Comparative Analysis of Community-Based Management of Anemia in Children before and during the COVID Pandemic

Introduction: In low-income countries, severe anemia represents a significant risk of mortality. It is generally the consequence of a lack of correct community-based management of mild and moderate anemia and its etiologies. Our study aimed to evaluate the community practice in confronting anemia by mothers of children aged 0 - 5 years old before and during the COVID-19 period. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in two phases at the pediatric ward of the regional hospital of Ngaoundere in Cameroon;before the period of the COVID-19 pandemic from December 2018 to May 2019 and during the pandemic period from December 2020 to May 2021. It was a volunteer sample. Were included in this study all mothers of children aged 0 - 5 years present in the pediatric ward at the time of the survey who agreed to freely answer our questionnaire. Results: Of the 152 mothers surveyed in the “Before COVID-19” group, 69% went to a health facility when they suspected their children were anemic, 20% gave grenadine juice (Red colored soda), 7% went to marabous, 2% bought street medicines and 2% used other home-made potions. Of the 92 mothers included in the “During COVID-19” group, the majority did not go to a health facility: 36% gave grenadine juice and other potions, 26% went to marabouts, 23% bought medicines from the street and only 13% went to a health facility;2% did nothing. The average Group rank is not statistically significantly different between the before and during the COVID-19 periods (p = 0.89). Conclusion: Community behavior and practice in confronting anemia deteriorated during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the majority of mothers resorting to non-effective out-of-hospital solutions. The consequence can be an increase in infant mortality. While waiting for the end of the pandemic, it is judicious and urgent to review the whole health system in Africa and especially in countries with limited resources. We propose developing multiple advanced strategies to promote community visits to prevent anemia and to develop anticipatory management of anemia as well as all the main child-killing pathologies.

Hospital Outcome of Newborns with a Health Cheque System in Comparison to Those Without

Introduction: The health cheque system is a prepayment mechanism aimed at reducing neonatal and maternal mortality through improving the management of pregnant women. The pregnant woman with the health cheque system that she pays at six thousand francs XAF (African financial community) is covered free of charge for all the care provided by the cheque system in the health facilities accredited to the health cheque project. We did a study, with objective to determine the hospital outcome of newborns with a health cheque system (HCS) compared to those without health cheque system. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection was carried out at the Ngaoundere Regional Hospital from January 2018 to September 2021. Results: During our study period, 2985 newborns were received. We saw an increase in admissions over the years, particularly in the group of newborns with the health cheque system. Comparatively, the percentage of newborns cured in the health cheque system group was 76.73% (n = 1643) versus 77.72% (n = 656) those in the non-health cheque system group. Those who died were 8.96% (n = 192) in the health cheque system group compared to 6.27% (n = 53) in the non-health cheque system group. Conclusions and Recommendations: Most patients admitted to our service have the health cheque system. We notice an increase in hospital attendance with the health cheque project. The outcome of the newborn under the health cheque system is not different from that without health cheque system. The health cheque system was successful in getting the larger number of newborns into care. The next step is to put strategies in place to keep these patients in care for the duration of hospitalization.

Knowledge Regarding Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV among a Group of Adults in a Low Income Country

Introduction: Despite communication on Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), close to 5.9 million people didn’t know they were living with HIV. One of the modes of transmission of HIV is vertical transmission. It remains the principal way of transmission of HIV for children below 15 years, with over 90% of them being infected. In Cameroon, the mother and child transmission of HIV is still a problem with 5.5% of infection of exposed infant at the early infant diagnosis in 2019. Awareness on prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) is an important component for the fight against HIV. We therefore aimed at gauging the level of knowledge of a group of adult clients on HIV and PMTCT. Methodology: We conducted a cross sectional and analytical study at the Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric hospital for a period of one month. Were included, adults who visited the hospital for a free screening campaign on HIV. Data were collected using a questionnaire on their characteristics and knowledge of HIV and PMTCT. Data were entered using CSPro and analysed using IBM SPSS. Results: There was a gap in knowledge on HIV, considering satisfactory knowledge from 25 points and above, it was noted that 34.6% of our respondents had a non-satisfactory knowledge. For PMTCT, knowledge was average with the majority scoring 10 points on 18. Considering satisfactory knowledge on PMTCT was from 10 and above, 35.9% of our respondents had a non-satisfactory knowledge. Female sex was associated with satisfactory knowledge for both HIV and PMTCT. Conclusion: Concerning PMTCT, the knowledge of the mode of transmission, Antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for prevention to the babies or feedings recommendations on exposed HIV infants were poor. There is a gap in favor of women regarding knowledge between HIV and PMTCT. Therefore, men are highly encouraged to take part to health promotion activities on HIV and PMTCT.