22 research outputs found
Distribution Ă©pidĂ©miologique de lâinfection Ă VIH chez les femmes enceintes dans les dix rĂ©gions du Cameroun et implications stratĂ©giques pour les programmes de prĂ©vention
Introduction: le Cameroun se situe dans un contexte d'Ă©pidĂ©mie gĂ©nĂ©ralisĂ©e du VIH. La sous-population des femmes enceintes, facilementaccessible au sein de la population gĂ©nĂ©rale, reprĂ©sente une cible robante pour mener la surveillance du VIH et estimer l'Ă©volution Ă©pidĂ©miologique. L'objectif de notre Ă©tude Ă©tait d'Ă©valuer la distribution Ă©pidĂ©miologique du VIH chez les femmes enceintes.MĂ©thodes: Ă©tude transversale menĂ©e en 2012 chez 6521 femmes enceintes (49,3% ĂągĂ©es de 15-24 ans) en premiĂšre consultation prĂ©natale (CPN1) dans 60 sites des 10 rĂ©gions Camerounaises. L'algorithme en sĂ©rie a Ă©tĂ© utilisĂ© pour le sĂ©rodiagnostic du VIH.RĂ©sultats: la prĂ©valence du VIH Ă©tait de 7,8% (508/6521), avec une diffĂ©rence non significative (p=0,297) entre milieu rural (7,4%) et milieu urbain (8,1%). En zone rurale, cette prĂ©valence variait de 0,7% Ă Â l'ExtrĂȘme-Nord Ă 11,8% au Sud. Cependant, en zone urbaine elle variait de 4% Ă l'Ouest Ă 11,1% au Sud-Ouest. Suivant l'Ăąge, la prĂ©valence Ă©tait plus Ă©levĂ©e (11,3%) chez les femmes de 35-39 ans. Suivant le niveau de scolarisation, la prĂ©valence du VIH Ă©tait plus faible (4,4%) chez celles non-scolarisĂ©es, et plus Ă©levĂ©e (9,3%) chez celles ayant un niveau primaire. Selon la profession, l'infection Ă©tait plus Ă©levĂ©e chez les coiffeuses (15,5%), secrĂ©taires (14,8%), commerçantes (12,9%) et institutrices/enseignantes (10,8%). Conclusion: la prĂ©valence du VIH reste Ă©levĂ©e chez les femmes enceintes au Cameroun, sans distinction entre milieux rural et urbain. Les stratĂ©gies de prĂ©vention devraient s'orienter prĂ©fĂ©rentiellement chez les femmes enceintes ĂągĂ©es, celles du niveau d'instruction primaire, et celles du secteur des petites et moyennes entreprises
po 8397 viral suppression among cameroonian adults adolescents and children receiving antiretroviral therapy in the test treat era
BackgroundGlobal efforts in meeting the 90â90â90 targets reveal that 70% of infected people know their HIV status, 77% of these are receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 82% of treated patients have viral suppression. Since launching the 'test and treat' strategy and wider access to drugs that bring down the viral load (VL), evaluating viral suppression would help to identify those requiring interventions and to make progress towards meeting the targets in Cameroon.MethodsA study was conducted from October 2015 to August 2017 amongst adults (â„20 years), adolescents (10â19) and children (0â9) at 12, 24, 36 and â„48 months on ART, monitored at the Chantal BIYA International Reference Centre for research on HIV/AIDS prevention and management (CIRCB) in YaoundĂ©, Cameroon. VL was established using Abbott m2000RT-PCR. VS was defined as VL <1000âcopies/ml; with p<0,05 considered significant.ResultsA total of 1979 patients (70% female) were enrolled (1825 adults, 112 adolescents, 42 children); 1865 were on first-line (NNRTI-based, duration: 48 [IQR 24â48] months) vs. 114 on second-line (PI/r-based, duration: 48 [IQR 36â48] months); with 19%(368) at Month2, 14%(274) at Month24, 10%(207) at Month36% and 54% (1130) at â„Month48. Overall, viral suppression was 79.4%, and 64.3% had controlled viral replication (VL <40). On first-line, viral suppression was 79.7% (1487) vs. 72.2%(83) on second-line (p=0,076). By ART duration, viral suppression was 83.4%(Month12), 85.8%(Month24), 74.9%(Month36) and 77.3% (â„Month48); p=0,0011. By age-range, viral suppression was 76.2% in children, 54.5% in adolescents, and 80.9% in adults (p<0,0001). By age and ART-regimen, viral suppression on first vs. second line was: children 76.5% vs. 60%; adolescents 51.7% vs. 65.2%; and adults 81.2% vs. 74.7%.ConclusionAbout 80% of Cameroonian patients might be experiencing viral suppression, with a declining performance at adolescence and by 3 years of ART experience. Thus, meeting the viral suppression target by 2020 requires a closer VL monitoring strategy and an adapted adherence support mechanism for adolescents living with HIV in resource-limited settings sharing similar challenges
Ethnobotanical survey of wild edible plants used by Baka people in southeastern Cameroon
Background Forest inhabitants worldwide, and Indigenous Peoples especially, have depended for generations on plants and animals harvested in these ecosystems. A number of Baka Pygmy populations in south-eastern Cameroon became sedentarised in the 1950s, but still rely on hunting and gathering to meet their basic needs. The use of wild edible plants (WEP) by these communities remains largely undocumented. In this study we document the diversity of WEP used by Baka people in dense rainforests in the Mintom region. The area still contains relatively undisturbed forests areas, just south of the Dja Biosphere Reserve, one of the most important protected areas in the Congo Basin. Methods We conducted two ethnobotanical surveys in 2019 in four villages on the Mintom road. In the first survey, we interviewed a total of 73 individuals to determine WEP usage. In our second survey we specifically quantified WEP harvested and consumed daily in a number of households over a two-week period during the major raining season, when use of forest products is highest. Specimens of all recorded plants were collected and identified at the National Herbarium of Cameroon. Results We documented 88 plant species and 119 unique species/plant organ/recipes in 1,519 different citations. A total of 61 genera and 43 families were recorded. Excluding 14 unidentified wild yam species, 17 WEP species had not been reported in previous ethnobotanical surveys of the Baka. Our results showed that cultivated starchy plant foods make up a significant proportion of their daily nutritional intake. Conclusions A high diversity of WEP are consumed by the studied Baka communities. The study area is likely to be significant in terms of WEP diversity since 18 out of the 30 âkeyâ NTFP in Cameroon were quoted. Documentation of the use of WEP by Indigenous communities is vital to ensure the continuity of traditional knowledge and future food security
Alarming rates of virological failure and HIV-1 drug resistance amongst adolescents living with perinatal HIV in both urban and rural settings: evidence from the EDCTP READY-study in Cameroon
Objectives: Adolescents living with perinatal HIV infection (ALPHI) experience persistently high mortality rates, particularly in resource-limited settings. It is therefore clinically important for us to understand the therapeutic response, acquired HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) and associated factors among ALPHI, according to geographical location. Methods: A study was conducted among consenting ALPHI in two urban and two rural health facilities in the Centre Region of Cameroon. World Health Organization (WHO) clinical staging, self-reported adherence, HIVDR early warning indicators (EWIs), immunological status (CD4 count) and plasma viral load (VL) were assessed. For those experiencing virological failure (VF, VL â„ 1000 copies/mL), HIVDR testing was performed and interpreted using the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database v.8.9-1. Results: Of the 270 participants, most were on nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based regimens (61.7% urban vs. 82.2% rural), and about one-third were poorly adherent (30.1% vs. 35.1%). Clinical failure rates (WHO-stage III/IV) in both settings were < 15%. In urban settings, the immunological failure (IF) rate (CD4 < 250 cells/ÎŒL) was 15.8%, statistically associated with late adolescence, female gender and poor adherence. The VF rate was 34.2%, statistically associated with poor adherence and NNRTI-based antiretroviral therapy. In the rural context, the IF rate was 26.9% and the VF rate was 52.7%, both statistically associated with advanced clinical stages. HIVDR rate was over 90% in both settings. EWIs were delayed drug pick-up, drug stock-outs and suboptimal viral suppression. Conclusions: Poor adherence, late adolescent age, female gender and advanced clinical staging worsen IF. The VF rate is high and consistent with the presence of HIVDR in both settings, driven by poor adherence, NNRTI-based regimen and advanced clinical staging
Predictors of poor retention on antiretroviral therapy as a major HIV drug resistance early warning indicator in Cameroon: results from a nationwide systematic random sampling
Induration of laterites in tropical areas: Assessment for potential structural applications
Indurated lateritic blocks (yellow-brown and red) were collected from two deposits in Yaounde, Cameroon for investigation as structural building and construction materials. Dimensioned blocks were characterized using XRD, DTA/TGA, mechanical compression, water absorption and porosity tests, and examination by optical and electron microscope. Water absorption values, pore size distribution and cumulative pore volume were used to compare indurated laterites with fired day-based bricks. Atmospheric exposure of the test specimens resulted in progressive strengthening of the matrix and transformation of yellow areas to a browner colour. This confirms other observations in the literature which describe induration as the transformation of goethite to hematite with red matrix as the end step and most stable laterite form. Presence of larger size pores and significant pore-to-surface area ratio negatively affect the material's compressive strength. However, due to stability in water, blocks with significant phase distribution and amorphous interlinking are suitable as structural building and construction materials
Modelling and experimental determination of thermal properties of local wet building materials
Population-Based Monitoring of Emerging HIV-1 Drug Resistance on Antiretroviral Therapy and Associated Factors in a Sentinel Site in Cameroon: Low Levels of Resistance but Poor Programmatic Performance
Scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-limited settings has drastically reduced HIV-related morbidity and mortality. However, challenges in long-term ART, adherence and HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) itself, require monitoring to limit HIVDR emergence among ART-experienced populations, in order to ensure regimen efficacy
Declining trends in early warning indicators for HIV drug resistance in Cameroon from 2008-2010: Lessons and challenges for low-resource settings
Rapid scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and limited access to genotyping assays in low-resource settings (LRS) are inevitably accompanied by an increasing risk of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR). The current study aims to evaluate early warning indicators (EWI) as an efficient strategy to limit the development and spread of preventable HIVDR in these settings, in order to sustain the performance of national antiretroviral therapy (ART) rollout programmes
Ethnobotanical survey of wild edible plants used by Baka people in southeastern Cameroon
Forest inhabitants worldwide, and indigenous people especially, have depended for generations on plants and animals harvested in these ecosystems. A number of Baka hunter-gatherer populations in south-eastern Cameroon became sedentarised in the 1950s, but still rely on hunting and gathering to meet their basic needs. The use of wild edible plants (WEP) by these communities remains largely undocumented. In this study, we record the diversity of WEP used by Baka people in dense rainforests in the Mintom region. The area still contains relatively undisturbed forest expanses, just south of the Dja Biosphere Reserve, one of the most important protected areas in the Congo Basin. We conducted two ethnobotanical surveys in 2019 in four villages on the Mintom road. In the first survey, we interviewed a total of 73 individuals to determine WEP usage. In our second survey, we specifically quantified WEP harvested and consumed daily in a number of households over a 2-week period during the major rainy season, when use of forest products is highest. Specimens of all recorded plants were collected and identified at the National Herbarium of Cameroon. We documented 88 plant species and 119 unique species/plant organ/recipes in 1519 different citations. A total of 61 genera and 43 families were noted. Excluding 14 unidentified wild yam species, 17 WEP species had not been reported in previous ethnobotanical surveys of the Baka. Our results showed that cultivated starchy plant foods make up a significant proportion of our study populationâs daily nutritional intake. A high diversity of WEP is consumed by the studied Baka communities. The study area is likely to be significant in terms of WEP diversity since 18 out of the 30 âkeyâ non-timber forest products, NTFP, in Cameroon were mentioned. Documentation of the use of WEP by indigenous communities is vital to ensure the continuity of traditional knowledge and future food security