Publications

Background: the survival of diabetic patient depends on the capacity of the health facilities to offer an adequate minimum package of healthcare. The availability of the necessary resources conditions the quality healthcare offered by a health facility. Objective: to assess the readiness of diabetes healthcare service in the health facilities in the west region of cameroon materials and methods: we carried out a cross sectional descriptive survey in the west region of cameroon targeting health facilities. These were selected by stratified random sampling from may to july 2016. An observation checklist was filled with the help of the head of the health facility to assess the readiness of diabetes healthcare service. We estimate the proportions of health facilities that had laboratory equipment, basic equipment, diabetic medications/commodities and trained staff on diabetes management at 95% confident interval. Results: of 608 exiting health facilities in the region, 100 were selected Read more...

Global estimates for cholera annually approximate 4 million cases worldwide with 95,000 deaths. Recent outbreaks, including Haiti and Yemen, are reminders that cholera is still a global health concern. Cholera outbreaks can rapidly induce high death tolls by overwhelming the capacity of health facilities, especially in remote areas or areas of civil unrest. Recent studies demonstrated that stool specimens preserved on filter paper facilitate molecular analysis of Vibrio cholerae in resource limited settings. Specimens preserved in a rapid, low-cost, safe and sustainable manner for sequencing provides previously unavailable data about circulating cholera strains. This may ultimately contribute new information to shape public policy response on cholera control and elimination.

Methodology/Principal findings

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) recovered close to a complete sequence of the V. cholerae O1 genome with satisfactory genome coverage from stool Read more...

The risk of cholera outbreak remains high in Cameroon. This is because of the persistent cholera outbreaks in neighboring countries coupled with the poor hygiene and sanitation conditions in Cameroon. The objective of this study was to assess the readiness of health facilities to respond to cholera outbreak in four cholera-prone districts in Cameroon.

A cross-sectional study was conducted targeting all health facilities in four health districts, labeled as cholera hotspots in Cameroon in August 2016. Data collection was done by interview with a questionnaire and by observation regarding the availability of resources and materials for surveillance and case management, access to water, hygiene, and sanitation. Data analysis was descriptive with STATA 11.

A total of 134 health facilities were evaluated, most of which (108/134[81%]) were urban facilities. The preparedness regarding surveillance was limited with 13 (50%) health Read more...

Introduction: le faible poids de naissance (FPN) est un important prédicteur de survie de l’enfant et de son développement ultérieur. De par sa physiopathologie, le paludisme est présumé en être un des facteurs de risques. La présente étude avait pour but de déterminer l’association entre l’accès palustre chez la femme enceinte (FE) et la survenue du FPN (poids < 2500 g).

Méthodes: il s’est agi d’une enquête analytique de type cas-témoins, basée sur l’administration d’un questionnaire et d’une grille d’observation. Nous avons calculé l’Odds ratio (OR) brut et l’OR ajusté pour déterminer l’association. La régression logistique a été appliquée pour reconnaître les variables qui sont effectivement les déterminants du problème étudié.

Résultats: cent cinquante-six (156) femmes dont 78 cas et 78 témoins ont participé à la présente étude. La prévalence de FPN était de 12,32% (105/852); 41,02% (64/156) des femmes ont eu Read more...

The study aimed to assess the capacity of AEFI surveillance during vaccination campaigns with the new conjugate meningitis vaccine (MenAfrivac). A systematic review of studies on MenAfrivac™ published in English during 2001–2016 was done.AEFIs incidence (I) was estimated and compared between MenAfrivac™ clinical trials and immunization campaigns using incidence difference (Id). Nine studies were included with an overall local AEFI I of 11,496/100,000 doses administered per week in clinical trials and 0.72/100,000 doses in immunization campaigns. An Id of 11,497.92 [11,497.91-11,497.93] and 17,243.20 [17,241.80-17,245.90] per 100,000 doses administered per week for overall local and systemic AEFI, respectively, were observed with highest from clinical trials. The incidence of AEFIs after MenAfrivac™ vaccination was far lower in campaigns than in clinical trial studies. Current capacity of AEFI surveillance during vaccination campaigns requires extensive re-assessment of its structure Read more...

Training curricula in research ethics for potential and future researchers should be implemented and constantly updated. This requires data regarding training needs.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey on residents, fifth and sixth-year medical students registered in the 2006–2007 academic year at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (FMBS) of the University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon.

Two-fifths (40.4%) of respondents (response rate 70.9%) reported training in research ethics. Less than half were aware of specific regulatory texts relevant to research ethics. Among those who reported conducting a research project 66.7% declared having obtained informed consent from participants and 32.9% having submitted their protocol to an Ethics Review Committee. Participants identified training priorities in research ethics and responsibilities of key actors in the protection of research participants.

There is a need to Read more...

The treatment of HIV-patients is a key component to HIV/aids control strategies. Since 2007, Cameroon is treating HIV-patients for free within decentralized treatment units created in functional health districts. This study aimed to map the geographical distribution of HIV-patients with respect to that of treatment units in Cameroon. We conducted a cross-sectional study in which functional health districts with HIV-treatment units were exhaustively sampled to map the local access to antiretroviral care in the Cameroon West region. Patients from these units were randomly selected and recruited during their monthly period of receiving antiretroviral drugs. Four hundred and seventy-two patients were included. The mean age of participants was 42 (± 10) years with a sex ratio male/female of 1/3. Fourteen units were distributed in 09 health districts (45% coverage) and 11/20 districts had no Treatment unit. Sixty two percent (294/472) of participants resided in the health district of thei Read more...

The study aimed to assess the capacity of AEFI surveillance during vaccination campaigns with the new conjugate meningitis vaccine (MenAfrivac). A systematic review of studies on MenAfrivac™ published in English during 2001–2016 was done.AEFIs incidence (I) was estimated and compared between MenAfrivac™ clinical trials and immunization campaigns using incidence difference (Id). Nine studies were included with an overall local AEFI I of 11,496/100,000 doses administered per week in clinical trials and 0.72/100,000 doses in immunization campaigns. An Id of 11,497.92 [11,497.91-11,497.93] and 17,243.20 [17,241.80-17,245.90] per 100,000 doses administered per week for overall local and systemic AEFI, respectively, were observed with highest from clinical trials. The incidence of AEFIs after MenAfrivac™ vaccination was far lower in campaigns than in clinical trial studies. Current capacity of AEFI surveillance during vaccination campaigns requires extensive re-assessment of its structure Read more...

Background Smartphones are an integral part of modern communication but addiction to these devices could predispose to common mental disorders.

Objectives To determine the prevalence of smartphone addiction and common mental disorders as well as the association between smartphone addiction and these mental disorders in Dschang university students who use smartphones.

Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. Randomly selected students completed a survey comprising Patient Health Questionnaires seven and nine (PHQ-9 and PHQ-7) to screen for depression and anxiety respectively, and the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) to grade smartphone use. The association between smartphone use and common mental disorders was assessed using logistic regression modelling.

Results We recruited 634 participants. The prevalence of smartphone addiction was 20.98% [C.I:17.99%-24.32%]. The pre Read more...

Globally, the levels of healthcare-associated infections (nosocomial infections) are important high, and especially those due to bacterial are significant and costly. Healthcare environments provide a worrying reservoir for spreading infections. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Low and Middle-Income Countries may be particularly at risk, hence, the need to perform a timely assessment of surface contamination of bacterial origin in the major units of four different hospitals of the Littoral Region, Cameroon. A cross-sectional and descriptive study was conducted from December 2018 to May 2019. A simple random sampling was used to swap 10 selected equipment (treatment tables, operating tables, delivery tables, office tables, anesthesia equipment, surgical aspirators, oxygen concentrators, wheelchairs, patients and office chairs) and 10 materials (fans, patient bedside tables, patient bed rails, trolleys, door handles, negastoscopes, baby scales, air conditioners, Antise Read more...