Prevalence and Associated Factors of Teenage Pregnancy among Secondary and High School Students in the Tiko Health District, South West Region, Cameroon

Introduction: Teenage pregnancy is a common public health problem with global estimates of 16 million teenage births yearly. It is one of the major causes of maternal and neonatal mortality worldwide with the majority of the cases seen in the low and middle-income countries. Cameroon has recorded the highest fertility rate among teenagers in the entire Central African region as of 2017. Notably, there are limited data available on assessing the awareness and prevention of teenage pregnancies among secondary and high school students in Cameroon. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the prevalence and associated factors of teenage pregnancy among secondary and high school students in the Tiko Health District, South West Region, Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted whereby data was collected using self-administered questionnaires from 250 systematically sampled participants from five teaching institutions in the Tiko Health District. Data was analysed using the EPI Info software, version 7.0. The study was carried out from the 15th November 2018 to the 20th of May 2019. Results: We had a total of 250 participants. The prevalence of teenage pregnancy was 5.20% (95% CI 3.34 - 9.1). A total of 47.20% (95% CI: 37.56 - 53.6) of participants were sexually active. Having multiple partners was a major risk factor for teenage pregnancy (AOR: 3.2, 95%CI: 1.75 - 4.03, P-value: 0.03). After adjusting for confounders educational level was a risk factor for the awareness of teenage pregnancy (AOR: 0.54, 95%CI: 0.30 - 0.92, P-value: 0.04). Poor communication skills, social shyness, and lack of knowledge were potential barriers to contraceptive use. Conclusion: Having multiple sexual partners was a risk factor to the prevalence of teenage pregnancy. The majority of adolescents had considerate ideas of teenage pregnancy, its prevention, and its consequences. However, a good number of them lack adequate knowledge of a comprehensive sexuality education. Thus, measures have to be put in place to provide better sex education to adolescents.

Favipiravir and its potentials in COVID-19 pandemic:An update

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused millions of deaths and hundreds of millions of confirmed infections worldwide.This pandemic has prompted researchers to produce medications or vaccines to reduce or stop the progression and spread of this disease.A variety of previously licensed and marketed medications are being tested for the treatment and recurrence of SARS-CoV2,including favipiravir(Avigan).Favipiravir was recognized as an influenza antiviral drug in Japan in 2014,and has been known to have a potential in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2,in addition to its broad therapeutic safety scope.Favipiravir was recently approved and officially used in many countries worldwide.Our review provides insights and up-to-date knowledge of the current role of favipiravir in the treatment of COVID-19 infection,focusing on preclinical and ongoing clinical trials,evidence of its efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19,side effects,anti-viral mechanism,and the pharmacokinetic properties of the drug in the treatment of COVID-19.Due to its teratogenic effects,favipiravir cannot be offered to expectant or pregnant mothers.The practical efficacy of such an intervention regimen will depend on its dose,treatment duration,and cost as well as difficulties in application.

Outdoor air pollution and the onset and exacerbation of asthma

Exposure to outdoor air pollution has been consistently associated with asthma.In this study,we reviewed the epidemiological studies published within the last 5 years on the association between outdoor air pollution and exacerbation and onset of asthma.A large number of studies have been published within the last 5 years.Short-term exposure to outdoor air pollution is associated with exacerbation of pre-existing asthma,manifested as worsening of symptoms and increasing of asthma-related emergency room visits and hospital admissions.Furthermore,increasing evidence suggests that long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution can result in onset of asthma.Children are more susceptible to outdoor air pollution.Future studies should be conducted to explore the mechanisms underlying the association between air pollutants and onset of asthma,including gene involvement.In addition,disentangling the effect of a mixture of air pollutants and identifying the key components of air pollution will complete the existing evidence.More importantly,a better understanding is required on the future impact of air pollution on asthma under a changing climate.

Monkeypox:A comprehensive review of a multifaceted virus

In May 2022,the world witnessed the re-emergence of the zoonotic disease monkeypox.While this was not the first epidemic of this disease,what differentiated the outbreak was the rapid global spread and increase of cases,which led the WHO to declare monkeypox a global health emergency.Although the disease spreads mainly through inadequately cooked meat of various rodent species,this virus also shows droplet,respiratory,sexual,and even vertical transmission.Monkeypox further multiplies in lymphoproliferative organs and presents with a classical smallpox-like rash,fever,headache,and muscle aches.Diagnosis is confirmed with a polymerase-chain-reaction test and is managed largely supportively with possible usage of some antivirals and immunoglobulins.Moreover,some pre-exposure and postexposure prophylactic vaccines have been developed.This paper aims to conduct an in-depth review of the historical epidemics,transmission,pathophysiology,clinical presentation,and management of the monkeypox disease.

Ambient air quality and the risk for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease among Metro Manila Development Authority traffic enforcers in Metro Manila:An exploratory study

Background::Air pollution and poor ambient air quality are significantly related to multiple health risks.One associated disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD),a preventable disease with several contributing factors and one of the leading causes of morbidity/mortality locally and globally.A potentially high-risk population are traffic enforcers who are constantly exposed to air pollution.In the Philippines,the MMDA has the widest coverage in traffic management.The study determined the risk of COPD among Metro Manila Development Authority(MMDA)traffic enforcers in relation to ambient air quality level,as well as identified other factors that increase the risk of developing COPD.Methods::Fifty-two MMDA traffic enforcers deployed in PM 2.5 air quality sensor areas in Metro Manila from 2016 to 2018 were recruited through stratified sampling.The International Primary Airways Guidelines(IPAG)questionnaire was utilized to measure risk of COPD.Respiratory health and working history were obtained through questionnaires.Department of environment and natural resources provided PM 2.5 ambient air quality data which aided in the construction of the Exposure-Month Index.Ordinal logistic regression was used to examine the association of PM 2.5 together with the relevant factors and the risk of COPD.Results::We found statistically significant associations between PM 2.5 and COPD among high risk category[odds risk(OR):1.24,95%confidence interval(CI):1.07-1.44].Age(Moderate,OR:1.16,95%CI:0.98-1.38 and High,OR:10.06,95%CI:4.02-25.17)and chest pain(Moderate,OR:68.65,95%CI:1.71-2.75×103)were potential risk factors,whereas body mass index(BMI)(OR:0.05,95%CI:0.01-0.53)exhibited protective effect.Conclusions::Exposure to PM 2.5 was associated with an increased risk of COPD among high-risk category MMDA traffic enforcers.Age and chest pain were potential risk factors to risk of COPD,whereas BMI exhibited a potential protective effect.Results of this study can be used for clinical management of high-risk populations,such that of MMDA traffic enforcers.

Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum isolates lacking the histidine rich protein 2 gene among symptomatic malaria patients in Kwilu Provinee of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Background:Malaria rapid diagnostic tests have become a primary and critical tool for malaria diagnosis in malariaendemic countries where Plasmodium falciparum Histidine Rich Protein 2-based rapid diagnostic tests(PflHRP2-based RDTs)are widely used.However,in the last decade,the accuracy of PflHRP2-based RDTs has been challenged by the emerge nee of P.falciparum strains harbouring deletions of the P.falciparum histidine rich protein 2(pflnrp2)gene,resulting in false-negative results.In the Democratic Republic of Congo(D.R.Congo),little is known about the prevalence of the pfhrp2 gene deletion among P.falciparum isolates infecting symptomatic patients,especially in low to moderate transmission areas where pfhrp2 deletion parasites are assumed to emerge and spread.Here we determine the local prevalence and factors associated with pfhrp2 gene deletions among symptomatic malaria patients in the Kwilu Province of the D.R.Congo.

Implementing a vector surveillanceresponse system for chagas disease control:a 4-year field trial in Nicaragua

Background:Chagas disease is one of the neglected tropical diseases(NTDs).International goals for its control involve elimination of vector-borne transmission.Central American countries face challenges in establishing sustainable vector control programmes,since the main vector,Triatoma dimidiata,cannot be eliminated.In 2012,the Ministry of Health in Nicaragua started a field test of a vector surveillance-response system to control domestic vector infestation.This paper reports the main findings from this pilot study.Methods:This study was carried out from 2012 to 2015 in the Municipality of Totogalpa.The Japan International Cooperation Agency provided technical cooperation in designing and monitoring the surveillance-response system until 2014.This system involved 1)vector reports by householders to health facilities,2)data analysis and planning of responses at the municipal health centre and 3)house visits or insecticide spraying by health personnel as a response.We registered all vector reports and responses in a digital database.The collected data were used to describe and analyse the system performance in terms of amount of vector reports as well as rates and timeliness of responses.Results:During the study period,T.dimidiata was reported 396 times.Spatiotemporal analysis identified some high-risk clusters.All houses reported to be infested were visited by health personnel in 2013 and this response rate dropped to 39%in 2015.Rates of insecticide spraying rose above 80%in 2013 but no spraying was carried out in the following 2 years.The timeliness of house visits improved significantly after the responsibility was transferred from a vector control technician to primary health care staff.Conclusions:We argue that the proposed vector surveillance-response system is workable within the resourceconstrained health system in Nicaragua.Integration to the primary health care services was a key to improve the system performance.Continual efforts are necessary to keep adapting the surveillance-response system to the dynamic health systems.We also discuss that the goal of eliminating vector-borne transmission remains unachievable.This paper provides lessons not only for Chagas disease control in Central America,but also for control efforts for other NTDs that need a sustainable surveillance-response system to support elimination.

Fluctuating temperature modifies heat-mortality association around the globe

Studies have investigated the effects of heat and temperature variability(TV)on mortality.However,few assessed whether TV modifies the heat-mortality association.Data on daily temperature and mortality in the warm season were collected from 717 locations across 36 countries.TV was calculated as the standard deviation of the average of the same and previous days’minimum and maximum temperatures.