The increasing use of the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist: lessons learned at the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital, Cameroon.

Background: Safe childbirth remains a daunting challenge, particularly in low-middle income countries, where most pregnancy-related deaths occur. Cameroon's maternal mortality rate, estimated at 529 per 100,000 live births in 2017, is significantly high. The WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC) was designed to improve the quality of care provided to pregnant women during childbirth.

Severe malaria in Cameroon: Pattern of disease in children at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric hospital.

Background And Objective: Malaria is the most widely spread parasitic disease in the world, especially in the tropics affecting mostly children and pregnant women. In children, mostly under-fives carry the heaviest burden in terms of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological and clinical aspects, and outcome of children 3 months to 15 years old with severe malaria at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (YGOPH), a referral hospital in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Differential influence of race and environment on indeterminate reactivities to non-treponemal and treponemal antigens by immuno-chromatographic dual syphilis rapid test.

Introduction: Syphilis rapid test results may be influenced by numerous environmental and genetic factors.

Methods: The proportion of false positive syphilis non-treponemal (NT) and treponemal (T) test results using immuno-chromatographic dual syphilis rapid test on serum from Cameroonian blacks (n=103) versus French blacks (n=104) or French caucasians (n=51), all HIV-negative and free of clinical syphilis, was examined.

Results: Black individuals in Cameroon had a significantly higher frequency of false positive NT or T tests than black individuals in France.

Posterior urethral valves: 10 years audit of epidemiologic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects in Yaoundé gynaeco-obstetric and paediatric hospital.

Background: The incidence of posterior urethral valve (PUV) is estimated at 1:5000-1:8000 males. It is the most common paediatric urologic urgency and the most common cause of male obstructive uropathy and chronic renal failure in children. The study aimed to describe the experience of Yaoundé gynaeco-obstetrics and paediatric hospital in the management of PUV.

Vaccination of infants aged 0 to 11 months at the Yaounde Gynaeco-obstetric and pediatric hospital in Cameroon: how complete and how timely?

Background: Vaccination is a major, but simple and cost effective public health intervention in the prevention of infectious diseases, especially in children. Nowadays, many children still miss scheduled vaccines in the Extended Program of Immunization (EPI) or are being vaccinated after the recommended ages.This study was aimed at assessing vaccination completeness and timeliness in children aged 0 to 11 months attending the vaccination clinic of the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital.

Awareness of breast cancer and breast self-examination among female undergraduate students in a higher teachers training college in Cameroon.

Introduction: The incidence of breast cancer (BCa) in Cameroon is on the rise and accounts for a leading cause of mortality. An understanding of the knowledge and practices on breast cancer and breast self-examination (BSE) among teachers are important first steps which will guide the designing of interventions aimed at raising awareness across the general population.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in April 2016 involving 345 consenting female undergraduate students in the Higher Teachers Training College, Bambili, Cameroon.

Knowledge and utilization of the partograph: A cross-sectional survey among obstetric care providers in urban referral public health institutions in northwest and southwest Cameroon.

Background: The enormous challenge to maternal well-being with associated maternal wastages during labour has remained an unsurmountable problem in Cameroon which reflects the current high maternal mortality rate. Evidence abounds that cost-effective and affordable health interventions like the use of the partograph will contribute to curb the alarming number of intrapartum maternal deaths. However, little is known about the level of knowledge and utilization of this simple life-saving tool in the North-and South-West Regions, Cameroon.

Prevalence of maternal HIV infection and knowledge on mother-to-child transmission of HIV and its prevention among antenatal care attendees in a rural area in northwest Cameroon.

Background: In 2010, an estimated 141 new HIV infections occurred per day in Cameroon and reports suggest an upsurge of these rates by 2020 if current trends continue. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV is a major public health challenge, and maternal knowledge on HIV transmission during pregnancy and its prevention is important in curtailing paediatric HIV acquisition.

Objectives: We aimed at establishing the prevalence of maternal HIV infection as well as assessing knowledge on HIV, MTCT and prevention of MTCT (PMTCT) of HIV among pregnant women in a rural area of Cameroon.

Weight-for-Height Z Score and Mid-Upper Arm Circumference as Predictors of Mortality in Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition.

Background: Mortality associated with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) could be reduced by screening malnourished children for those most vulnerable to death. We compared the weight-for-height Z score (WHZ) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) as predictors of mortality in children with SAM.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study spanning over 8 years, using records of children aged 6-59 months, hospitalized for SAM and discharged alive or who died during hospitalization.

Foreign body in the appendix presenting as acute appendicitis: a case report.

Background: Foreign bodies are a rare cause of appendicitis. In most instances, ingested foreign bodies pass through the alimentary tract asymptomatically. However, those that enter the lumen of the vermiform appendix may not be able to re-enter the colon and may initiate an inflammatory process.

Clandestine abortion causing uterine perforation and bowel infarction in a rural area: a case report and brief review.

Background: An unsafe abortion is defined as a procedure for terminating an unintended pregnancy carried out either by a person lacking the necessary skills or in an environment that does not conform to minimal medical standards or both. Majority of these unsafe abortions are carried out in rural areas of developing countries, usually by unskilled persons who do not have proper knowledge of the anatomy of reproductive organs and in unhygienic environments thus leading to various complications.

Case Presentation: We discuss the case of a 21 year old female who presented in septic shock after she underwent an unsafe abortion of an 11 weeks pregnancy with uterine wall perforation and bowel injury that required resection.

Psychosocial stressors of sickle cell disease on adult patients in Cameroon.

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a debilitating illness that affects quality of life. Studies of the psychosocial burden of SCD on patients have been rarely reported in Africa. We used a quantitative method, with face-to-face administered questionnaires, to study indices of psychosocial stressors on adult SCD patients in Cameroon.

Would you terminate a pregnancy affected by sickle cell disease? Analysis of views of patients in Cameroon.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a debilitating illness that affects quality of life and life expectancy for patients. In Cameroon, it is now possible to opt for termination of an affected pregnancy (TAP) where the fetus is found to be affected by SCD. Our earlier studies found that, contrary to the views of Cameroonian physicians, a majority of parents with their children suffering from SCD would choose to abort if the fetuses were found to be affected.

Psychosocial burden of sickle cell disease on parents with an affected child in Cameroon.

The chronicity of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) could impair the quality of life of caregivers. We performed a quantitative study to assess various indices of psychosocial burden on Cameroonian parents (N = 130) with at least one living SCD-affected child. Demographic and medical information were obtained from the participants and the review of the patients' medical records.

Complications of arteriovenous fistula for hemodialysis: an 8-year study.

Background: To assess the frequency and characteristics of complications of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and their effect on fistula outcome.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 628 AVFs constructed from November 2002 to October 2010 to record the complications and their management options. The association between age, sex, comorbidities (HIV, hypertension, and diabetes), fistula type, and complications was sought.

Mapping of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis in the regions of centre, East and West Cameroon.

Background: Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) are widely distributed in Cameroon. Although mass drug administration (MDA) of mebendazole is implemented nationwide, treatment with praziquantel was so far limited to the three northern regions and few health districts in the southern part of Cameroon, based on previous mapping conducted 25 years ago. To update the disease distribution map and determine where treatment with praziquantel should be extended, mapping surveys were conducted in three of the seven southern regions of Cameroon, i.

Validation of a single-platform, volumetric, flow cytometry for CD4 T cell count monitoring in therapeutic mobile unit.

Background: A mobile health unit may be useful to follow up adult and pediatric patients on antiretroviral treatment and living in remote areas devoid of laboratory facilities. The study evaluated the use of the simplified, robust, single-plateform, volumetric, pan-leucogating Auto40 flow cytometer (Apogee Flow Systems Ltd, Hemel Hempstead, UK) for CD4 T cell numeration in a mobile unit, compared against a reference flow cytometry method.

Methods: The therapeutic mobile unit of the Laboratoire National de Santé Hygiène Mobile, Yaoundé, Cameroon, was equipped with the Auto40.

Patients characteristics and outcome of 518 arteriovenous fistulas for hemodialysis in a sub-Saharan African setting.

Background: To present the particular aspects of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for hemodialysis in sub-Saharan Africa in terms of patients' characteristics, patency and complication rates, as well as factors influencing them.

Methods: From November 2002 to November 2009, 518 fistulas were constructed on adults. Demographic data, patency, and complications were analyzed.

8q24 risk alleles in West African and Caribbean men.

Background: Multiple genetic studies have confirmed associations of 8q24 variants with susceptibility to prostate cancer (CaP). However, the magnitude of risk conferred in men living in West Africa is unknown.

Methods: Here we determine the prevalence of 8q24 risk alleles and test for association with CaP risk alleles in West African (WA) descent populations from rural Nigeria, Cameroon, and the Caribbean island of Jamaica.

Acceptability of prenatal diagnosis by a sample of parents of sickle cell anemia patients in Cameroon (sub-Saharan Africa).

Little is known about attitudes of parents of Sickle Cell Anemia patients in sub-Saharan Africa regarding prenatal genetic diagnosis and termination of an affected pregnancy. In this study, structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with a sample of 130 parents in Cameroon that had at least one living child with Sickle Cell Anemia. The majority of participants lived in urban areas (89%), were female (80%), Christian (93%), married (60.

Knowledge, attitudes and practice with respect to epilepsy among secondary school students in the Kumbo West Health District - North West Region- Cameroon.

Background: The main goal of this study was to obtain baseline data on awareness and attitudes and practices with respect to epilepsy among secondary school students.

Methods: We interviewed a total of 659 students from three randomly selected secondary schools in the Kumbo West Health District, using a 12-item questionnaire in English.

Results: About 94.