Gender-based violence and its health risks on women in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Introduction: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a major public health problem that disproportionately affects women. In Cameroon, as well as other countries worldwide, GBV has immediate effects on women's health, with one in three women experiencing physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner, affecting their physical and reproductive health. The objective of this study was to determine the health risks associated with GBV among women in Yaoundé.

Predictive values of an immunological fecal occult blood test for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer compared using colonoscopy in symptomatic patients in Yaounde (Cameroon).

Introduction: The predictive value of immunological fecal occult blood (iFOB) testing for the screening of colorectal cancer has been well described in the Western world. However, its relevance in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is not well evaluated. It could be altered by the other causes of lower gastrointestinal bleeding such as parasitic infections.

Feasibility, safety, efficacy and potential scaling-up of sofosbuvir-based HCV treatment in Central and West Africa: (TAC ANRS 12311 trial).

Access to Hepatis C treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa is a clinical, public health and ethical concern. The multi-country open-label trial TAC ANRS 12311 allowed assessing the feasibility, safety, efficacy of a specific care model of HCV treatment and retreatment in patients with hepatitis C in Sub Saharan Africa. Between November 2015 and March 2017, with follow-up until mid 2019, treatment-naïve patients with HCV without decompensated cirrhosis or liver cancer were recruited to receive 12 week-treatment with either sofosbuvir + ribavirin (HCV genotype 2) or sofosbuvir + ledipasvir (genotype 1 or 4) and retreatment with sofosbuvir + velpatasvir + voxilaprevir in case of virological failure.

Normalisation of the psychometric encephalopathy score within the Cameroonian population.

Background: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is the presence of neuropsychological abnormalities detectable by psychometric tests. Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy Score (PHES) is a gold standard test for the early diagnosis of MHE in cirrhotic patients. The aim of this study was to standardize the PHES in a healthy Cameroonian population and to evaluate the prevalence of MHE among cirrhotic patients.

Prevalence and vaccination coverage of Hepatitis B among healthcare workers in Cameroon: A national seroprevalence survey.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is hyperendemic in Cameroon, and healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of infection. We aimed to assess prevalence, risk factors and vaccine coverage of HBV infection among HCWs in Cameroon. We conducted a cross-sectional study in 16 hospitals across all regions of Cameroon.

A practical approach to low protein diets for patients with chronic kidney disease in Cameroon.

Cameroon is a low-middle income country with a rich diversity of culture and cuisine. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in Cameroon and over 80 % of patients present late for care, precluding the use of therapies such as low protein diets (LPDs) that slow its progression. Moreover, the prescription of LPDs is challenging in Cameroon because dieticians are scarce, there are no renal dieticians, and people often have to fund their own healthcare.

Operational research and HIV policy and guidelines: lessons from a study of patients lost to follow-up from a public antiretroviral treatment program in Cameroon.

Can operations and implementation research guide today's unprecedented efforts to scale-up HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support in resource-limited settings? Our study of patients with HIV/AIDS who were first seen at the Central Hospital (Yaoundé, Cameroon) to begin antiretroviral therapy demonstrates the value of using operations research to explore programs, policies, and guidelines used in health care. We studied one group of patients, those lost to follow-up. Our findings confirmed the value of early treatment, systems to follow individuals, free treatment, and resources that enable operations research.

Reduced dose of stavudine and lipoatrophy in HIV-infected patients in Cameroon.

Background: This study assessed the effect of stavudine (d4T) 30 mg dosage on lipoatrophy in HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral treatment.

Methods: A total of 243 patients from Cameroon receiving d4T or zidovudine (AZT) in combination with lamivudine and efavirenz or nevirapine for >6 months were clinically assessed for moderate to severe ('strict' definition) and mild to severe ('large' definition) lipoatrophy. Prevalence of lipoatrophy was compared between 69 patients who had received exclusively d4T 30 mg (d4T(30)), 64 patients who had received both d4T 30 and 40 mg dosages since treatment initiation (d4T(30/40)) and 110 patients on AZT-related therapy.

Activities of aqueous extracts of Mallotus oppositifolium on Shigella dysenteriae A1-induced diarrhoea in rats.

1. Mallotus oppositifolium is reported to possess medicinal properties and is traditionally used in Cameroon for the treatment of diarrhoea. In the present study, we have evaluated the acute toxicity, in vitro antibacterial and in vivo antidiarrhoeal effects of an aqueous extract of these plant leaves.