Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life of Tuberculosis Patients in Fako Division, South-West Region of Cameroon

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Despite the global impact of TB and treatment received, a gap persists between treatment and quality of life of the patients especially in resource limited countries. This study therefore evaluated the health related quality of life of TB patients and the different factors influencing their quality of life at the post intensive phase of their treatment in the Fako division of the South-West Region of Cameroon. Methods: A hospital based cross sectional study was carried out in 4 tuberculosis treatment centers, namely two regional (Buea and Limbe) and two district (Tiko and Muyuka) hospitals in Fako Division between June and July 2017. One hundred and sixty-seven TB patients were enrolled in the study and relevant information from them was gathered using the SF-36 questionnaire. Various aspects such as their perception of the disease, their socio-demographics and socio-economics conditions were evaluated. Results: Of the 167 participants enrolled in the study, 95 (56.9%) were male and 72 (43.1%) were female. One hundred and thirty-three (79.6%) of the 167 participants were affected by pulmonary tuberculosis and 34 (20.4%) by extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. Fifty-five (32.9%) were HIV positive and 90 (53.9%) had been receiving treatment for 4 - 6 months, 73 (43.7%) for 1 - 3 months and 4 (2.4%) for 7 - 9 months. The lowest and highest scores were recorded on the role limitation due to emotional problems scale (30.54 ± 35.36), and on the social functioning scale (47.68 ± 16.33) respectively. There was a significant difference (p = 0.021), between pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis (49.15 ± 16.08 vs. 41.91 ± 16.25) on the social functioning. Financial difficulty restraining drug collection affected the general health perception (p = 0.003), vitality (p = 0.007), emotional well-being (p < 0.001) and social functioning (p = 0.05) of the patients. Low income affected the vitality (p = 0.039), emotional well-being (p = 0.015), role limitations due to physical (p = 0.046) and emotional (p = 0.003) problems of the patients. Equally, the HIV status affected their vitality (p < 0.001) and emotional well-being (p = 0.011). Conclusion: The quality of life of the TB patients in the study area was generally poor. Counselling of diagnosed TB patients and provision of financial assistance through a social package can improve the acceptance of the disease during their treatment period to avoid default and relapse.

Competencies of Obstetric Caregivers Regarding Hepatitis B in the West Region of Cameroon

There are many zones of high prevalence of hepatitis B like Cameroon(10%).Mother to child transmission of hepatitis B is the most common mode of transmission in high prevalence area.Its prevention is assured by the health care staff in charge of pregnant women.We therefore used to assess the level of competence(skills levels)of obstetricians regarding hepatitis B in West region of Cameroon.This was a cross-sectional analytical KAP study.The recruitment took place in 11 hospitals in 5 major departments of West region of Cameroon.The sampling was consecutive and comprehensive.The population was constituted of 148 participants with a sex ratio of 0.51.The mean age was 34 years.The population consisted of 50 physicians(33.78%),61 nurses(41.22%),and 37 auxiliary staff(25%).Only 4%had a good skills level,55%had an average skills level,and 41%had an insufficient level.The Skills level was influenced by gender,occupation,seniority in the occupation.The skills level of health care workers was average and insufficient for most.This does not allow them to effectively fight against the mother to child transmission of hepatitis B virus in Cameroon.

Typology of Local Construction Materials from the Adamawa and North-West Regions of Cameroon

This article summarizes the different local construction materials observed in two regions of Cameroon (Adamawa and North-West). These raw materials were mapped and evaluated using various methods of investigation (spatial distribution, estimation of reserves, development of a database compatible with geo-referenced maps). The results obtained show three types of local construction materials (vegetal, pedological and geological) with quantitative estimation or distribution. Vegetal local materials include herbaceous savanna with strong dominance of straw in Adamawa region than the North West region. Pedological local construction materials include lateritic soils (ferruginous or clayey), harplan, sandy clay and sandy clay soil while geological local construction materials include volcanic, plutonic and metamorphic rocks. Many sites of these geological materials are suitable for the rock quarry plant. Adamawa region also contains sedimentary rocks constituted by metamorphic conglomerate and sandstones. Two main types of residential homes are constructed with these local construction materials in these regions of Cameroon. These include huts and houses.

Sexual Risk Behaviours among People Living with HIV and Implications for Control in the North West Region of Cameroon

In Cameroon, despite extensive control efforts against HIV/AIDS, the number of new HIV infections is still on the rise. The factors contributing to this are not clearly understood. We hypothesized that it may lie on people living with HIV (PLHIV). In a case-control descriptive study, we studied the characteristics and sexual risky behaviour of PLHIV in the North West Region of Cameroon which has the highest HIV prevalence. Participants were screened for HIV and a structured questionnaire was used in data collection. An equivalent number (350) of PLHIV and controls who did not differ with respect to age and sex participated. Relative to the control, PLHIV were generally less educated (P < 0.001), poorer and less privileged (P < 0.001) with no stable source of income. Among participants that were once married, a greater proportion of PLHIV were divorced (OR = 5.23, P = 0.007), and widows (OR = 2.73, P = 0.001). Among participants that were single, a relatively greater proportion of PLHIV practiced multi-partner sex (OR = 4.55, P< 0.001). History of STDs was higher in PLHIV than the control (OR = 1.88, P = 0.001). Out of 350 PLHIV, 280 (80%) admitted to having had sexual intercourse after being diagnosed of which only 127 (41.78%) admitted to using condoms and 132 (47.14%) admitted to concealing their HIV status from their sexual partner(s). These findings have implications in HIV control programs which should target the poor and the less educated, as well as the sexual behaviour of PLHIV, so as to reverse the current rising trend of new infections in the country.

Investigating Maternal Mortality at Regina Pacis Hospital Mutengene and the Government Health Centre Mutengene, South West Region, Cameroon

Background: One target under sustainable Development Goal 3 is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 births, with no country having a maternal mortality rate of more than twice the global average. So there is a need to identify ways to reduce maternal mortality which is a top priority in development of the management of pregnant women and invention of equipment in procedures (caesarian section) to provide a maternal health and increase life survival. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and causes of maternal mortality at Regina Pacis Hospital and Government Health Center Mutengene. Method: This study was a retrospective study, where Data from 2007 to 2017 were collected from the hospital files using a checklist, descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. Conclusion: From the finding, maternal mortality is at a pace of increase in the Regina Pacis Hospital and Government Health Centre Mutengene and these health facilitiesmay fail to achieve the target of SDG3 by the end of 2030. Since, the overall prevalence of maternal mortality at both study sites was 240 per 100,000 live births at Regina Pacis Hospital and Government Health Center Mutengene from 2007 to 2017, increase education of women of reproductive age on pregnancy care and training of hospital staff in obstetric management and health records documentation.

Comparative Research on the Economic Development of Xinjiang i n the Perspective of Development of the West Regions

In the context of Development of the West Regions, by using the annual data from 1999 to 2009 in whole China and 12 provinces of the western regions, we analyze the achievements of socio-economic development of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 1999 to 2009 as follows: the economic aggregate has increased prominently and the growth rate is increasing ceaselessly; the primary industry, secondary industry and tertiary industry develop evenly, and the industrial structure is incessantly optimized; the quality of economic growth is promoted increasingly and the living standard of people is improved greatly; the primary industry, secondary industry and tertiary industry stride in tandem, and the momentum of growth is strong. We conduct horizontal comparison on the main economic indicators of Xinjiang, 12 provinces of the western regions and whole China, which include GDP and its growth rate, investment of fixed assets, structure of the primary industry, secondary industry and tertiary industry, the industrial added value, GDP per capita, gross retail sales of social consumption, export and import trade, net income per capita of peasants and herdsmen, and general budget revenue. The result shows that although the implementation of the strategy of Development of the West Regions and the economic development of Xinjiang have achieved some remarkable results, there is a conspicuous gap in comparison with the expected effect. The problems existing in the operation of Xinjiang's economy are analyzed as follows: the industrial level is low, and the economic growth mode is yet to be transformed; the disposable income per capita of urban residents grows slowly, and the increasing gap between the urban areas and rural areas has no trend of dwindling; the investment aggregate is very low, and the momentum of economic growth is short. In order to make the central government and 19 provinces and cities offer pointed aid for Xinjiang, promote the implementation of new strategic development of Western China, and promote the better economic development of Xinjiang in the period of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan, we put forward some feasible suggestions as follows: Xinjiang should grasp favorable opportunities and quicken the pace of industrial structural adjustment; continue to open up to the outside world unswervingly, and improve investment environment ceaselessly; strive to maintain the continuous and rapid development of economy, and improve the living standard of people.

Mantle/Crust Evolution and Eco-Environmental Effects as Exemplified by Zhangjiakou-West Beijing Region

The living circumstances of human beings are closely related to the geological environment. As exemplified by the Zhangjiakou-West Beijing region, this paper describes the intensive mantle-crust uplift, which led to anomalous element background values for regional rocks (ores) and soils. As a result, some agricultural crops, and forests and fruits are of “super-quality and high yield” or of “poor quality and low yield”. The anomalous elements can find their way into grains, fruits, vegetables and drinking water and then will be taken by human beings, constituting a food chain, which would directly impact human health and lead to the spread of some endemic diseases. Studies have shown that the geomorphological features in the Zhangjiakou-West Beijing region are the outcome of geotectonic evolution since the Mesozoic. Mantle-crust movement is the key factor leading to the evolution and change of the regionally geological environment.

Vegetation Coverage Changes in the West Qinling Region from 2000 to 2010:A Case Study of Longnan City

As the main content of terrestrial ecosystem study,vegetation coverage change has gained extensive attention in the process of global climate change and sustainable development recently.Based on MODIS NDVI data from June to October during 2000-2010,taking Longnan City as a case area,this paper develops the calculation method of vegetation coverage(VC) by using Pixel Dichotomy model and analyzes the spatial-temporal variation of vegetation coverage in the West Qinling region by using simple linear regression and standard deviation method.The results show that vegetation coverage remains stable and is significantly correlated with temperature and precipitation during the decade.The vegetation coverage of 90% of study area shows stability with small annual variation and also is consistent with the spatial distribution of forest land;the vegetation coverage in the remaining study areas shows a growing trend with significant variation and also is consistent with the spatial distribution of farmland and grassland,especially in Huicheng Basin,Xili Basin and adret slope of Bailongjiang River Valley,indicating that Project about the Conversion of Degraded Farmland into Forest has made a great contribution to vegetation coverage increase.This paper proves the effect of ecology construction in the West Qinling region since the late 20 th century.All the findings also provide references for local ecological environment construction and sustainable development.

Cumulative Coulomb Failure Stress Change in the Basin- range Region of West Beijing and Its Effect on Strong Earthquakes

Since 231 B. C.,a total of 15 M6.0 - 7.5 earthquakes have been recorded in the west Beijing basin-range tectonic region( 38.3°- 41.5° E,112°- 116.2° N),a region mainly under the action of tensional normal faulting. In this paper,we calculate the Coulomb stress change of each earthquake and the cumulative Coulomb stress change,and on this basis we analyze the stress triggering of strong earthquakes. The research shows that there are 10 of 14 earthquakes that occurred in the trigger zones,in which the Coulomb stress change is positive,and the trigger rate is 71%. The positive areas of cumulative Coulomb stress change caused by these 15 earthquakes are: middle of northern Liulengshan fault,Northern Huaizhuo basin fault,Xinbaoan-Shacheng fault,Sangganhe fault and Southern Yuxian basin fault. This necessarily increases the seismic risk of these faults and can be used as a reference for future seismic risk analysis in this area.

Interpretation of the west segment of the coastal fault zone in the coastal region of South China based on the gravity data

By systemic processing, comprehensive analysis, and interpretation of gravity data, we confirmed the existence of the west segment of the coastal fault zone(west of Yangjiang to Beibu Bay) in the coastal region of South China. This showed an apparent high gravity gradient in the NEE direction, and worse linearity and less compactness than that in the Pearl River month. This also revealed a relatively large curvature and a complicated gravity structure. In the finding images processed by the gravity data system, each fault was well reflected and primarily characterized by isolines or thick black stripes with a cutting depth greater than 30 km. Though mutually cut by NW-trending and NE-trending faults, the apparent NEE stripe-shaped structure of the west segment of the coastal fault zone remained unchanged,with good continuity and an activity strength higher than that of NW and NE-trending faults. Moreover,we determined that the west segment of the coastal fault zone is the major seismogenic structure responsible for strong earthquakes in the coastal region in the border area of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan.

The Regional Climate Effects of Replacing Farmland and Re-greening the Desertification Lands with Forest or Grass in West China

The West Development Policy being implemented in China causes significant land use and land cover (LULC) changes in West China, of which the two most important types of LULC change are replacing farmland and re-greening the desertification land with forest or grass. This paper modifies the prevailing regional climate model (RCM) by updating its lower boundary conditions with the up-to-date satellite database of the Global Land Cover Characteristics Database (GLCCD) created by the United States Geological Survey and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The modified RCM is used to simulate the possible regional climate changes due to the LULC variations. The preliminary results can be summarized as that the two main types of LULC variation, replacing farmland and greening the desertification lands with forest or grass in west China, will affect the regional climate mostly in northwest and north China, where the surface temperature will decrease and the precipitation will increase. The regional climate adjustments in South, Southwest China and on the Tibet Plateau are uncertain.

PECULIARITIES OF METALLOGENY OF SOUTH SIBERIA AND WEST MONGOLIA DIWA REGIONS

There are three diwa regions in South Siberia and West Mongolia. One of them is arranged in West Transbaikalia and was formed from Devonian till Carboniferous periods. Numerous deposits of tungsten , tin, molybdenum, REE, synnyrites, urtites are genetically linked with intrusive rocks. The next diwa region is arranged in North Mongolia and South Buryatia. This diwa region was formed in the Late Paleozoic time. The deposits of molybdenum, tungsten, boron, iron, copper, beryllium are genetically linked with magmatic rocks of this region. The third region was formed in Devonian in West Mongollia. The magmatic rocks of this region are represented by alkaline granitoids. Some deposits of REE and rare metals are linked with these rocks.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution of the Peter the Great Bay (North-West Pacific Region) Using Brown Algae

According to the content of heavy metals Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Ni in brown algae Sargassum miyabei from the Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan, geochemical factors were calculated. The algae geochemical anomaly index (IGA) characterizes the degree of excess of the background concentrations of metals. The heavy metal pollution factor (Fp) is used to estimate the degree of pollution of the marine environment with heavy metals. The Peter the Great Bay has a low level of heavy metal pollution, but some parts of second-order bays, such as Amurskii Bay, Ussuriiskii Bay and Vostok Bay, have a moderate degree of pollution. The high pollution level was registed on the western coast of the Ussuriiskii Bay near the Vladivostok city landfill. Thirty percent of sampling stations were noted to have higher threshold levels of metals in the algae. These areas need to be monitored to assess their environmental status and measures should be applied to reduce the impact on the environment.

Assessment of Regional Climate Models over Côte D'Ivoire and Analysis of Future Projections over West Africa

The ability of six Regional Climate Models (RCMs) used in AMMA-ENSEMBLES project is assessed over six meteorological stations in C&#244te d’Ivoire. The ensemble mean of the models is also used for the prediction of climate change over West Africa. The study focused on two periods: the period 1995-2005, the present-day simulations, is used to evaluate the skills of the models over the country and the years 2010-2013, for assessment of the future climate change scenario used. The results show that the skills of the models vary from one station to another and from one season to another. None of the models considered, presents an excellent performance over the entire country and in all the seasons. Generally, the ensemble mean of all the models presents better results when compared with the observation. These results suggest that the choice of any model for study over the country may depend on the focus of interest: intensity or variability of the rain and also on area of interest. The projection for 2020-2040, future climate change over West Africa shows that the Sahel exhibits a tendency to be drier while wetter Guinean coast is observed.

The Statistical Significance Test of Regional Climate Change Caused by Land Use and Land Cover Variation in West China

The West Development Policy being implemented in China is causing significant land use and land cover （LULC） changes in West China. With the up-to-date satellite database of the Global Land Cover Characteristics Database （GLCCD） that characterizes the lower boundary conditions, the regional climate model RIEMS-TEA is used to simulate possible impacts of the significant LULC variation. The model was run for five continuous three-month periods from 1 June to 1 September of 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, and 1997, and the results of the five groups are examined by means of a student t-test to identify the statistical significance of regional climate variation. The main results are： （1） The regional climate is affected by the LULC variation because the equilibrium of water and heat transfer in the air-vegetation interface is changed. （2） The integrated impact of the LULC variation on regional climate is not only limited to West China where the LULC varies, but also to some areas in the model domain where the LULC does not vary at all. （3） The East Asian monsoon system and its vertical structure are adjusted by the large scale LULC variation in western China, where the consequences are the enhancement of the westward water vapor transfer from the east oast and the relevant increase of wet-hydrostatic energy in the middle-upper atmospheric layers. （4） The ecological engineering in West China affects significantly the regional climate in Northwest China, North China and the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River; there are obvious effects in South, Northeast, and Southwest China, but minor effects in Tibet.

西准噶尔构造带包古图地层小区上泥盆统红山梁组的建立及地质意义

西准噶尔构造带包古图地层小区白碱滩北红山梁剖面上新发现一套晚泥盆世红色“硅质岩、粉砂质硅质岩、凝灰质硅质岩”海相沉积组合,与上覆包古图组深灰色—灰黑色含碳粉砂岩呈整合接触。经区域对比确认,该套地层显著有别于研究区乃至整个西准噶尔构造带地层分区已发现的全部上泥盆统各组岩石地层,符合“野外可识别、界面可区别、区域可对比、图面可表达”的原则,据此新建红山梁组。本次于红山梁组枕状玄武岩、玄武岩、安山岩中分别获得365.9±5.0Ma、370.6±7.4Ma和374.6±3.6Ma的LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年龄,佐证其时代为晚泥盆世。红山梁组与包古图组连续沉积之确认,消除了包古图组老于希贝库拉斯组这一存疑,建立了完整的下石统地层序列,新增了包古图地层小区泥盆纪的沉积记录,为区域沉积与构造演化研究提供了新资料。

Study on the Delineation of Ecological Protection Red Line in Ecological Fragile Region of the West

Ecological protection red line is one of the main contents in system construction of ecological civilization in China, and also reflects the trend and the will of the national eco-environment protection system reform. In this paper, taking ecological fragile area of the west as the research object, and using literature analysis, comparative analysis and other methods, the characteristics in ecological fragile area of the west are compre-hensively elaborated, and the relationship between ecological vulnerability and ecological protection red line is clarified, and the delineation theory and methods of ecological protection red line are analyzed, such as ecological suitability analysis, regional ecological security pattern and DPSIR model. Finally, key issues of ecological protection red line delineation in ecological fragile zone of the west are proposed.

新疆大红柳滩伟晶岩型锂矿深部结构与区域成矿模型解释

为揭示花岗岩-伟晶岩型锂等稀有金属矿成矿系统的深部结构,对西昆仑造山带大红柳滩伟晶岩型锂矿集区开展了大地电磁测深法(MT)探测。通过MT三维反演电阻率模型,探测到两个0~20 km深度范围的高阻体,反映了出露于地表的大红柳滩复式花岗岩基和半隐伏的大红柳滩东花岗岩基;20~80 km深度范围内发现的大范围高导异常,则反映了深达上地幔的地壳重熔形成的大规模长英质岩浆储库。可见,成矿母岩大红柳滩花岗岩基是有根的,而且是规模巨大深达上地幔的岩浆储库,它们为超大型大红柳滩伟晶岩型锂矿的形成提供了物源和热源。与松潘-甘孜甲基卡超大型伟晶岩型锂矿集区对比,尽管川西甲基卡地区地表出露的花岗岩有限,但MT三维反演电阻率模型显示,其也存在深达上地幔的大范围高导异常,同样反映了大规模长英质岩浆储库的存在,只是剥蚀深度浅,上侵的花岗岩未被剥蚀出来而已。从而,深剥蚀的大红柳滩地区表现为大面积花岗岩出露的“热隆”特征,而浅剥蚀的甲基卡地区则表现为花岗岩围岩“片麻岩穹隆”热变质构造特征。西昆仑-松潘-甘孜伟晶岩型锂等稀有金属巨型成矿带两端的晚三叠世超大型矿床是大规模地壳重熔长英质岩浆作用中心的产物,由于锂等稀有金属的喜水性,H2O的饱和度是造就伟晶岩型锂超常富集的关键,并在长英质岩浆储库、上侵花岗岩和伟晶岩不同分异演化阶段,锂的“预富集”为大规模伟晶岩型锂矿成矿奠定了重要基础。

皖西地区基层全科医生岗位胜任力现况研究

目的:了解皖西地区基层全科医生岗位胜任力分布情况,为制定适合该地区的全科医生培养体系、激励机制提供参考。方法:根据已构建的皖西地区全科医师岗位胜任力立体式评价模型制定《皖西地区全科医师岗位胜任力自评问卷》,于2023年10月-12月随机抽取220名基层全科医生进行问卷调查,采用卡方检验、方差分析对皖西地区基层全科医生调查问卷结果进行分析,采用多元线性回归分析研究该地区基层全科医生岗位胜任力的影响因素。结果:皖西地区基层的全科医生在年龄、学历等方面有差异(P<0.05)。不同县、区及城乡基层全科医生岗位胜任力评价得分有差异,其中六安市区基层全科医生岗位胜任力得分明显高于其他地区(P<0.001)。学历、职称、基层医疗机构类型是影响该地区基层全科医生岗位胜任力的重要因素。结论:皖西地区基层全科医疗在人员年龄结构、学历层次方面仍不平衡,不同市县的全科医生岗位胜任力有较大差异。当前应加快皖西地区全科医师队伍建设,推进基层医疗机构同质化发展,促进皖西地区全科医疗服务能力进步。

西秦岭地区猪婆沟金矿成矿物质来源及矿床成因分析

猪婆沟金矿位于西秦岭之北秦岭鸳鸯镇-关子镇蛇绿混杂岩带的反“S”形构造的转折端,金矿体赋存在早古生代李子园群中,矿体的产出受NW向和NE向韧性断裂及其次级构造控制,矿体形态为脉状。矿床热液期主成矿阶段石英中包裹体主要为气液两相包裹体、含子晶三相包裹体。含子晶三相包裹体的冰点温度为-4.8~-4.3℃;气液两相包裹体的冰点温度为-5.3~-0.1℃。该阶段含子晶三相包裹体的均一温度为141.3~198.6℃,平均为160.7℃;气液两相包裹体的均一温度为128.9~285.3℃,平均为174.1℃。成矿流体的均一温度值为130~170℃,峰值范围较宽。流体盐度为1.40~8.28%NaCleqv,平均为5.84%NaCleqv,具有中低温、低盐度特征;石英δ18OH2O值为-3.29‰~4.42‰,δD值为-110.1‰~-86.6‰,成矿流体来源于原生岩浆水,在岩浆分异成矿的过程中,大气降水的含量逐渐增多。主成矿阶段黄铁矿和毒砂δ34S值为10.7‰~11.5‰,矿物质分别来源于岩浆岩和地层;Pb同位素组成相似,主要来源于造山带铅,有部分上地壳铅和地幔铅加入,成矿物质来源于岩浆岩和地层两个端元,具有多期次特征。综合分析认为,猪婆沟金矿成因类型属沉积变质-岩浆期后热液叠加改造的构造蚀变岩型金矿床。