Malaria is still a major public health concern in Cameroon as more than 20 million people are at risk of the disease. Despite the government’s effort to scale up the distribution of long lasting insecticide-treated b...Malaria is still a major public health concern in Cameroon as more than 20 million people are at risk of the disease. Despite the government’s effort to scale up the distribution of long lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs), full ownership and optimal use is still limited. In 2021, over a million LLINs were made available for distribution in the South West Region. However, the current situation of malaria has not yet been ascertained following the 2021 mass distribution campaign (MDC). Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine LLIN ownership, coverage, usage and the prevalence of malaria following the 2021 MDC in the Tiko Health District (THD), South West Region of Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was carried from May 1 to 27, 2022 in which a multi-stage sampling technique was used to enroll eligible participants. Data were collected from household heads using questionnaires and capillary blood samples collected from consented household members were used to test for malaria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 at 0.05 significance level. From the 150 households surveyed, 96 (64.0%) owned a mosquito net before the recent MDC. There was an overall significant increase (p p = 0.644) in LLINs ownership between areas where door-to-door (79.5%) and fixed “Hit and Run” (75.8%) strategies were used in the distribution of LLINs in THD. The prevalence of malaria was 10.2%. The regular use of LLINs was significantly associated (p = 0.007) with low malaria prevalence. The 2021 MDC had an impact on malaria prevalence in those who properly used them.展开更多
AIM： To investigate the long term（≥5 y） efficacy, predictability, and safety of laser in situ keratomileusis（LASIK） in eyes with thin corneas [central corneal thickness（CCT） 〈500 μm]. METHODS： A total of 33...AIM： To investigate the long term（≥5 y） efficacy, predictability, and safety of laser in situ keratomileusis（LASIK） in eyes with thin corneas [central corneal thickness（CCT） 〈500 μm]. METHODS： A total of 339 patients met the criteria of this study. Finally, 175 eyes of 89 patients who had thin corneas and underwent LASIK≥5 y ago returned to our clinic and included in this study. Preoperative parameters recorded included uncorrected visual acuity（UCVA）, corrected distance visual acuity（CDVA）, manifest refraction, CCT and corneal topography. At returning visits, in addition to visual acuity and manifest refraction, ultrasound CCT and corneal topography were performed. Optical coherence tomography was used to measure the CCT, LASIK flap thickness, and residual stromal bed thickness（RSBT）. Safety index, efficacy index, percentage of eyes within ±0.5 D and ±1.0 D of refraction, percent tissue altered（PTA）, and percentage stromal bed thickness（PSBT） were calculated. RESULTS： The safety index was 1.09 and efficacy index was 0.99. The percentages of eyes within ±0.5 D and ±1.0 D were 71.2% and 87.7%, respectively. The mean PTA was 40%±6%（range 20% to 55%）; 76 eyes（43.4%） had PTA 〈40% and 99 eyes（56.6%） had PTA≥40%. The mean RSBT was 303±27 μm（range 240 to 390 μm）, and 2 eyes had RSBT〈250 μm. The mean PSBT was 61%±9%（range 51% to 85%）. No eyes developed ectasia. CONCLUSION： In this cohort with the PSBT of 50% or more, LASIK is safe with follow-up for at least 5 y.展开更多
文摘Malaria is still a major public health concern in Cameroon as more than 20 million people are at risk of the disease. Despite the government’s effort to scale up the distribution of long lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs), full ownership and optimal use is still limited. In 2021, over a million LLINs were made available for distribution in the South West Region. However, the current situation of malaria has not yet been ascertained following the 2021 mass distribution campaign (MDC). Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine LLIN ownership, coverage, usage and the prevalence of malaria following the 2021 MDC in the Tiko Health District (THD), South West Region of Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was carried from May 1 to 27, 2022 in which a multi-stage sampling technique was used to enroll eligible participants. Data were collected from household heads using questionnaires and capillary blood samples collected from consented household members were used to test for malaria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 at 0.05 significance level. From the 150 households surveyed, 96 (64.0%) owned a mosquito net before the recent MDC. There was an overall significant increase (p p = 0.644) in LLINs ownership between areas where door-to-door (79.5%) and fixed “Hit and Run” (75.8%) strategies were used in the distribution of LLINs in THD. The prevalence of malaria was 10.2%. The regular use of LLINs was significantly associated (p = 0.007) with low malaria prevalence. The 2021 MDC had an impact on malaria prevalence in those who properly used them.
基金Supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11402161)the Programs for Science and Technique Development of Shanxi Province,China(No.20120313025-3)+1 种基金the Science and Technology Research Projects of the Shanxi Provincial Health Department,China(No.201201018)an unrestricted grant from Research to Prevent Blindness,New York,NY,USA
文摘AIM： To investigate the long term（≥5 y） efficacy, predictability, and safety of laser in situ keratomileusis（LASIK） in eyes with thin corneas [central corneal thickness（CCT） 〈500 μm]. METHODS： A total of 339 patients met the criteria of this study. Finally, 175 eyes of 89 patients who had thin corneas and underwent LASIK≥5 y ago returned to our clinic and included in this study. Preoperative parameters recorded included uncorrected visual acuity（UCVA）, corrected distance visual acuity（CDVA）, manifest refraction, CCT and corneal topography. At returning visits, in addition to visual acuity and manifest refraction, ultrasound CCT and corneal topography were performed. Optical coherence tomography was used to measure the CCT, LASIK flap thickness, and residual stromal bed thickness（RSBT）. Safety index, efficacy index, percentage of eyes within ±0.5 D and ±1.0 D of refraction, percent tissue altered（PTA）, and percentage stromal bed thickness（PSBT） were calculated. RESULTS： The safety index was 1.09 and efficacy index was 0.99. The percentages of eyes within ±0.5 D and ±1.0 D were 71.2% and 87.7%, respectively. The mean PTA was 40%±6%（range 20% to 55%）; 76 eyes（43.4%） had PTA 〈40% and 99 eyes（56.6%） had PTA≥40%. The mean RSBT was 303±27 μm（range 240 to 390 μm）, and 2 eyes had RSBT〈250 μm. The mean PSBT was 61%±9%（range 51% to 85%）. No eyes developed ectasia. CONCLUSION： In this cohort with the PSBT of 50% or more, LASIK is safe with follow-up for at least 5 y.
