The frequency and magnitude of growth failure in a group of HIV-infected children in Cameroon

Background: Growth impairment is a major manifestation of HIV infection in children and has been implicated as a major contributor to both morbidity and mortality. This study the first to be done in this setting, was aimed at comparing the growth of HIV infected children to that of noninfected children in two referral health facilities in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Methods: A prospective case control study was carried out on 39 HIV infected children in two referral hospitals and followed up for a period of 12 months. Anthropometric measurements were taken and the sociodemographic variables of mothers and infants noted. Thirty nine infected children (mean age 45.3 months ± 41.6 SD) were age and sex matched with 39 non-infected children (mean age 44.4 ± 40.7 months). Results: Out of the 39 infected children, 26 (66.7%) had at least one of the three anthropometric indices (weight for height, weight for age, height for age) Z scores less than -2. Throughout follow-up, 20.5% of the infected children were wasted (weight to height Z score < -2) versus none in the control group, 56.4% underweight (weight for age Z score < -2) in the infected versus 2.6% in the control group, and 51.3% stunted (height for age Z score < -2) in contrast to 5.1% in the control group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that wasting; underweight and stunting are common findings in HIV- infected children, thus stressing the importance of anthropometry in the routine care of these children

Échecs thérapeutiques chez les enfants infectés par le VIH en suivi de routine dans un contexte à ressources limitées au Cameroun

Abstract Introduction: L'objectif de cette étude était de déterminer les facteurs associés aux échecs thérapeutiques chez les enfants infectés par le VIH

ATSA synthesis : Cameroon chapter

Pre-publication copyThere are already a number of tobacco control measures in place in Cameroon, including some limited smoke-free provisions, an advertising ban and some labeling requirements. However, improved implementation and enforcement and a comprehensive national tobacco control bill remain central goals of the tobacco control community. Though Cameroon has ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) none of the existing measures is FCTC-compliant. This country report is part of the African Tobacco Situational Analyses (ATSA) initiative

Chronic disease management in Sub-Saharan Africa: whose business is it?

Public health specialists and clinicians alike agree that Humanity faces a global pandemic of chronic diseases in the 21(st) century. In this article we discuss the implications of this pandemic on another global issue, the health workforce. Because both issues are particularly acute in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), we will focus on this region and use Cameroon as a case in point. We first gauge the epidemic of chronic conditions in SSA. We then discuss the implications of chronic conditions for the reshaping of health systems and the health workforce. We conclude by making a strong case for the building up and strengthening the health workforce, insisting on the crucial role of nurses, their training, and involvement in chronic disease management

Effect of Spirulina platensis Supplementation on Nutritional and Biochemical Parameters of Under Five Years Malnourished Children from an Orphanage in Douala, Cameroon

Malnutrition is the underlying cause of 50% of morbidity and mortality in the under-five age group. Its frequencies have been increasing in young Cameroon children during the past three decades (stunting ≥ 38%; anemia ≥ 58%; Zinc ≥ 69% and vitamin A ≥ 38%) We carried out a prospective study to assess the supplementation effect of Spirulina platensis on moderate and mild malnutrition on children under five years old. Seven children (4-5 years) were enrolled in this study. Children were enrolled in nutritional rehabilitation for 25 days. Each child received 8g of supplement daily, 4g in the morning and 4g in the evening. Anthropometric and haematologic parameters were measured before and after rehabilitation. Mild and moderate malnutrition, wasting and underweight was seen in 4 children anthropometrically (no child was stunted) and haematologically in all 7 children before rehabilitation started. The children were weighted four times (First week at enrollment (W1), week 2 (W2), Week 3 (W3), Week 4 (W4)). After 25 days, a significant gain in weight was observed and varying from 17.21 ± 2.00Kg (W1) to 18.45 ± 2.07Kg (W2) and from 18.143 ± 1.77Kg (W3) to 18.67 ± 1.93Kg (W4) with their respective P- values at 0.02 (W2), 0.02 (W3) and 0.04 (W4) after rehabilitation. The following biomarkers and their constants also showed a significant variation: calcium (73.91 ± 16.89mg/L vs 88.41 ± 14.83mg/L (p = 0.03), mean cell volume (86.14 ± 4.38 fl vs 83.86 ± 4.83 fl (p = 0.04) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration (32.10 ± 0.38 g/dL vs 34.27 ± 3.35 g/dL (p = 0.03) respectively before and after rehabilitation. Other biomarkers (proteins, haemoglobin, haematocrit, platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells, neutrophiles, eosinophiles, basophiles, monocytes, lymphocytes) had also increased in non a significant manner. The study showed that spirulina platensis impact positively in the fight against malnutrition by improving weight and raising the blood content of biomarkers due to its high content of proteins (60-70%) and pigments

Heat impact on schoolchildren in Cameroon, Africa : potential health threat from climate change

Background: Health impacts related to climate change are potentially an increasing problem in Cameroon, especially during hot seasons when there are no means for protective and adaptive actions. Objective: To describe environmental conditions in schools and to evaluate the impact of heat on schoolchildren’s health during school days in the Cameroon cities of Yaounde´ and Douala. Methods: Schoolchildren (N=285) aged 12=16 years from public secondary schools completed a questionnaire about their background, general symptoms, and hot feelings in a cross-sectional study. In Yaounde´, 50 schoolchildren were individually interviewed during school days about hourly symptoms (fatigue, headache, and feeling very hot) and performance. Lascar dataloggers were used to measure indoor classroom temperatures and humidity. Results: There was a significant correlation between daily indoor temperature and the percentages of schoolchildren who felt very hot, had fatigue, and headaches in Yaounde´. A high proportion of schoolchildren felt very hot (48%), had fatigue (76%), and headaches (38%) in Yaounde´. Prevalences (%) were higher among girls than boys for headaches (58 vs 39), feeling ‘very hot overall’ (37 vs 21), and ‘very hot in head’ (21 vs 18). Up to 62% were absentminded and 45% had slow writing speed. High indoor temperatures of 32.58C in Yaounde´ and 36.68C in Douala were observed in school. Conclusions: Headache, fatigue, and feeling very hot associated with high indoor air temperature were observed among schoolchildren in the present study. Longitudinal data in schools are needed to confirm these results. School environmental conditions should be improved in order to enhance learning

Impact de la strategie sur la couverture vaccinale a l.extreme-Nord Cameroun

L.étude transversale comparative menée en septembre 2002 consistait à évaluer la couverture vaccinale du Centre de Promotion de la Santé (CPS) de Tokombéré à l.Extrême-Nord Cameroun, structure privée confessionnelle et celle du Centre de Santé Intégré (CSI) de Mora, structure sanitaire publique de la même localité. L.échantillon comportait 270 enfants âgés de 0 à 5 ans et 135 mères dans chaque localité. Les principaux aspects étudiés étaient : la couverture vaccinale, le système de vaccination et les connaissances des mères sur la vaccination. L.exploitation des données du carnet de vaccination et la cicatrice du vaccin par le Bacille de Calmette et Guérin (BCG) a relevé que la couverture vaccinale dans l.aire de santé de Tokombéré était plus de deux fois plus élevée que celle de Mora avec des taux de 98 % et 44,8 % respectivement avec P = 0,0000. Le système de vaccination de l.aire de santé de Tokombéré était de loin plus performant que celui de Mora grâce à l.élargissement de la population cible de 0 à 11 mois à 0 à 59 mois ; un plus grand nombre de personnel affecté à la vaccination, plus de moyens de locomotion, plus d.équipements de la chaîne de froid, une vaccination au quotidien, une plus grande participation communautaire et des meilleures connaissances des mères sur la vaccination. Clinics in Mother and Child Health Vol. 3(1) 2006: 445-44