SIMBLE in Benin: start-up of the qualitative research

A team of social scientists from ITM, along with two locally hired researchers, began the first phase of data collection in Cotonou, Benin on March 4th, 2024. Using an ethnographic approach, the researchers immersed themselves in the CNHU-HKM to familiarise themselves with the setting and the people where the simplified blood culture system under investigation is embedded. This ethnographic approach allowed the researchers to observe the place and the individuals they were studying on a daily basis, establish a mutual understanding with local health professionals, and minimise social desirability bias in interviews. Subsequently, the researchers identified relevant study participants and conducted in-depth interviews with them in safe and confidential locations at a time preferred by the participants.

Throughout six weeks of fieldwork, the researchers were able to identify socio-ecological factors influencing blood culture diagnostics in general, as well as contextual factors, such as the perceptions and practices of health professionals and local health system factors related to the uptake of the simplified blood culture system under investigation. During the fieldwork, ITM and local researchers worked together on collecting data and continuously analysing data to identify emerging themes. The fieldwork also included training for the junior researchers from Burkina Faso on the application of the ethnographic approach and thematic analysis.

Qualitative data collection at CNHU-HKM is planned until mid-April 2024. Similar work on qualitative data collection is scheduled for CHU-YO in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in the third week of April, and in Boko hospital, Benin at the start of May

From left to right: Dr Yves Mugabe, Dr Déo Gratias Houindote, Hervé Kpoton, Dr Thuan Thi Nguyen (from ITM), Dr Inès Agbo (the local researcher in Benin), Dr Jeanne Orekan, and Dr Abel Wakpo, at CNHU-HKM
Online meeting on continuous data analysis between the study team: Benjamin Nignan (Burkina Faso), Dr Thuan Thi Nguyen (ITM, Belgium) and Dr Inès Agbo (Benin)
Adéchinan Ovide Gouton (left) and Benjamin Nignan (right) at the laboratory facility at CNHU-PPC, where the bottles for the simplified blood culture system are manufactured

Simplified Blood Culture System (SIMBLE)

With the SIMBLE project, we want to introduce better adapted diagnostics in Sub-Saharan Africa

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18 September 2025
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SIMBLE stakeholder meeting on local production of biomedical products in Cotonou

9 July 2025
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End of SIMBLE study visits at CNHU-HKM and Boko hospital in Benin

8 May 2025
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End of SIMBLE study visit at CHU-YO in Burkina Faso

4 February 2025
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Strengthening blood culture sampling at CHU-YO, Burkina Faso

18 November 2024
– Press releases

Life-saving diagnostics not always reliable under tropical conditions

25 April 2024
– Articles

Start-up of the qualitative research in Benin

26 February 2024
– Articles

First monitoring visit at CHU-YO in Burkina Faso

9 February 2024
– Impact stories

“I’m one of those idealists who graduated with the goal in mind: ‘That’s where I want to work!'” – Dr Liselotte Hardy

22 January 2024
– Articles

Start-up of the SIMBLE study in Burkina Faso

14 December 2023
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SIMBLE project partners meet in Grenoble

17 July 2023
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First patients recruited in the SIMBLE study in Benin

12 April 2023
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SIMBLE team visits CHU-YO in Burkina Faso

4 April 2023
– Articles

First SIMBLE publication featured in Lancet Microbe

22 November 2022
– Articles

Antimicrobials: Handle with Care

24 October 2022
– Articles

SIMBLE project partners meet in Cotonou

6 September 2022
– Articles

After three weeks at sea, the production container is at its final destination

20 June 2022
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Take a look inside our SIMBLE production container

3 March 2022
– Articles

Introducing the ‘Turbidimeter’

24 November 2021
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ITM introduces better adapted diagnostics for bloodstream infections in West Africa

27 October 2021
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Launching the SIMBLE project

22 May 2021
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Visit to partner in Cotonou, Benin

1 March 2021
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Visit to partner in Barcelona, Spain

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