Umberto D’alessandro
Dados Biográficos
| ID | 3576271 |
|---|---|
| NOME | Umberto D’alessandro |
| PRENOMES | Umberto |
| SOBRENOME | D’alessandro |
| ASSINATURA | D’ALESSANDRO U |
| AFILIAÇÕES | MRC Unit the Gambia |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6341-5009 |
| VERIFICADO | Sim |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 21 |
| TOTAL DE CITAÇÕES | 58 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 21 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMEIRO ANO DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 1994 |
| ANO MAIS RECENTE DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 3 |
“Now that the baby is out, I can be vaccinated”
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in pregnancy, but vaccine hesitancy limits uptake and effectiveness. This study explored COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in pregnancy in Kilifi, coastal Kenya, to elicit reasons for vaccine hesitancy and acceptance, and to compile misconceptions around vaccination in pregnancy. Twenty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with pregnant women, mothers who had given birth in the previous 2 years and health wor…
Evaluating the cost of malaria elimination by Anopheles gambiae precision guided SIT in the Upper River region, The Gambia
Mosquito control has successfully reduced the burden of malaria globally, but current vector control technologies cannot achieve malaria elimination. Precision guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) is one of the most promising interventions being developed for malaria elimination. Mass release of genetically sterile males can act as a chemical-free species-specific insecticide. Before translating pgSIT from the bench to the field, however, it i…
Community perspectives on maternal dietary diversity in rural Kenya, Mozambique and The Gambia
Pregnant and lactating women in sub-Saharan Africa are vulnerable to micronutrient inadequacies, with risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Adequate intakes of diverse foods are associated with better micronutrient status and recommended by the World Health Organization as part of healthy eating counselling during antenatal care. However, our understanding of community knowledge of dietary diversity within the context of maternal diets is limited. …
Tobacco smoking clusters in households affected by tuberculosis in an individual participant data meta-analysis of national tuberculosis prevalence surveys
Tuberculosis (TB) and non-communicable diseases (NCD) share predisposing risk factors. TB-associated NCD might cluster within households affected with TB requiring shared prevention and care strategies. We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis of national TB prevalence surveys to determine whether NCD cluster in members of households with TB. We identified eligible surveys that reported at least one NCD or NCD risk factor through…
Deploying Machine Learning Models Using Progressive Web Applications
Background Translating research outputs into practical tools for medical practitioners is a neglected area and could have a substantial impact. One of the barriers to implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications is their practical deployment in the field. Traditional web-based (i.e., server sided) applications are dependent on reliable internet connections, which may not be readily available in rural areas. Nat…
Clinical research on Covid-19
INTRODUCTION: The need to rapidly identify safe and efficacious drug therapies for COVID-19 has resulted in the implementation of multiple clinical trials investigating potential treatment options. These are being undertaken in an unprecedented research environment and at a higher speed than ever before. It is unclear how West African communities perceive such activities and how such perceptions influence participation in COVID-19 clinical trials…
Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) to evaluate liver fibrosis and cancer in HBV-infected patients in West Africa
Background: To reduce mortality associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, timely detection of cirrhosis and early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is essential. In low-income countries, however, HBV-infected people have limited access to liver histopathology, a reference test. Recently, Asian studies have suggested the usefulness of an inexpensive serum biomarker called Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) in staging l…
Doing ‘reciprocity work’
In their roles as nurses, data collectors, or other, fieldworkers undertake myriad tasks working intimately with and on the bodies of others - a type of work called 'body work'. This work further includes the micro-political relations shaping these interactions, and studies have shown the importance of these relationships in the success of clinical trials, particularly in the Gambia. This study seeks to expand the concept of body work to understa…
Complexities in Defining the Unit of Intervention for Reactive Community-Based Malaria Treatment in the Gambia
With significant declines in malaria, infections are increasingly clustered in households, or groups of households where malaria transmission is higher than in surrounding household/villages. To decrease transmission in such cases, reactive interventions target household members of clinical malaria cases, with the intervention unit (e.g., the “household/s”) derived from an epidemiological and operational perspective. A lack of unanimity regarding…
The Community Lab of Ideas for Health
Background: Community participation in global health interventions may improve outcomes and solve complex health issues. Although numerous community participatory approaches have been developed and introduced, there has been little focus on “how” and “who” to involve in the implementation of community-based clinical trials where unequal distribution of power between implementers and communities pre-exists. Addressing how to achieve community-base…
Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke in Public Places and Barriers to the Implementation of Smoke-Free Regulations in The Gambia
Despite existing smoke-free regulations, reported exposure to second-hand smoke remains high in public places in The Gambia. The Ministry of Health should continue to strengthen their advocacy and sensitization programs to ensure smoke-free regulations are fully implemented. Some population subgroups are at a higher risk of exposure and could be targeted by interventions; and settings where these subgroups are exposed should be targeted by enforc…
Adoption of evidence-based global policies at the national level
In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its policy on intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulphadoxine–pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP). A global recommendation to revise the WHO policy on the treatment of malaria in the first trimester is under review. We conducted a retrospective study of the national policy adoption process for revised IPTp-SP dosing in four sub-Saharan African countries. Alongside this retrospective study,…
Knowledge, attitude and practice towards tuberculosis in Gambia
About 3 in 10 Gambians had poor knowledge on TB, and significant stigma towards TB and persons with TB persists. Interventions to improve TB knowledge and address stigma are required as part of efforts to reduce the burden of undiagnosed TB in the country
Sniff and Tell
Bio-Detection Dogs (BDDs) are used in some high-income countries as a diagnostic intervention, yet little is known about their potential in low/middle-income countries with limited diagnostic resources. This exploratory study investigated the opportunities and implications of deploying BDDs as a mobile diagnostic intervention to identify people with asymptomatic malaria, particularly at ports of entry, as an important step to malaria elimination …
The role of leadership in people-centred health systems
Recently, increasing attention has been given to behavioural and relational aspects of the people who both define and shape health systems, placing them at the core. A growing refrain includes the assertion that important decisions determining health system performance, including agenda setting, policy formulation and policy implementation, are made by people. Within this actor-oriented approach, good leadership has been identified as a key contr…
Disease-specific mortality burdens in a rural Gambian population using verbal autopsy, 1998–2007
OBJECTIVE: To estimate and evaluate the cause-of-death structure and disease-specific mortality rates in a rural area of The Gambia as determined using the InterVA-4 model. DESIGN: Deaths and person-years of observation were determined by age group for the population of the Farafenni Health and Demographic Surveillance area from January 1998 to December 2007. Causes of death were determined by verbal autopsy (VA) using the InterVA-4 model and ICD…
Parasite-based malaria diagnosis
Primary health care facilities had inadequate human and infrastructural capacity to effectively implement universal parasite-based malaria diagnosis. The priority capacity building needs identified were: 1) recruitment and retention of qualified staff, 2) comprehensive training of health workers in fever management, 3) malaria diagnosis quality control systems and 4) strengthening of supply chain, stock management and referral systems
The Gambian National Impregnated Bednet Programme
Evaluating the community education programme of an insecticide-treated bed net trial on the Kenyan coast
Earlier studies in The Gambia suggested that the use of impregnated bednets might prove to be a useful malaria control strategy. Based on the results of these studies, in 1992 the Government of The Gambia was encouraged to initiate a National Impregnated Bednet Programme (NIBP) as part of the National Malaria Control Programme Strategy. This paper describes the implementation process/procedure of the NIBP. Evaluation results showed that, overall,…
Geographical perspectives on bednet use and malaria transmission in the Gambia, West Africa
Constructing Natural Fertility
In 1992 in 41 villages in the North Bank region of rural Gambia researchers interviewed 2979 15-54 year old women to examine the means by which this population maintains natural fertility birth intervals. Only 3.3% had ever had formal schooling. The total fertility rate was 7.5. Criteria the women used in their decision making process about contraception included effectiveness confidentiality speed with which fecundity returns after the practice …
Constructing Natural Fertility
In 1992 in 41 villages in the North Bank region of rural Gambia researchers interviewed 2979 15-54 year old women to examine the means by which this population maintains natural fertility birth intervals. Only 3.3% had ever had formal schooling. The total fertility rate was 7.5. Criteria the women used in their decision making process about contraception included effectiveness confidentiality speed with which fecundity returns after the practice …
The Gambian National Impregnated Bednet Programme
Geographical perspectives on bednet use and malaria transmission in the Gambia, West Africa
The role of leadership in people-centred health systems
Recently, increasing attention has been given to behavioural and relational aspects of the people who both define and shape health systems, placing them at the core. A growing refrain includes the assertion that important decisions determining health system performance, including agenda setting, policy formulation and policy implementation, are made by people. Within this actor-oriented approach, good leadership has been identified as a key contr…
Constructing Natural Fertility
In 1992 in 41 villages in the North Bank region of rural Gambia researchers interviewed 2979 15-54 year old women to examine the means by which this population maintains natural fertility birth intervals. Only 3.3% had ever had formal schooling. The total fertility rate was 7.5. Criteria the women used in their decision making process about contraception included effectiveness confidentiality speed with which fecundity returns after the practice …
Evaluating the community education programme of an insecticide-treated bed net trial on the Kenyan coast
Earlier studies in The Gambia suggested that the use of impregnated bednets might prove to be a useful malaria control strategy. Based on the results of these studies, in 1992 the Government of The Gambia was encouraged to initiate a National Impregnated Bednet Programme (NIBP) as part of the National Malaria Control Programme Strategy. This paper describes the implementation process/procedure of the NIBP. Evaluation results showed that, overall,…
Geographical perspectives on bednet use and malaria transmission in the Gambia, West Africa
The Gambian National Impregnated Bednet Programme
Parasite-based malaria diagnosis
Primary health care facilities had inadequate human and infrastructural capacity to effectively implement universal parasite-based malaria diagnosis. The priority capacity building needs identified were: 1) recruitment and retention of qualified staff, 2) comprehensive training of health workers in fever management, 3) malaria diagnosis quality control systems and 4) strengthening of supply chain, stock management and referral systems
Disease-specific mortality burdens in a rural Gambian population using verbal autopsy, 1998–2007
OBJECTIVE: To estimate and evaluate the cause-of-death structure and disease-specific mortality rates in a rural area of The Gambia as determined using the InterVA-4 model. DESIGN: Deaths and person-years of observation were determined by age group for the population of the Farafenni Health and Demographic Surveillance area from January 1998 to December 2007. Causes of death were determined by verbal autopsy (VA) using the InterVA-4 model and ICD…
The role of leadership in people-centred health systems
Recently, increasing attention has been given to behavioural and relational aspects of the people who both define and shape health systems, placing them at the core. A growing refrain includes the assertion that important decisions determining health system performance, including agenda setting, policy formulation and policy implementation, are made by people. Within this actor-oriented approach, good leadership has been identified as a key contr…
Sniff and Tell
Bio-Detection Dogs (BDDs) are used in some high-income countries as a diagnostic intervention, yet little is known about their potential in low/middle-income countries with limited diagnostic resources. This exploratory study investigated the opportunities and implications of deploying BDDs as a mobile diagnostic intervention to identify people with asymptomatic malaria, particularly at ports of entry, as an important step to malaria elimination …
Knowledge, attitude and practice towards tuberculosis in Gambia
About 3 in 10 Gambians had poor knowledge on TB, and significant stigma towards TB and persons with TB persists. Interventions to improve TB knowledge and address stigma are required as part of efforts to reduce the burden of undiagnosed TB in the country
Complexities in Defining the Unit of Intervention for Reactive Community-Based Malaria Treatment in the Gambia
With significant declines in malaria, infections are increasingly clustered in households, or groups of households where malaria transmission is higher than in surrounding household/villages. To decrease transmission in such cases, reactive interventions target household members of clinical malaria cases, with the intervention unit (e.g., the “household/s”) derived from an epidemiological and operational perspective. A lack of unanimity regarding…
The Community Lab of Ideas for Health
Background: Community participation in global health interventions may improve outcomes and solve complex health issues. Although numerous community participatory approaches have been developed and introduced, there has been little focus on “how” and “who” to involve in the implementation of community-based clinical trials where unequal distribution of power between implementers and communities pre-exists. Addressing how to achieve community-base…
Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke in Public Places and Barriers to the Implementation of Smoke-Free Regulations in The Gambia
Despite existing smoke-free regulations, reported exposure to second-hand smoke remains high in public places in The Gambia. The Ministry of Health should continue to strengthen their advocacy and sensitization programs to ensure smoke-free regulations are fully implemented. Some population subgroups are at a higher risk of exposure and could be targeted by interventions; and settings where these subgroups are exposed should be targeted by enforc…
Adoption of evidence-based global policies at the national level
In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its policy on intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with sulphadoxine–pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP). A global recommendation to revise the WHO policy on the treatment of malaria in the first trimester is under review. We conducted a retrospective study of the national policy adoption process for revised IPTp-SP dosing in four sub-Saharan African countries. Alongside this retrospective study,…
Deploying Machine Learning Models Using Progressive Web Applications
Background Translating research outputs into practical tools for medical practitioners is a neglected area and could have a substantial impact. One of the barriers to implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications is their practical deployment in the field. Traditional web-based (i.e., server sided) applications are dependent on reliable internet connections, which may not be readily available in rural areas. Nat…
Clinical research on Covid-19
INTRODUCTION: The need to rapidly identify safe and efficacious drug therapies for COVID-19 has resulted in the implementation of multiple clinical trials investigating potential treatment options. These are being undertaken in an unprecedented research environment and at a higher speed than ever before. It is unclear how West African communities perceive such activities and how such perceptions influence participation in COVID-19 clinical trials…
Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) to evaluate liver fibrosis and cancer in HBV-infected patients in West Africa
Background: To reduce mortality associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, timely detection of cirrhosis and early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is essential. In low-income countries, however, HBV-infected people have limited access to liver histopathology, a reference test. Recently, Asian studies have suggested the usefulness of an inexpensive serum biomarker called Mac-2 binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) in staging l…
Doing ‘reciprocity work’
In their roles as nurses, data collectors, or other, fieldworkers undertake myriad tasks working intimately with and on the bodies of others - a type of work called 'body work'. This work further includes the micro-political relations shaping these interactions, and studies have shown the importance of these relationships in the success of clinical trials, particularly in the Gambia. This study seeks to expand the concept of body work to understa…
Tobacco smoking clusters in households affected by tuberculosis in an individual participant data meta-analysis of national tuberculosis prevalence surveys
Tuberculosis (TB) and non-communicable diseases (NCD) share predisposing risk factors. TB-associated NCD might cluster within households affected with TB requiring shared prevention and care strategies. We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis of national TB prevalence surveys to determine whether NCD cluster in members of households with TB. We identified eligible surveys that reported at least one NCD or NCD risk factor through…
Evaluating the cost of malaria elimination by Anopheles gambiae precision guided SIT in the Upper River region, The Gambia
Mosquito control has successfully reduced the burden of malaria globally, but current vector control technologies cannot achieve malaria elimination. Precision guided sterile insect technique (pgSIT) is one of the most promising interventions being developed for malaria elimination. Mass release of genetically sterile males can act as a chemical-free species-specific insecticide. Before translating pgSIT from the bench to the field, however, it i…
Community perspectives on maternal dietary diversity in rural Kenya, Mozambique and The Gambia
Pregnant and lactating women in sub-Saharan Africa are vulnerable to micronutrient inadequacies, with risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Adequate intakes of diverse foods are associated with better micronutrient status and recommended by the World Health Organization as part of healthy eating counselling during antenatal care. However, our understanding of community knowledge of dietary diversity within the context of maternal diets is limited. …
“Now that the baby is out, I can be vaccinated”
COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective in pregnancy, but vaccine hesitancy limits uptake and effectiveness. This study explored COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in pregnancy in Kilifi, coastal Kenya, to elicit reasons for vaccine hesitancy and acceptance, and to compile misconceptions around vaccination in pregnancy. Twenty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with pregnant women, mothers who had given birth in the previous 2 years and health wor…
Medicine (18 obras) · Environmental health (14 obras) · Political science (10 obras) · Population (10 obras) · Global Maternal and Child Health (9 obras) · Malaria (9 obras) · Nursing (9 obras) · Mosquito-borne diseases and control (7 obras) · Public health (7 obras) · Geography (6 obras)