Cervical Precancer Treatment Outcomes in Cameroon.

Background And Objective: The ablative and excision treatment procedures are effective, accessible, and affordable in resource-constrained settings, but the rollout and posttreatment follow-up are not remarkable. The outcomes of treatment procedures among women treated for precancerous lesions of the cervix have not been adequately studied in Cameroon. This study assessed the outcome of ablative and excisional treatment procedures.

Exploring existing malaria services and the feasibility of implementing community engagement approaches amongst conflict-affected communities in Cameroon: a qualitative study.

Background: Cameroon is one of the countries with the highest burden of malaria. Since 2018, there has been an ongoing conflict in the country, which has reduced access to healthcare for populations in affected regions, and little is known about the impact on access to malaria services. The objective of this study was to understand the current situation regarding access to malaria services in Cameroon to inform the design of interventions to remove barriers and encourage the use of available services.

Prevalence, Epidemiological, and Clinical Profile of Patients Coinfected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Tuberculosis in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Context in Health Facilities in the East Region, Cameroon.

Background And Objective: Suspected cases of tuberculosis (TB) are identified for confirmation by bacteriological tests through clinical screening for TB in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during routine visits or when antiretrovirals (ARVs) are dispensed. Our aim is to determine the prevalence and describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of HIV-TB coinfected patients in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) setting in health facilities in the East Region of Cameroon. This study addresses knowledge gaps on HIV-TB coinfection during COVID-19, aiming to provide insights into the interaction and impact of HIV, TB, and COVID-19 on individuals' health.

A formative cross-sectional study to assess caregiver's health-seeking behaviour and knowledge surrounding malaria, and understand the burden of malaria among children under-five in conflict-affected communities of Cameroon.

Background: Malaria remains a major global health problem often worsened by political instability and armed conflict. The purpose of the study was to explore community knowledge, attitudes and practices on malaria prevention, and to understand the burden of malaria and health-seeking behaviours of caregivers of children under-five in conflict-affected communities of the South West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving internally displaced persons (IDPS), host population, and their children under-five was conducted across 80 communities.

Political instability and hiv/aids response in the south west and north west regions of Cameroon: a qualitative study.

Background: Politically motivated violence and insecurity continue to be a major threat to progress in HIV epidemic control and a significant contributor to health inequality. Despite a decreasing HIV/AIDS disease burden, the Republic of Cameroon in West Africa is experiencing ongoing political instability in her North and South West Regions. Our study used qualitative methods to better understand key frontline health care providers' (fHCP) perceptions of the effects of political instability on HIV/AIDS response gains in Cameroon since 2018, as well as lessons learned for overcoming them.

Effectiveness of Linkage to Care and Prevention Interventions Following HIV Self-Testing: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Over 38.4 million people were living with HIV globally in 2021. The HIV continuum includes HIV testing, diagnosis, linkage to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), and retention in care.

The SPIN framework to control and prevent the Marburg virus disease outbreak in Equatorial Guinea.

A full grasp of the epidemiological factors promoting transmission is necessary for responding to highly infectious diseases, which involves their control and prevention. With the recent outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Equatorial Guinea, we saw the need to re-shed some technical light based on our field experiences and published literature. We reviewed 15 previous MVD outbreaks globally.

Socio-economic predictors of uptake of malaria interventions among pregnant women and mothers of under 5 children in Oyo State, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: socio-economic status (SES), especially for women, influence access to care. This study aimed to determine the relationship between SES and uptake of malaria intervention by pregnant women and non-pregnant mothers of children under 5 years old in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.

Methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted at Adeoyo teaching hospital located in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Malaria Elimination: What Can Africa Learn from China?

For decades now, malaria has been an important public health concern in Africa, which bears the greatest burden for the disease, affecting children and adults alike. Although a few countries (Australia, Brunei, Singapore, and Algeria, among others) have previously eliminated malaria, the World Health Organization (WHO), on June 30, 2021, declared China malaria-free. This commentary seeks to explore what China did differently to eliminate malaria and what Africa can learn from China's experience.

Marburg virus disease outbreak in Guinea: a SPIN framework of its transmission and control measures for an exemplary response pattern in West Africa.

Responding to highly infectious diseases relies on a thorough understanding of transmission epidemiology. With the recent outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) in Guinea, we saw the need to shed some technical light based on published literature and our field experiences. We reviewed 14 previous MVD outbreaks globally.

A case report of ruptured ectopic pregnancy plus massive hemoperitoneum on a heterotrophic pregnancy in a resource-poor setting, Mbengwi, Cameroon.

Heterotopic pregnancy is a rare obstetrics phenomenon and carries significant maternal morbidity and mortality due to the risk of rupture of the ectopic pregnancy. Physicians tend to feel comfortable and relieved when an intrauterine gestation sac is seen. This results in an inadequate inspection of the adnexae and remaining structures during emergency bedside ultrasound despite a strong initial clinical suspicion of ectopic pregnancy.

Use of Trained Non-Medical Staff to Improve Access to HIV Testing Services in Africa: Implementation of the World Health Organization Opt-out Approach in Cameroon.

Background: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in 2019 estimated that 450,000 to 50,000 people in Cameroon were living with HIV, yet only 79% knew their HIV status which is far from the 90% target for 2020. To address this situation, Cameroon adopted the "Opt-out" strategy of the World Health Organization (WHO) and use of trained non-medical cadre (psychosocial agents) to reach out to more people with HIV testing services (HTS). This describes the implementation and outcomes of this strategy by reviewing the activity of a typical day in the Yaoundé Central Hospital (YCH) in Cameroon.

Non-SHEF2 Model related containment and control measures against COVID-19 in Africa.

COVID-19 Pandemic has the potential to overwhelm the underserved health care systems of African countries characterized by inadequate infrastructure and too few medical personnel. In responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic, many African countries are using a combination of containment and mitigation activities but in this commentary, we focus on what we term the Non-SHEF2 (S: Social distancing, H: Hands, E: Elbows, F: Face, F: Feel) model related control and containment measures which include seven key measures against COVID-19 doped 'TITHQC2' namely, T: Travel-related measures, I: Information and guidance, T: Treatment; H: Hospital containment measures; Q: Quarantine, C: Community containment measures, C: Case detection and contact tracing. COVID-19 is a reality and demands rapid and decisive action to be taken.

COVID-19 pandemic: implementing control measures in Africa using the 'SHEF2' model.

The COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa is a severe reminder of the brunt of emerging and re-emerging infectious pathogens and the need for simple, context-oriented, and sustainable health models to combat them when the need arises. In this commentary, an analytical discursive approach was chosen to owe to Africa's unique situation of weak health systems, with most of its member states showing an initial reluctance to deal openly with the COVID-19 situation. This paper discusses five major control measures doped the SHEF2 Model i.

Comparative study of clinical methods versus ultrasound methods for accurate gestational age determination in different trimesters of pregnancy, Ndop District Hospital, North West region, Cameroon.

Introduction: gestational age is the estimated age of gestation from a fetus during its development and this is very important for the mother who wants to know when to expect the birth of her baby and for the health care provider so they can chose the time at which to perform various assessment. However, from the information outlined in this research, it can be seen that last menstrual period (LMP) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are used to assess gestational age. While GSD, CRL, BPD, HC, AC and FL are biometric parameters that can be measured on a fetus in order to estimate gestational age.

The prevalence, risk factors and antifungal sensitivity pattern of oral candidiasis in HIV/AIDS patients in Kumba District Hospital, South West Region, Cameroon.

Introduction: Oral candidiasis is one of the most common opportunistic infection in HIV/AIDS patient and it is caused by species. The low absolute CD4+T-lymphocyte count has traditionally been cited as the greatest risk factor for the development of Oral Candidiasis. The aim of this study was to identify species isolated from the oral cavity of HIV/AIDS patients, to determine their in vitro antifungal susceptibility and to investigate the possible risk factors associated with oral candidiasis.

Retention in HIV/AIDS Management Services: is it Really Poor? The Case of Yaounde Central Hospital in Cameroon.

Background: After consecutively defaulting on their appointments for three months, many HIV positive patients are often reported to have defaulted on their treatment, become lost to follow-up (LTFU), or no longer in care. We sought to determine if retention in HIV/AIDS care and treatment is really poor.

Methods: Outcomes of patients with missed clinic appointments and reasons for missing appointments were studied.

Vaccination Coverage Under the Expanded Program on Immunization in South West Cameroon.

Background: Inadequate vaccination coverage with increased risk of vaccine preventable disease outbreaks remain a problem in Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the vaccination coverage levels under the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in a health area and to identify factors that affect vaccination coverage in view of providing valuable data for disease prevention.

Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in August 2017 in the Mbonge health area, Southwest Cameroon.

Prevalence of onchocerciasis, attitudes and practices and the treatment coverage after 15 years of mass drug administration with ivermectin in the Tombel Health District, Cameroon.

Introduction: Onchocerciasis is an infection caused by . It affects 37 million people of which 99% are in Africa. This study assessed the prevalence of onchocerciasis after 15 years of mass drug administration with ivermectin.