Profile of Full-Term Births in Maternity Wards of Public Hospitals in Douala Cameroon

Introduction: Pregnancy as much as childbirth constitutes a risky situation, potentially fraught with sometimes dramatic complications: maternal death. Objective: We conducted this study with the aim of establishing the profile of those giving birth in our context with the aim to anticipate operationally in the future on morbidity but more on maternal deaths. Methodology: We conducted, using a structured questionnaire, a prospective descriptive study in representative maternity wards in the city of Douala;the study variables were socio-economic, anthropometric, obstetrical and clinical. Statistical analyses were carried out with CS Pro 7.3 and SPSS version 25.0 software. The Student, Chi-square and Fischer tests were used to compare the means of the variables and the percentages. Results: We recruited 305 births for our study. The average age of our births was 28.7 years ± 6.1 with an average height of 161.6 cm ± 5.06;an average body mass index at the start of pregnancy of 28.0 kilograms/square meter and 31.3 kilograms/square meter at delivery;the average weight gain was 8.4 g ± 5.37;an average gestation of 2.84±1.90;an average parity of 2.2 ± 2.1 with an average birth interval of 27.7 months ± 23.7. The average gestational age was 39.2 weeks ± 1.21 with pregnancy pathology dominated by malaria;85.9% began their prenatal follow-up before the 14th week of amenorrhea. Conclusion: The profile of childbirth in urban Cameroon does not seem potentially dystocic compared to that of the same regional and racial area.

Low Birth Weight in Cameroon: Research and Analysis of Factors Associated with Their Occurrence in Douala Maternity Wards

Introduction: Low birth weight (LBW) is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a birth weight strictly below 2500 g, whatever the term of pregnancy. It constitutes a major public health problem, both in developed and developing countries, due to its magnitude and its strong association with infant morbidity and mortality. Main objective was to study the factors associated with the occurrence of small-for-gestational-age newborns in Douala. Methodology: We carried out a cross-sectional analytical study with prospective data collection using a technical pretested sheet in the maternity wards of the Douala General Hospital, the Laquintinie Hospital, and the District hospitals of Deido, Nylon and Bonassama over a period of 4 months (January to April 2020). We were interested in any newborn, born alive, vaginally or by cesarean section, of low weight, seen in the first 24 hours from a full-term single-fetal pregnancy whose mother had given her consent. Our sampling was consecutive and non-exhaustive. We excluded newborns whose term was unclear and those with congenital malformations or signs of embryo-foetopathy. Data collection was done using survey sheets. Statistical analyzes were carried out with CS Pro 7.3 and SPSS version 25.0 software. The Student, Chi-square and Fischer tests were used to compare the means of the variables, the percentages with a significance threshold P value Results: During the study period, 305 full-term newborns were included, divided into 172 boys and 133 girls. The percentage of small-for-gestational-age newborns was 9.8%;after multivariate analysis by logistic regression to eliminate confounding factors, we found maternal factors associated with small for gestational age newborns;maternal age less than 20 years, primiparity, gestational age (37 - 38), a delay in prenatal visits greater than 14 weeks, anemia in pregnancy, positive toxoplasmosis serology in pregnancy, a body mass index of Conclusion: Our study revealed the potential determinants of low birth weight at term in the Cameroonian urban context and specifically in Douala.

Draft of an Anthropometric Reference System for Full-Term Cameroonian Newborns: Prospective Study with Analytical Aim in the Maternity Wards of Douala

Introduction: Anthropometry applied to newborns is a reliable indicator of the quality of fetal growth. The latter is influenced by genetic, racial and nutritional factors varying from one population to another, explaining why a standard cannot be applied to all populations. Research question: should the Caucasian frame of reference be dogmatically applied in our African context? Multicenter studies are therefore necessary;hence the interest of this work, the main objective of which was to describe the anthropometric profile of full-term newborns in the city of Douala. Methodology: We carried out a cross-sectional study with an analytical aim and prospective data collection in the maternity wards of the Douala General Hospital, Laquintinie Hospital, District hospitals of Deido, Nylon and Bonassama over a period of 4 months (January to April 2020). We were interested in any newborn, born alive, vaginally or by cesarean section, seen in the first 24 hours from a full-term single-fetal pregnancy whose mother had given consent. We excluded newborns whose term was unclear and those with congenital malformations or signs of embryo-foetopathy. Data collection was done using structured and pre-tested survey sheets. The study variables were obstetric and anthropometric. Statistical analyzes were carried out with CS Pro 7.3 and SPSS version 25.0 software. The Student, Chi-square and Fischer tests were used to compare the means of the variables, the percentages with a significance threshold P value Results: During the study period, 305 full-term newborns were included, divided into 172 boys and 133 girls. The average anthropometric parameters of the full-term newborn in the city of Douala were: average weight: 3305 grams, average height: 49.8 centimeters, average head circumference: 34.6 centimeters, average upper arm circumference: 11.3 centimeters, circumference average thoracic: 32.8 centimeters. The percentile distribution showed a 10th percentile at 2656 grams and a 90th percentile at 3966 grams for weight defining the limits for small-for-gestational-age neonates and macrosomes. Conclusion: The anthropometric data of the full-term newborn in the city of Douala were: an average weight of 3305.4 grams, an average height of 49.8 centimeters, an average head circumference of 34.2 centimeters, an average upper arm circumference of 11.3 centimeters, and an average thoracic circumference of 32.8 centimeters with higher valuesin male newborns.

Epidemiological Patterns of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Healthcare Workers in Five Reference Hospitals in the City of Douala, Cameroon

Introduction: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) are a public health problem and have forced many workers to quit their jobs prematurely. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of WRMSDs among Healthcare workers in five reference hospitals in the City of Douala-Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 among 561 healthcare workers working in five reference hospitals in the city of Douala, Cameroon. Participants were selected using a convenient sampling technique. Data were collected with structured questionnaires;data on the demographics and risk factors were collected using a well-designed questionnaire, while estimation of the prevalence of WRMSDs was done using the Modified Nordic questionnaire. Results: The overall prevalence rate of WRMSDs among healthcare workers in Douala hospitals was 83.4% (468/561). The prevalence per professional groups was as follows: 88.8% (71) for Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLS), 81.9% (289) for nurses, 21 (80.8%) for Physiotherapists (PTs) and 78.8% (41) for Medical Doctors (MDs). There was a significant difference (p = 0.001) in the prevalence of WRMSDs with respect to place of work where healthcare workers from HLD recorded the highest prevalence 89.9%, while Healthcare workers from NBDH were 2.91 times at risk (AOR = 2.91;95% CI: 1.32 - 6.41;p = 0.001) to develop WRMSDs than healthcare workers in the other hospitals. With respect to body region, the highest prevalence of WRMSDs was recorded on the lower back, 58.8% with the lowest at the elbows 11.2%. The age group 30 to 39 years was significantly associated with WRMSDs at level of the shoulder (p = 0.002), upper back (p = 0.019), elbows (p Conclusion: The overall prevalence rate of WRMSDs among healthcare workers in Douala hospitals was high. The prevalence of WRMSDs is highest among MLS and nurses and the most affected body parts are;lower back, neck and upper back. Working on the same posture, stressful job, and repetitive tasks were the major risk factors associated to WRMSDs among healthcare workers in Douala hospitals.

Antibiotics Resistance of Urogenital Mycoplasma in Sexually Active Women Attending Gynecologic Consultation in Douala (Cameroon)

Introduction: Mycoplasmas are bacteria commonly found in the commensal flora of humans and can occasionally be pathogenic. The population and the geographical area determine their susceptibility to various antibiotics. Methodology: We carried out a cross-sectional study from January to June 2022 at the Douala General Hospital. All women who were sexually active and willing to participate were included. Endo-cervical swabbing was used to collect the samples. Culture and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed in a liquid medium using Mycoplasma-SystemPlus Gallery (Liofilchem). All samples that degraded urea (threshold > 103 for Ureaplasma urealyticum) and arginine (threshold > 104 for Mycoplasma hominis) were deemed positive. Results: A total of 107 women with a median age of 33 ± 8.3 years and a predominance of 30-40 years (41.1%) were included. The frequency of mycoplasma infection was 73.8% with 34.1%, 11.4% and 54.4% for Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis and co-infection respectively. Resistance rates to Minocycline were low, 1.3% for Ureaplasma urealyticum and 3.7% for co-infection;for Pefloxacin the resistance rates were 3.7% (Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis) and 22.8% (co-infection). Ureaplasma urealyticum had a resistance rate of 3.7% for Erythromycin, 1.3% for Clarithromycin and 5% for Azithromycin. There was no significant correlation between risk factors and infection. Vaginal cleansing and the development of resistance in mycoplasma infection were found to be significantly correlated (OR = 6.915 [1.52 - 31.55];(p = 0.013)). Conclusion: Minocycline was the most active antibiotic and Ureaplasma urealyticum was the species with the lowest rate of resistance. Antibiotic resistance was more common in co-infected people than mono-infected. Antibiotic resistance was independently correlated with vaginal douching.

Immuno-Histochemical Profile of Breast Cancers at the General Hospital of Douala-Cameroon

Introduction: The aim of the study was to describe the immunohistochemical aspects of breast cancers at Douala General Hospital, Cameroon. Methodology: This was a descriptive study with retrospective data collection, conducted from January 1st 2010 and December 31st 2019. It was focused on histologically proven breast cancers followed up at Douala General Hospital. Results: We collected 285 cases of breast cancer, all female, representing an annual frequency of 28.5 cases. The mean age of the patients was 48 ± 13 years. The most frequent histological form was infiltrating ductal carcinoma (83.9%), with grade II predominating (38.6%). Immunohistochemical analyses were performed on 89 patients (31.23%). The triple-negative subtype was the most common class (35.95%), followed by Luminal A (32.60);Human Epidermal Receptor 2-class and Luminal B tumors were observed at a frequency of 13.48% each. Treatment consisted mainly of surgery (78.60%) combined with chemotherapy (65.97%) and/or radiotherapy (63.16%). Hormonal treatment was used in only 10.18% of patients. Targeted therapy was exceptional (4%). Conclusion: Triple-negative phenotype is the most common. However, potentially hormone-sensitive tumors account for almost half of all patients, who are relatively young. Individualized treatments are rare. It is important to systematize these analyses for all breast cancers, with a view to appropriate management in our environment.

Profiling and Determinants of Impaired Lipid Profile Parameters among Breast Cancer Women of Childbearing Age Living in Douala, Cameroon

Objective: Breast cancer in women of childbearing age (WCBA) is a major public health concern. This study aimed to determine variation and determinants in lipid profile among Cameroonian WCBA diagnosed with breast cancer. Materials and Methods: A case-control study took place at two reference hospitals in Douala, Cameroon. A total of 176 WCBA (88 cases and 88 controls) were finally enrolled. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical and anthropometric data. Three millilitres of venous blood were collected for analysis of total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and triglycerides (TG). Results: Overweight was predominantly seen in cases and controls. Serum levels of TC and LDL-c were significantly lower in cancer women (167.02 ± 45.46 vs 183.12 ± 27.38 mg/dL, p = 0.005 for TC;85.83 ± 40.34 vs 105.25 ± 29.95 mg/dL, p = 0.0004 for LDL-c), while HDL-c levels were higher in controls (45.09 ± 7.20 vs 38.24 ± 11.14 mg/dL, p Conclusion: This study suggests the influence of breast cancer on lipid profile parameters especially HDL-c and LDL-c, and possibly their putative clinical utility for early diagnosis in premenopausal women in Cameroon.

Profile of Radiotherapy Side Effects in Patients Treated for Cervical Cancer in Cameroon: Case of the Douala General Hospital

Background: Radiotherapy is one of the main therapeutic strategies used in cervical cancer. The first radiotherapy services in Cameroon have existed since 1987 and still treat by conventional radiation techniques. With the evolution of radiation techniques, acute, subacute, and late complications are minimized. Our study aimed to describe the profile of side effects in patients with uterine cervix cancer treated by conventional radiotherapy, still used in our services. Methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive study of the records of patients treated in the radiotherapy department of the Douala General Hospital from January 2015 to December 2019. Data concerning radiation-induced toxicities were collected using the CTCAE Version 4.0 classification. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: A total of 270 records were selected. The median age was 54 years. The mean total radiation dose was 55.9 ± 11.8 Gy and 71.1% of patients were treated for less than 8 weeks. We found a frequency of 66.7% of radio-induced lesions with 99% being acute. The main acute lesions encountered were radio dermatitis (40%), radiation cystitis (17.7%), and radiation proctitis (17.1%). As late lesions, we found one case of vaginal fibrosis (0.4%). Exclusive radiotherapy, classical fractionation, and total doses lower than 45 Gy seemed to decrease the toxicity linked to conventional radiotherapy. Conclusion: The frequency of side effects of radiotherapy for cervical cancer at the Douala General Hospital remains high. Early lesions are the most encountered but strategies should be put in place to better evaluate late lesions.

Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Newborns Aged More than 34 Weeks Gestational Age Managed for Birth Asphyxia in Douala (Cameroon): A Single Hospital-Based Study

Background: Perinatal asphyxia is a common cause of mortality and of morbidity including motor and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the post-hospital outcome of neonates treated for perinatal asphyxia at the Douala Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (DGOPH) in Cameroon. Patients and Methods: We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional study with both a retrospective and prospective data collection, conducted over a period of 3 months and involving neonates above 34 weeks of gestational age who were managed for perinatal asphyxia at DGOPH from August 2015 to February 2020. Socio-demographic, perinatal, motor, nutritional and neuro-developmental out-of-hospital data were recorded. The assessment of the child’s psychomotor development was evaluated through gross motor skills, fine motor skills, language and social contact. We calculated the development quotient (DQ) by dividing the developmental age (DA) by the actual age (RA) of the patient. The data were entered and analyzed using excel and Stata version 15 software. Results: Among the 58 newborns included in our study, males were the most represented (59%). The mean age was 36.5 ± 14.16 months (Extremes: 12 months and 66 months). The majority of patients were born at term (79%), had a birth weight between 2500 and 4000 grams (69%), were resuscitated (95%), and had an Apgar score < 7 at the 5th minute of life (67%). SARNAT stages II and III counted for 48%. Neurodevelopmental abnormalities were found in 25.5% of patients with gross motor delay (mainly tetraparesis) representing 23.5%, fine motor delay 27.5%, impairment in social contact 31% language speech delay. The majority of the children had a normal development quotient (78.4%). Conclusion: The short-term and long-term outcome of newborns who experienced perinatal asphyxia in our setting is marked by numerous impairments in developmental milestones leading to disability.

Management of Endoscopic Portal Hypertension Lesions in Cirrhotic Patients in a Country with Limited Resources: About 603 Cases in the City of Douala in Cameroon

Introduction: Portal hypertension (HTP) is a morbi-mortality factor in cirrhotic patients. It is responsible for endoscopic lesions and has digestive hemorrhage as the main complication. The objective of the study was to study the management of endoscopic lesions of portal hypertension in a country with limited resources. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional and analytical study conducted in 04 hospitals in the city of Douala, Cameroon, over a period of 08 years from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2022. Included were cirrhotic patients with viral hepatitis with endoscopic lesions of PH. The data collected were sociodemographic, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary. Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 25.0. Logistic regression allowed the search for prognostic factors with a significance threshold of p Results: We included 603 patient records. They were mainly male patients (56.1%) with an average age of 47.6 ± 6.3 years. The Child Pugh score was ranked B in 53.7% of cases. Digestive hemorrhage was the main complication in 66.8% of cases. We had grade 2 esophageal varices in 61.5% of cases. The main treatments were prescription of propanolol (63.3%) and ligation of esophageal varices (53.3%). The average number of ligation sessions was 2.1 ± 1.8 with an interval between sessions of 28 ± 2.8 days. Prevention of rupture of esophageal varices was secondary in 66.5% of cases (n = 452). The rate of hemorrhagic recurrence was 9.3%. Hospital mortality was 15.1%. Recurrence of hemorrhage was associated with PT Conclusion: The management of HTP lesions was based on the prescription of beta-blockers and the ligation of esophageal varices. Factors associated with mortality were hemorrhagic recurrence, low PT and Child Pugh C score.

Prevalence and Distribution of Tick-Borne Hemoparasites in Cattle from the Noun and Ndé Divisions of the West Region, Cameroon

Background and Objective: Tick-borne hemoparasitic illnesses pose a serious threat to the well-being and productivity of cattle. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of tick-borne hemoparasites in Cameroon, with a specific focus on the Noun and Nde Divisions of the West Region. Methodology: A total of 423 cattle from 10 villages in both divisions were included in the study. Blood smears were prepared and subjected to microscopic screening for Babesia and Anaplasma parasites. Results: The prevalence of Anaplasma was found to be 23.4%, while Babesia exhibited a seroprevalence of 17.3%. Samples from Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD) and Koupa Ngangnou demonstrated significantly higher prevalence rates, potentially influenced by climate variations affecting tick populations. Additionally, 17.3% of the animals exhibited low hematocrit levels, indicative of anemia. No significant associations were observed between the presence of hemoparasite infection and cattle characteristics. Conclusion: This study provides fundamental data on the extensive distribution and impact of tick-borne hemoparasites in a significant cattle-producing region of Cameroon.

Analysing the Potential Impact of Climate Change on the Hydrological Regime of the Upper Benue River Basin (North Cameroon)

In this study, we analyse the climate variability in the Upper Benue basin and assess its potential impact on the hydrology regime under two different greenhouse gas emission scenarios. The hydrological regime of the basin is more vulnerable to climate variability, especially precipitation and temperature. Observed hydroclimatic data (1950-2015) was analysed using a statistical approach. The potential impact of future climate change on the hydrological regime is quantified using the GR2M model and two climate models: HadGEM2-ES and MIROC5 from CMIP5 under RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 greenhouse gas emission scenarios. The main result shows that precipitation varies significantly according to the geographical location and time in the Upper Benue basin. The trend analysis of climatic parameters shows a decrease in annual average precipitation across the study area at a rate of -0.568 mm/year which represents about 37 mm/year over the time 1950-2015 compared to the 1961-1990 reference period. An increase of 0.7°C in mean temperature and 14% of PET are also observed according to the same reference period. The two climate models predict a warming of the basin of about 2°C for both RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios and an increase in precipitation between 1% and 10% between 2015 and 2100. Similarly, the average annual flow is projected to increase by about +2% to +10% in the future for both RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios between 2015 and 2100. Therefore, it is primordial to develop adaptation and mitigation measures to manage efficiently the availability of water resources.

Prevalence of Hepatitis B and Associated Factors in the Garoua Central Prison, Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem in Cameroon. Garoua city is the headquarters of the North Region of Cameroon, where the HBV prevalence is among the highest of the country. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBsAg carriage and associated factors among persons incarcerated in the Garoua Central Prison. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted from July 1 to July 31, 2023 at the Garoua Central prison. We included all prisoners willing to participate in the study and who gave their verbal consent. We collected data using a pre-established data entry form and we used rapid test for blood screening for HBV surface antigen (HBs Ag) with ELISA confirmation. Data were analyzed using the R® software for Windows. After the univariate analysis, we selected associated variables to HBV infection with p-value p-value was set at 5%. Results: We included 1389 prisoners out of which 97.6% were male. The median age (IQR) of the study population was 28 (23 - 35) years. The median (IQR) duration of incarceration was 12 (6 - 26) months and the mean (±sd) number of incarcerations was 1.24 (±0.6). HBV prevalence was estimated at 14.8% (95% CI: 13.0 - 16.7). Upon uni- and multivariate analysis, no risk factor was significantly associated with viral hepatitis B infection in our study population. Conclusion: The prevalence of Hepatitis B was high in the Garoua Central Prison, but there were no additional risk factors for HBV infection. There is a need to include the Garoua Central Prison and by the way other prisons in the country in the chronic viral hepatitis care program.

Factors Associated with Renal Impairment in Patients on Tenofovir for Chronic Hepatitis B in Yaoundé (Cameroon)

Background: Tenofovir (TFV) is widely used to treat patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. But kidney abnormalities are the main concern using this drug. Few studies have described the renal impairment due to the TFV in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Sub-Saharan Africa. The objective was to evaluate factors associated with renal impairment observed in patients on TFV for CHB. Method: It was a hospital based cross sectional prospective study carried out from June 2023 to July 2023 in Yaoundé (Cameroon) and included any patient treated with TFV for CHB during at least a period of 6 months. For each participant, we collected in the medical report socio-demographic data, clinical data, baseline creatinine, treatment information (type of TFV which was Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF) or Alafenamide (TAF), duration). Then, we collected blood samples to measure serum creatinine and phosphate levels and urine dipstick analysis. Factors associated with renal impairment were assessed with the Odds Ratio. A p value of Results: A total of 60 participants were included. The median age was 44 years [36-55] and median duration of TFV therapy was 17.5 months [11.7-25.7]. The prevalence of reduced eGFR (Conclusion: Kidney function was impaired in some patients receiving TFV for CHB. It should be monitored, particularly after 36 months and for those receiving TDF prodrug.

Petrology of Spinel-Lherzolite Xenoliths from Mazéléand Others Northen Xenoliths Localities of Cameroon Volcanic Line: Exchange Reactions and Equilibrium State

The alkaline volcanism of the Cameroon Volcanic Line in its northern domain has raised many fresh enclaves of peridotites. The samples selected come from five (05) different localities (Liri, in the plateau of Kapsiki, Mazélé in the NE of Ngaoundéré, Tello and Ganguiré in the SE of Ngaoundéré and Likok, locality located in the west of Ngaoundé). The peridotite enclaves of the above localities show restricted mineralogical variation. Most are four-phase spinel-lherzolites, indicating that this is the main lithology that forms the lithospheric mantle below the shallow zone. No traces of garnet or primary plagioclase were detected, which strongly limits the depth range from which the rock fragments were sampled. The textures and the wide equilibrium temperatures (884˚C - 1115˚C) indicate also entrainment of lherzolite xenoliths from shallow depths within the lithosphere and the presence of mantle diapirism. The exchange reactions and equilibrium state established in this work make it possible to characterize the chemical composition of the upper mantle of each region and test the equilibrium state of the phases between them. Variations of major oxides and incompatible elemental concentrations in clinopyroxene indicate a primary control by partial melting. The absence of typical “metasomatic” minerals, low equilibration temperatures and enriched LREE patterns indicate that the upper mantle below septentrional crust of Cameroun underwent an event of cryptic metasomatic enrichment prior to partial melting. The distinctive chemical features, LREE enrichment, strong U, Ce and Pr, depletion relative to Ba, Nb, La, Pb, and T, fractionation of Zr and Hf and therefore ligh high Zr/Hf ratio, low La/Yb, Nb/La and Ti/Eu are all results of interaction of refractory peridotite residues with carbonatite melts.

Prevalence of Enteric Pathogens Associated with Infections among Table Egg Consumers in Some Primary Health Establishments in the Center Region of Cameroon

Method: In Cameroon limited data are available regarding the prevalence of enteric bacteria associated with table egg consuming infections. As such, a situational-based study was performed in patients with complains of stomach disorders after egg consumption. Data related to sociodemographic characteristics and other factors were collected using a structured based questionnaire. Stool culture of utmost importance in stomach disorders patients and serum were collected for typhoid serological test. Results: A total of 207 participants took part in the survey, Results indicated nontyphoidal Salmonella infections were highest in the 3 areas of study with Mfoundi (73.44%) having the highest level of infection compared to other bacterial infection. other enteric bacteria associated to this infection were E. coli serotype 157, Aeromonas, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloaca and typhi salmonella. Meanwhile salmonelosis caused by typhic salmonella had highest prevalence in the Lekie Division (13.11%) as a result of poor hygienic practices associated with the conservation and preparation of eggs, Stool culture was observed to detect more positive cases in the diagnosis of typhoid fever than Widal test, but with no statistically significant (p > 0.05) difference between the stool culture and Widal test in the 3 areas of study. Conclusion: this study revealed that egg consumers are pruned to enteric bacterial and salmonella infections depending on how and where egg is consumed.

Dietary Diversity and Food Security Status among Cameroonian Adults Living in Semi-Urban Areas: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Food security is one of the greatest challenges that most African countries face. It is a concept that considers not only food quantity but also food quality. The objective of this study was to describe dietary diversity and food security status at the individual level in Cameroonian populations. Methods: A total of 1180 men and women aged 20 and over and living in the West, North West, and Littoral regions of Cameroon were recruited. Data on dietary habits were collected through the frequency of consumption of various food groups. Dietary diversity was assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall. Food security status was determined by combining two indicators (food consumption score and individual food diversity score). Results: The mean dietary diversity score of the population was 3.53 ± 1.44, p Conclusion: The diet diversity of adults living in the West, North West, and Littoral regions of Cameroon is medium. Although half of the study population was food secure, there is a need to implement food security policies further to reduce food insecurity among the Cameroonian population.

A Budd-Chiari Syndrome Due to C Protein Deficiency: A Case Report at YaoundéGeneral Hospital (Cameroon)

Primary Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a spontaneously fatal disease characterized by an obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow tract due to thrombosis or a primary disease of the venous wall. The primary form of BCS is extremely rare. This is a disease mainly affecting young adults of both sexes. Clinical manifestations are variable;they can be asymptomatic, acute, or subacute but mostly chronic. Several causes have been identified, such as myeloproliferative syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, and inherited thrombotic disorders. Data on primary BCS in Sub-Saharan Africa is rare as most publications available are case reports. In these reports, the causes are unknown with poor prognosis in most cases often leading to patient death. We herein present a case report of a male patient diagnosed with a primary BCS at Yaoundé General Hospital (Cameroon) caused by a Protein C deficiency who presented with ascites decompensating liver cirrhosis. Treatment was based on anticoagulants, diuretics and laxatives administration. Two years after the diagnosis, the patient is alive with clinical and paraclinical improvement.

Co-Morbidities Associated with Prematurity in Two Referral Hospitals in Cameroon

Introduction: Prematurity is the leading cause of neonatal death in Africa. More than a million children die each year due to co-morbidities related to prematurity. In addition to being one of the causes of neonatal deaths, the health problems associated with prematurity can also lead to severe lifelong impairment in those who survive. Objectives: This paper aims to determine the epidemiology and identify co-morbidities of prematurity in the neonatology units of the Douala General Hospital (DGH) and the Laquintinie Hospital of Douala (LHD). Patients and Methodology: We conducted an analytical retrospective cohort study from January 2015 to January 2018 in the neonatology department of the GDH and the LHD, which are considered reference hospitals for the management of preterm babies in Cameroon. We included all newborns aged less than 37 weeks admitted to the neonatology units of the GDH and the LHD. The descriptive component was based on the analysis of quantitative variables using measures of central tendency. The analytical component was evaluated using Spearman correlations and the Chi-square and Fisher tests. Simple and multiple logistic regressions measured factors predictive of mortality. The Kaplan Meier survival curve used the Log Rank test and significance at p ≤ 0.05. Results: We recorded 908 preterm newborns in neonatal service and 1,124 preterm deliveries in maternity, representing an incidence of 32.5% in neonatal unit and 10.6% in maternity. 51% of whom were girls, given a sex ratio M/F of 0.9. Hypertension was the main prenatal pathology (9.1%), while premature rupture of membranes: PROM (35.5%) and eclampsia/pre-eclampsia (18.6%) were the most common obstetrical pathologies. 75.9% of deliveries were vaginal with 65.2% being performed in our referral hospitals. Gestational age ranged from 22 to 36 weeks, with a mean of 32.4 weeks. Late preterm birth rate was 53.7%, and birth weight varied between 590 and 3200 g with an average of 1747 ± 479 g. The percentage of low birth weight (1500 - 2499 g) preterm infants was predominant (65.3%), and the intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) was estimated to be 12.4%. The majority (96.7%) had pathologies in the neonatal period, the most common being neonatal infection (86.9%). The case-fatality rate was 27.4%, compared to 72.6% live births. Factors influencing mortality are risk of premature labour, gestational age ≤ 32 SA, premature birth in hospitals other than our two referral hospitals, birth weight ≤ 1500 g, Apgar at the 10th minute, late secondary anaemia, hospital resuscitation, oxygen therapy, and duration of hospitalization Conclusion: The incidence of prematurity and the mortality rate remains high in neonatal units in Cameroon. Adequate monitoring of pregnancies and management of preterm infants remains a challenge in our context.

Factors of Adherence to Concurrent Tuberculosis Treatment and Antiretroviral Therapy among HIV-TB Co-Infected Individuals in the East Region, Cameroon in the COVID-19 Era: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Context/Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV co-infection is a serious health problem in Cameroon. The problems associated with poor adherence to treatment are on the increase worldwide. This problem can be observed in all situations where patients are required to administer their own medication, whatever the type of illness. The general objective of this study was to assess the factors affecting adherence to treatment among HIV-TB co-infected patients in health facilities in the East Region in the COVID context. Method: A retrospective cohort study before and during COVID-19 was conducted in HIV care units in 13 health districts in the East Region of Cameroon. Data were collected using a questionnaire recorded in the Kobo Collect android application, analyzed using SPSS version 25 software and plotted using Excel. Results: The pre-COVID-19 cohort compared to the during-COVID-19 cohort had a 1.90 risk of not adhering to treatment (OR: 1.90, CI {1.90 - 3.37}) and the difference was statistically significant at the 5% level (p-value = 0.029). Frequency of adherence was 65.4% (140/214). Adherence before COVID-19 was 56.9% whereas during COVID-19, it was 74.3%. Conclusion: The implementation of targeted interventions in the COVID-19 context, using evidence-based data and integrating the individual needs of HIV-TB co-infected patients, improved adherence to concurrent anti-tuberculosis treatment and antiretroviral therapy during the COVID-19 Era.