Features and Patterns of Primipara Delivery in a Cameroon Semi-Rural Area: The Case of Ayos Locality

Introduction: The delivery of a primipara, a woman giving birth for the first time, is challenging and may lead to complications and influence the obstetrical future of a woman. Materials and Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional and analytical study at the maternity of the regional hospital annex of Ayos, a semi-rural locality in Cameroon, for the period between January 2012 and December 2020. The objective was to determine the frequency and the determinants of primipara delivery. Results: We recruited 440 cases. The frequency of primipara delivery was 31.8%. The ages of the participants ranged from 12 to 35 years with a mean age of 18.01 ± 3.52 years. Single women contributed to 95.5% of cases while 97.5% were unemployed. The delivery occurred at term in 90.2% and 98.4% of pregnancies were singleton. The delivery was vaginal in 91.6%, while caesarean delivery was done in 8.4% (8% emergency and 0.4% elective). The most frequent maternal complications were genital tract tears (15.7%), post-partum hemorrhage (12.5%) and endometritis (2.7%). The birth weight of newborns ranged from 1070 to 4500 g with a mean of 3024.5 ± 511.4 g. The single marital status, a gestational age between 37 and 42 weeks and a birth weight between 1500 g and 2499 g were significantly associated with vaginal delivery. Conclusion: The frequency of primiparous delivery was relatively high (31.8%) in the Ayos semi-rural health district of Cameroon. Major complications associated with delivery included genital tract tears, post-partum hemorrhage, cesarean section and neo-natal infection.

Clinical Profile and Outcome of Pediatric Acute Kidney Injury in Cameroon: Comparison between an Urban and a Semi-Urban Health Facility

Introduction: Pediatric Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) seems to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Subsahara Africa. However, data on its epidemiology are scare and mainly originate from tertiary and urban health facilities such as large university Teaching hospitals with a nephrology service. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the epidemiology of pediatric AKI in urban and semi-urban health facility. Patients and method: We conducted a retrospective study of 16 months in a tertiary urban hospital (General Hospital of Douala) and a secondary semi-urban health facility (Region hospital of Buea). Diagnostic of AKI was done using usual criteria. Age, sex distribution, etiologies of AKI, access to dialysis, renal recovery at hospital discharge, at 1 and 3 months and patient survival at hospital discharge was compared. Results: A total of 31 patients were included (GD 17 and RHB 14). Boys were more prevalent in the semi-urban setting (86% Vs 47% p = 0.029). Median age was comparable in the both group although most semi-rural patient were older (6.5 Vs 10 years p = 0.093). Hospital acquired AKI was only found in urban setting and account for 40% of pediatric urban AKI. Malaria related AKI (mainly black water fever) and sepsis were the main etiologies of AKI in urban and semi-urban milieu. Dialysis access was the same but 30% of children could not access to it in urban setting compare to none in semi-urban area. Reasons of non-access to dialysis were lack of pediatric material and financial constraints. In Hospital mortality was the same but was more severe amount patient who could not receive dialysis. Among the survivor, CKD was only found in urban setting. Conclusion: Although mainly due to malaria, pediatric AKI differs from urban tertiary and semi-urban secondary health facility in Cameroon. Hospital acquired AKI is only found in urban setting where children are younger and less boys. AKI in urban setting seems to be more severe with less access to dialysis and more risks of CKD.

Seasonal,diurnal and nocturnal variations of carbonyl compounds in the semi-urban environment of Orléans,France

Atmospheric carbonyls were measured at a semi-urban site in Orléans, France, from October 2010to July2011. Formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acetone were found to be the most abundant carbonyls, with average concentrations of 3.1, 1.0, 2.0 ppb, respectively in summer, 2.3, 0.7, 2.2 ppb, respectively in autumn, 2.2, 1.0, 2.1 ppb, respectively in spring,and 1.5, 0.7, 1.1 ppb, respectively in winter. Photo-oxidation of volatile organic compounds（VOCs） was found to make a remarkable contribution to atmospheric carbonyls in the semi-urban site based on the distinct seasonal and diurnal variations of the carbonyls, as well as the significantly positive correlations between the carbonyls and ozone. The significantly negative correlations between NO x and O_3 as well as the carbonyls and the positive correlations between wind speed and O_3 as well as the carbonyls implied that the carbonyls and O_3 at the semi-urban site were probably formed during air mass transport from neighboring cities.

Heavy metals accumulation in suburban roadside plants of a tropical area(Jengka,Malaysia)

Introduction:This study aims to examine the uptake and translocation of Cd,Cu,Fe,and Pb in different parts of three roadside plant species grown in the semi-urban of Jengka,Pahang,Malaysia.Methods:Heavy metal concentrations were determined from various parts of Athyrium esculentum(AE),Chromolaena odorata(CO),and Lantana camara(LC).The bioconcentration factor(BCF)and translocation ratio of heavy metals from soils to plants were estimated.Results:Fe showed the highest metal concentration determined(<850 mg kg^(−1)),while Cd showed the lowest metal concentration observed(<0.12 mg kg^(−1))in all plants.Heavy metal concentration in the roadside plants was higher than metal determined in the same species from an uncontaminated site.Principal component analysis(PCA)suggests anthropogenic and natural sources of heavy metal.Plant roots slightly enriched by Cd and Pb(BCF<1),while the leaves absorbed and accumulated Cu and Fe(BCF>1).The translocation ratio of four metals suggests that absorption of the three plants had the rank:root>stem>leaves.Conclusion:The metals in the root zone transported weakly to the stem but more strongly mobilized to leaves when available in the stems.A comprehensive study of heavy metal concentration in a variety of roadside plants in the tropical area should be done in the future ensuring the precise source and translocation mechanisms.