadan, Nigeria
Sex differences in the prevalence of high-risk oral and anal human papillomavirus infections among heterosexually active populations in Ibadan, Nigeria Open
Purpose To determine sex differences in the prevalence of oral and anal high-risk HPV infections among heterosexually active males and females in Ibadan. Methods This was a secondary analysis from the Sexual Behavior and HPV Infections in …
View article: The natural history of infection with Sudan virus compared to Ebola virus in non-human primates: a rapid review
The natural history of infection with Sudan virus compared to Ebola virus in non-human primates: a rapid review Open
Uganda recently declared the end of its sixth Sudan virus (SUDV) outbreak; the prior outbreak having ended just two years earlier. Efficacious vaccines are licensed for protection against Ebola virus (EBOV), but there is no evidence that t…
View article: Prevalence of, and factors associated with oral sexual behaviours in men and women in Ibadan, Nigeria
Prevalence of, and factors associated with oral sexual behaviours in men and women in Ibadan, Nigeria Open
Background Unprotected oral sex is associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HPV and associated head and neck cancers. However, many studies lack clear definitions of oral sex and there are few data from West Africa.…
View article: Assessment of Relative Contributions of Lifestyle, Behavioral and Biological Risk Factors for Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infections in Female Sex Workers
Assessment of Relative Contributions of Lifestyle, Behavioral and Biological Risk Factors for Cervical Human Papillomavirus Infections in Female Sex Workers Open
This study aimed to identify and quantify the relative and collective contributions of lifestyle, behavioral, and biological risk factors to cervical HPV infections among female sex workers (FSWs) in Ibadan, Nigeria. This cross-sectional s…
View article: Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Filoviruses with Outbreak Potential in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review to Inform Vaccine Development and Deployment
Seroprevalence of Antibodies to Filoviruses with Outbreak Potential in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review to Inform Vaccine Development and Deployment Open
Background/Objectives: Orthoebolaviruses and orthomarburgviruses are filoviruses that can cause viral hemorrhagic fever and significant morbidity and mortality in humans. The evaluation and deployment of vaccines to prevent and control Ebo…
View article: Effect of a community-based intervention for sexually transmitted infections on population-level prevalence among youth in Zimbabwe (STICH): a cluster-randomised trial
Effect of a community-based intervention for sexually transmitted infections on population-level prevalence among youth in Zimbabwe (STICH): a cluster-randomised trial Open
Medical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, Department for International Development, National Institute for Health and Care Research, and the Wellcome Trust.
View article: Consensus for Integrating the Point-of-Care Genital InFlammation Test (GIFT) into Sexually Transmitted Infection Management Guidelines: Results from a Two-Round Modified Delphi Survey
Consensus for Integrating the Point-of-Care Genital InFlammation Test (GIFT) into Sexually Transmitted Infection Management Guidelines: Results from a Two-Round Modified Delphi Survey Open
Background Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV) are frequently asymptomatic in women. They cause genital inflammation and can increase transmission and acquisition of HIV. GIFT (Genital InFlammation Test) is …
View article: Prevalence of human filovirus infections in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Prevalence of human filovirus infections in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol Open
View article: Risk factors for curable sexually transmitted infections among youth: findings from the STICH population survey in Zimbabwe
Risk factors for curable sexually transmitted infections among youth: findings from the STICH population survey in Zimbabwe Open
Objectives Youth are at high risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Africa. We aimed to determine the risk factors for curable STIs in youth in Zimbabwe. Methods A population-based survey was conducted among randomly selected 18…
View article: Social norms that sustain transactional sex and associations with sexual health outcomes: A mixed-methods study in the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé, a rural-Indigenous region of Panama
Social norms that sustain transactional sex and associations with sexual health outcomes: A mixed-methods study in the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé, a rural-Indigenous region of Panama Open
The Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé (CNB), home to >200,000 Indigenous people, is one of the poorest regions in Panama. We describe transactional sex (TS) behaviours, normative beliefs and factors associated with TS among Indigenous adolescents(14-19y…
View article: Novel point-of-care cytokine biomarker lateral flow test for the screening for sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis: study protocol of a multicentre multidisciplinary prospective observational clinical study to evaluate the performance and feasibility of the Genital InFlammation Test (GIFT)
Novel point-of-care cytokine biomarker lateral flow test for the screening for sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis: study protocol of a multicentre multidisciplinary prospective observational clinical study to evaluate the performance and feasibility of the Genital InFlammation Test (GIFT) Open
Introduction A prototype lateral flow device detecting cytokine biomarkers interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-1β has been developed as a point-of-care test—called the Genital InFlammation Test (GIFT)—for detecting genital inflammation associated w…
View article: High uptake of menstrual health information, products and analgesics within an integrated sexual reproductive health service for young people in Zimbabwe
High uptake of menstrual health information, products and analgesics within an integrated sexual reproductive health service for young people in Zimbabwe Open
Background Despite being integral to women’s well-being, achieving good menstrual health (MH) remains a challenge. This study examined MH services uptake (including information, analgesics, and a choice of MH products - the menstrual cup a…
View article: Adaptability of Students with Mobility Impairments in Higher Learning Institutions in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania
Adaptability of Students with Mobility Impairments in Higher Learning Institutions in the Kilimanjaro Region of Tanzania Open
View article: PA-745 Purpose and options for integration of the Genital InFlammation Test (GIFT) into a sexually transmitted infection management pathway using an adapted delphi process
PA-745 Purpose and options for integration of the Genital InFlammation Test (GIFT) into a sexually transmitted infection management pathway using an adapted delphi process Open
Background Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV) are often asymptomatic in women but cause genital inflammation, which increases HIV risk. The Genital InFlammation Test (GIFT) point-of-care device for detectin…
View article: The impact of community-based integrated HIV and sexual and reproductive health services for youth on population-level HIV viral load and sexually transmitted infections in Zimbabwe: protocol for the CHIEDZA cluster-randomised trial
The impact of community-based integrated HIV and sexual and reproductive health services for youth on population-level HIV viral load and sexually transmitted infections in Zimbabwe: protocol for the CHIEDZA cluster-randomised trial Open
Background Youth have poorer HIV-related outcomes when compared to other age-groups. We describe the protocol for a cluster randomised trial (CRT) to evaluate the effectiveness of community-based, integrated HIV and sexual and reproductive…
View article: <i>“It’s not safe for me and what would it achieve?”</i> Acceptability of patient-referral partner notification for sexually transmitted infections to young people, a mixed methods study from Zimbabwe
<i>“It’s not safe for me and what would it achieve?”</i> Acceptability of patient-referral partner notification for sexually transmitted infections to young people, a mixed methods study from Zimbabwe Open
Partner notification (PN) is considered integral to the management of sexually transmitted infections (STI). Patient-referral is a common PN strategy and relies on index cases notifying and encouraging their partners to access treatment; h…
View article: Evaluation of a community-based aetiological approach for sexually transmitted infections management for youth in Zimbabwe: intervention findings from the STICH cluster randomised trial
Evaluation of a community-based aetiological approach for sexually transmitted infections management for youth in Zimbabwe: intervention findings from the STICH cluster randomised trial Open
View article: High uptake of menstrual health information, products and analgesics within an integrated sexual reproductive health service for young people in Zimbabwe
High uptake of menstrual health information, products and analgesics within an integrated sexual reproductive health service for young people in Zimbabwe Open
Background Achieving good menstrual health (MH), integral to women’s well-being, remains a challenge. This study examined MH services uptake (including information, analgesics, and a choice of MH products - the menstrual cup and reusable p…
View article: Working from home and intimate partner violence among cis-women during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from a global, cross-sectional study
Working from home and intimate partner violence among cis-women during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from a global, cross-sectional study Open
Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) may have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This analysis aimed to determine how employment disruption during COVID-19, including working from home, was associated with IPV experience …
View article: Working from home and intimate partner violence among cis-women during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from a global, cross-sectional study
Working from home and intimate partner violence among cis-women during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from a global, cross-sectional study Open
Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) may have been exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. This analysis aimed to determine how employment disruption during COVID-19, including working from home, was associated with IPV experience …
View article: Visual diagnosis of female genital schistosomiasis in Zambian women from hand-held colposcopy: agreement of expert image review and association with clinical symptoms
Visual diagnosis of female genital schistosomiasis in Zambian women from hand-held colposcopy: agreement of expert image review and association with clinical symptoms Open
Background: Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) can occur in S. haematobium infection and is caused by egg deposition in the genital tract. Confirming a diagnosis of FGS is challenging due to the lack of a diagnostic reference standard. A…
View article: Acceptability of self-collected vaginal swabs for sexually transmitted infection testing among youth in a community-based setting in Zimbabwe
Acceptability of self-collected vaginal swabs for sexually transmitted infection testing among youth in a community-based setting in Zimbabwe Open
Background Youth are a high-risk group for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To increase access to STI testing, convenient approaches for sampling and testing are needed. We assessed the acceptability of self-collected vaginal swabs …
View article: A mixed-methods study measuring the effectiveness of a menstrual health intervention on menstrual health knowledge, perceptions and practices among young women in Zimbabwe
A mixed-methods study measuring the effectiveness of a menstrual health intervention on menstrual health knowledge, perceptions and practices among young women in Zimbabwe Open
Objectives While integral to women’s physical and mental well-being, achieving good menstrual health (MH) remains a challenge for many women. This study investigated the effectiveness of a comprehensive MH intervention on menstrual knowled…
View article: Associations between age of menarche, early sexual debut and high‐risk sexual behaviour among urban Tanzanian schoolgirls: A cross‐sectional study
Associations between age of menarche, early sexual debut and high‐risk sexual behaviour among urban Tanzanian schoolgirls: A cross‐sectional study Open
Objectives This cross‐sectional survey aimed to explore associations between age of menarche, early sexual debut and high‐risk sexual behaviour among urban Tanzanian schoolgirls. Methods Secondary schoolgirls aged 17–18 years from Mwanza, …
View article: Visual diagnosis of female genital schistosomiasis in Zambian women from hand-held colposcopy: agreement of expert image review
Visual diagnosis of female genital schistosomiasis in Zambian women from hand-held colposcopy: agreement of expert image review Open
Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) can occur in S. haematobium infection and is caused by parasite egg deposition in the genital tract. Confirming a diagnosis of FGS is challenging due to the lack of a diagnostic reference standard. A 20…
View article: Evaluation of a Community-Based Aetiological Approach for Sexually Transmitted Infections Management for Youth in Zimbabwe
Evaluation of a Community-Based Aetiological Approach for Sexually Transmitted Infections Management for Youth in Zimbabwe Open
View article: The Presence of Hemoglobin in Cervicovaginal Lavage Is Not Associated With Genital Schistosomiasis in Zambian Women From the BILHIV Study
The Presence of Hemoglobin in Cervicovaginal Lavage Is Not Associated With Genital Schistosomiasis in Zambian Women From the BILHIV Study Open
Background Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) occurs when Schistosoma haematobium eggs are deposited in reproductive tissue. Female genital schistosomiasis in the cervical mucosa is associated with increased vascularity. If FGS is associ…