A randomized controlled trial on mobile phone text messaging to improve sexo-reproductive health among adolescent girls in Cameroon.

Background: We conducted a single-centered randomized controlled single-blinded trial (i.e. trained interviewers; blinded to group allocation).

Vaccination against Hepatitis B among health care workers in the Bamenda Health District: influence of knowledge and attitudes, Cameroon.

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most serious occupational hazards faced by healthcare workers (HCW). This study aimed at assessing the influence of knowledge and attitudes of HCWs in the Bamenda Health District (BHD) on their vaccination status.

Methods: this was a cross-sectional analytic study carried out in Bamenda health district, Cameroon.

Prevalence and awareness of mode of transmission of typhoid fever in patients diagnosed with and infections at the Saint Elisabeth General Hospital Shisong, Bui Division, Cameroon.

Introduction: typhoid fever is a systemic infectious disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella enterica subspecies (typhi). It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed at determining the prevalence and awareness of the mode of transmission of Salmonella typhi among patients at the Saint Elisabeth General Hospital Shisong of Cameroon.

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.

Factors associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness among pregnant women attending government health facilities in the Bamenda Health District, Cameroon.

Introduction: birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) intervention should greatly have an impact on the reduction of maternal mortality if implemented properly at all levels. Responsibility for BPCR must be shared among all safe motherhood stakeholders-because a coordinated effort is needed to reduce the delays that contribute to maternal and newborn deaths. This study aimed to assess the factors associated with birth preparedness and complication readiness among pregnant women attending government health facilities in the Bamenda Health District.

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.

Exploring health-seeking behavior among adolescent mothers during the Ebola epidemic in Western rural district of Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Background: From 2014 to 2016, the largest Ebola outbreak in history threatened Sierra Leone and its neighbouring countries, Guinea and Liberia. The Ebola outbreak impacted pregnant adolescent girl's access to prenatal care during the pandemic. The aim of this study is to understand health-seeking behaviour among adolescent mothers who were pregnant during the Ebola epidemic in Waterloo, Sierra Leone.

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.

The magnitude of postpartum depression among mothers in Africa: a literature review.

Introduction: postpartum depression (PPD) continues to become one of the major maternal health challenges across the globe but there is a paucity of recent data on its magnitude in Africa. This study was motivated by the need to update the current magnitude of PPD in Africa based on various assessment tools.

Methods: a total of 21 articles met the study criteria.

First-trimester rupture of a gravid bicornuate uterus after prior vaginal deliveries, simulating a ruptured ectopic pregnancy: a case report.

The first-trimester rupture of a bicornuate uterus (BU) is a rare obstetrical emergency, especially following previous normal vaginal deliveries where it is often misdiagnosed. A 24-year-old GP002 woman presented at 11 weeks of gestation with sudden onset of severe left iliac fossa pain without other symptoms. On examination, she was fully conscious and hemodynamically unstable with signs of peritoneal irritation, a distended pouch of Douglas and a slightly enlarged uterus and a tender left adnexal mass.

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.

Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding malaria: a cross-sectional study in pregnant women attending antenatal care in the New-Bell district hospital, Douala, Cameroon.

Introduction: malaria remains a major public health problem in Cameroon. For a successful malaria control, there is a need to evaluate the level of awareness, attitude and perception of people living in malaria endemic areas such as the swampy littoral region of Cameroon.

Methods: this was a descriptive cross-sectional study targeting pregnant women attending ANC in the New-Bell District Hospital.

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.

Assessment of minor psychiatric morbidity, stressors, and barriers of seeking help among medical students at the University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.

Introduction: Medical education can be stressful and a source of psychiatric morbidity for medical students with the potential of causing serious professional and personal negative consequences. With the limited studies investigating this issue in Sudan, this study aimed at assessing psychiatric morbidity, determine stressors, evaluate mental health care seeking behavior and barriers to seeking help among medical students in Khartoum, Sudan.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with data collection for a period of one month, during the survey.

Factors associated with the uptake of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy in the Bamenda health districts, Cameroon.

Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that in malaria endemic areas with moderate to high transmission rates, pregnant women presenting for antenatal clinic (ANC) should receive at least three doses of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) for malaria between the 16 and 36 weeks of pregnancy at intervals of 4 weeks between doses. Several challenges remain in effective implementation of IPTp policy making the targeted coverage (80%) of the third doses of IPTp far from being achieved. The main objective of this study was to assess factors associated with the uptake of IPTp among pregnant women attending ANCs in the Bamenda Health District.