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BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide. Organized screening has achieved significant reductions in cervical cancer incidence and mortality in many high-income countries (HICs). But the gap between HICs and low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) is still substantial as the highest burden of the disease is in LMICs. Cameroon is a LMIC, where cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, only 3-5% of eligible women have been screened and there is no effective national cervical cancer prevention program. OBJECTIVE(S): Identify facilitators and barriers to the implementation and uptake of existing cervical cancer screening programs in Cameroon to inform the implementation of a comprehensive national program. METHODS: We conducted a scoping review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis, extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Google Scholar and five electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane library and Web of Science) were searched systematically from 2012 to 2022. Articles on cervical cancer screening programs in Cameroon were eligible for inclusion. Two reviewers independently screened search results and extracted relevant data. RESULTS: A total of 182 articles were identified using our search strategy, and 20 were included. There was scarcity of publications from the North, Adamawa, East and South regions of Cameroon. Barriers and facilitators found were presented using the World Health Organisation framework for health systems. Cross-cutting barriers were: (1) the lack of a national training curriculum for screening providers with no elaborate, harmonized screening and treatment algorithm for cervical precancers; and (2) women's lack of information about cervical cancer screening activities. Conversely, provision of screening services at a low or no cost to women in some programs and the feasibility of using novel point of care screening methods like the Human Papillomavirus DNA test were identified as facilitators. CONCLUSION: This scoping review indicates that there are knowledge and research gaps concerning the state of cervical cancer screening services in some regions of Cameroon. Moreover, it underlines the need for comprehensive cancer control policies and practices integrating all six-health system building blocks to reduce disparities between regions, and rural versus urban areas in Cameroon.
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Detección Precoz del Cáncer , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino , Femenino , Humanos , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/diagnóstico , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/prevención & control , Camerún , Algoritmos , CurriculumRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The need to start treatment early for pregnant women who present with clinical features of malaria usually conflicts with the need to confirm diagnosis by microscopy (MP) before treatment, due to delays in obtaining results. Parasite sequestration in the placenta is also a problem. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT), which detect soluble antigens, are a valuable alternative. The objective of this study was to evaluate pretreatment parasite prevalence by microscopy and by RDT and to assess the accuracy of RDT with MP as reference. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out at the obstetrical unit of the Central Hospital in Yaoundé, during the period January-August 2015. Consenting patients with symptoms of suspected malaria in pregnancy were recruited and a blood sample taken for MP and RDT before treatment was started. The estimates of diagnostic performance (with 95% confidence interval) were calculated in OpenEpi online software using the Wilson's score. The agreement, as reflected by the Cohen's kappa, was calculated and interpreted using known intervals. RESULTS: The results showed that, out of the 104 patients recruited, 69.2% (95%CI: 59.1-77.5) were MP positive while 77.94% (95%CI: 63.1-80.9) were RDT positive. The sensitivity of the malaria RDT was 91.67% (95%CI: 83.69-96.77) while the specificity was 53.13% (95%CI: 31.39-65.57). The diagnostic accuracy of the RDT with MP as reference was 79.81% (95%CI: 70.0-86.1). All cases were due to Plasmodium falciparum. A Cohen's kappa of 0.45 (95%CI: 0.26-0.64) was obtained, consistent with a moderate agreement between the tests. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic accuracy of the CareStart™ malaria Pf/PAN compared to microscopy was high, but not as desirable, with a false negative RDT at very high parasitaemia. In tertiary facilities, RDTs appear to provide a better diagnostic solution compared to microscopy. However, future studies with larger sample sizes should make this observation more generalizable; as missing a case could have serious consequences on pregnancy outcome.
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Malaria Falciparum , Malaria , Camerún/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , Pruebas Diagnósticas de Rutina/métodos , Femenino , Hospitales , Humanos , Malaria/diagnóstico , Malaria Falciparum/diagnóstico , Malaria Falciparum/epidemiología , Malaria Falciparum/parasitología , Microscopía/métodos , Plasmodium falciparum , Embarazo , Mujeres Embarazadas , Estudios Prospectivos , Sensibilidad y EspecificidadRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer remains one of the leading health hazards affecting a majority women across the globe. The situation is even more, preoccupying particularly in areas where screening programmes and services are absent. The World Health Organization (WHO) says "cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent cancer in women, with an estimated 570,000 new cases diagnosed in 2018 which represents 6.6% of all female cancers. Approximately 90% of deaths from cervical cancer occurred in low- and middle-income countries". Despite the high mortality rate from cervical cancer globally, the trend could be reduced through a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, early diagnosis, effective screening and treatment programmes. In Cameroon, the prevalence of cervical cancer is 24% among women of reproductive age. An estimated 1,993 new cases are recorded annually in Cameroon with 1676 deaths. Despite this precarious situation, the uptake in cervical cancer screening service remains poor and stands at 19.6% in Cameroon. It is against this background that this paper evaluates the uptake of cervical cancer among women aged 25-65 years in the Kumbo West Health District (KWHD). Specifically, this study assesses the knowledge of women in this health district on cervical cancer and determines factors that affect the uptake of cervical cancer screening services. METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional study in the KWHD involving 253 consented women between the ages 25 to 65 years. The principal research instrument was a three-part questionnaire designed to collect information on socio-demographic profile, cervical cancer knowledge and associated factors for uptake in cervical cancer screening. Data was entered in MS Excel and analysed using Excel. Results were presented in tables and figures. RESULTS: Our study reveals that a majority of the participants (74.70%) had heard of cervical cancer and 43.48% had undergone cervical cancer screening. Again, 24.51% and 29.25% of the participants respectively could not identify any risk factor and symptom of cervical cancer. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that the uptake of cervical cancer screening in KWHD is higher than the national uptake. The level of awareness on the risk factors and symptoms of cervical cancer is low, posing a need to put more emphasis on educating and creating awareness of cervical cancer among communities on risk factors, prevention measures and signs and symptoms in all the health areas of the KWHD.
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Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Tamizaje Masivo/estadística & datos numéricos , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Neoplasias del Cuello Uterino/diagnóstico , Adulto , Anciano , Camerún , Estudios Transversales , Detección Precoz del Cáncer/estadística & datos numéricos , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de Riesgo , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Teenage pregnancy is a social problem in Cameroon in general and in Kumbo East in particular. This results in physical, psychological and socio-economic consequences on the teenage mother, family and the society as a whole. In spite of studies and interventions that have been and are being implemented, the prevalence of unplanned teenage pregnancy in Kumbo East Health District is still high, suggesting that more efforts are required to achieve effective preventive measures. The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with adolescent school girl's pregnancy in Kumbo East health district. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used and a simple random sampling technique was used to select 293 respondents aged 15 to 19year. The district hospital antenatal clinics and the Health Centres were selected. Data was obtained from 292 participants under the age of 20 years who were willing using a questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews. RESULTS: The study show a high prevalence (60.75%) of teenage pregnancy in the sampled antenatal clinics of Kumbo East Health District attributable to inadequate considerations given to factors associated with school girl's pregnancy. This study has indicated that the age of teenager at first pregnancy, low contraceptive use, socio-economic status and physical violence are factors that are greatly associated with teenage pregnancy. Among the reasons contributing to the low use of contraceptives are: sexually activity, lack of knowledge, fear of side effects, including sterility, condoms disappearing in the womb and inequality of power with sexual partners. This study shows that teenagers obtain information mainly from school (53%) and relatives (20%). CONCLUSION: The use of contraceptive alone may not reduce teenage pregnancy, however double method is very effective but addressing the impact of poverty on teenagers, empowering them on their rights and information in order to make right choices is very important.
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Conducta Anticonceptiva/estadística & datos numéricos , Anticoncepción/estadística & datos numéricos , Embarazo en Adolescencia/estadística & datos numéricos , Conducta Sexual/estadística & datos numéricos , Adolescente , Camerún , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Humanos , Pobreza , Embarazo , Prevalencia , Factores Socioeconómicos , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Contexte et objectifs: Les facteurs d'echec de l'antibiotherapie en cas de pelviperitonite sont peu connus. L'objectif de cette etude etait de determiner les facteurs predisposant du traitement chirurgical dans la prise en charge de la pelviperitonite. Methodologie: Il s'agissait d'une etude cas-temoins avec collecte retrospective des donnees; concernant tous les cas de pelviperitonite traitees a l'Hopital Gyneco-Obstetrique et Pediatrique de Yaounde du 1er janvier 2007 au 31 decembre 2011. Resultats: Quatre-vingt-douze malades ont ete incluses; parmi lesquelles 75 patientes (75/92 ; 81;5) n'avaient recu que le traitement medical (groupe temoin) et dix-sept (17/92 ; 18;5) avaient necessite une prise en charge chirurgicale (groupe cas); soit une incidence de la chirurgie dans le traitement des pelviperitonites de 18;5. Les facteurs predisposant au traitement chirurgical etaient: un age 25 ans [P
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Profilaxis Antibiótica , Causalidad , Pelvis , Peritonitis/cirugía , Peritonitis/terapiaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Initiation of Prenatal Genetic Diagnosis (PND) has laid the foundation of the first medical genetic service in Cameroon. METHOD: Cross-sectional descriptive study, illustrating some aspects of the genetic service using a small 24-months PND experience. RESULTS: The service began with a medical geneticist who had to follow-up the building and equipments supplies of the diagnosis laboratory; and to personally perform genetic consultations, molecular experiments and post-results counseling. PND was indicated for sickle cell disease (SCD) in 33 cases (55%) and chromosomal anomalies in 27 cases (45%). With international collaboration, DNA analysis revealed 6 SCD-affected foetuses (20.7%); QF-PCR (N=25) and full karyotype (N=8) analysis revealed cases of trisomy 21 and trisomy 18. Following PND success, national effort granted more human and material resources to improve the service. The preliminary experience was made possible by three factors: 1) the availability of a trained Cameroonian medical geneticist 2) the availability of obstetricians trained in fetal medicine and 3) advocacy initiatives at national and international levels, which have proven invaluable for advice, training, sourcing of materials, and back-up reference diagnostic laboratory. CONCLUSION: The practice of medical genetics, involving prenatal genetic diagnosis of sickle cell disease and chromosomal anomalies, is possible in Cameroon (sub-Saharan Africa).