Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among health personnel in Yaounde, Cameroon

Background. Health care personnel constitute a group at high risk of contracting COVID-19. However, the vaccination rate in this group in our context remains low. The objective of our study was to determine the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among health care workers in Yaounde. Methods.We conducted a cross-sectional study of 360 health personnel in three hospitals in the city of Yaounde from January to March 2022, i.e., 3 months. All health personnel who gave their free consent were included. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Ethics and Research Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Yaounde I. A logistic regression was performed to search for factors associated with reluctance to vaccinate, with a significance level of 0.05. Results.The vaccination rate against COVID-19 was 34% (123). Factors associated with vaccine hesitancy were female gender (OR [95% CI] =3.5[2.2-5.5]; p<0.001), working outside a COVID-19 management unit (OR [95% CI]=6, [2.1-18.5]; p=0.001), fear of the harmfulness of COVID-19 vaccines (OR [CI 95%] =2.7[1.7-4.2]; p<0.001), and doubt of vaccine efficacy (OR [CI 95%] =4.0[2.5-6.4]; p<0.001). Conclusion:Health personnel are still reluctant to vaccinate in our context. Factors associated with hesitancy to vaccination against COVID-19 could help deconstruct apprehensions.

Introduction. La pandémie de la COVID-19 a ajouté un fardeau supplémentaire dans les pays aux systèmes de santé déjà fragiles. Objectif : déterminer la prévalence et la séroprévalence de la COVID-19 en cas de suspicion du paludisme au cours de la deuxième vagueà Yaoundé. Méthodologie. Une étude transversale descriptive a été menée au Centre Médical le Jourdain pendant 8 semaines du 19 Avril au 13 Juin 2021 soit durant la deuxième vague au Cameroun. Pour les 86 patients avec suspicion de paludisme, des prélèvements nasopharyngé et sanguins ont été réalisés pour la recherche d'antigène du SRAS- CoV 2 et des IgG et IgM anti-SARS-CoV-2 grâce aux kits STANDARDTM Q COVID-19 Ag de SD BIOSENSOR, Corée, 2020 et StandardTM Q COVID 19 Ac IgG/IgM de SD BIOSENSOR, Corée, 2020 respectivement. La confirmation du paludisme a été faite grâce à l'examen microscopique des étalements de sang colorés. Résultats. Le paludisme était confirmé dans 20,9% (18) des cas. Les prévalences de la COVID-19 et de la coïnfection COVID19/Paludisme étaient de 8,1% et de 0,9% respectivement. Sur les 25,6% (54) des patients avec des IgM anti-COVID-19, aucun cas de microscopie positive n'a été retrouvé. Par ailleurs un peu plus de la moitié des patients avaient des anticorps IgG anti-COVID-19 qu'ils aient une goutte épaisse positive ou pas soit 56,0% (42/75) et 52,2% (71/136) respectivement. Conclusion. En cas de suspicion du paludisme en zone impaludée, il parait non négligeable de considérer la COVID-19 comme un diagnostic différentiel.

Assessment of Drinking Water Catchments in Fako Division, South West Region, Cameroon

Background: Without readily available water in sufficient quantity, and pathogen-free, man's progress is hindered. Globally, 2 billion people use sources of drinking water that are faecally contaminated and not appropriate for consumption. In Cameroon and specifically in fako division, due to acute piped drinking water shortage, the population uses alternative sources (springs and boreholes). Waterborne diseases are the second and third leading weekly epidemiological disease under surveillance in Fako. To find out some predisposing factors of waterborne diseases in Fako , and to meet up with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): 6.1, by 2030, we sort to start with an assessment of the drinking water catchments inFako, as we found paucity of studies Methods:A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to May 2018 using quantitative and qualitative approaches. An adapted WHO checklist was used for observations around catchment, then a riskassessment was done with a semi quantitative approach. Qualitative data was collected through Focus Group Discussions and In-depth interviews.Results:Of the 15 water catchments assessed, none of them met all WHO recommendations. We found that 60% haveanthropogenic activities at less than 100meters from the catchments with progressive reduction in water volume and riskof contamination. Meanwhile 20% were open springs and consumers fetch water with feet and container deepen in source, while 13.3% were surface water. There was no integrated catchment management with stakeholders in Fako Division.Conclusion:None of the catchments met WHO recommendations. An integrated drinking water management team and a periodic monitoring of these catchments is imperative.

Assessment of the relationship between water insecurity, hygiene practices, and incidence of diarrhea among children from rural households of the Menoua Division, West Cameroon

The objectives of a cross-sectional, semi-quantitative study were to: i) assess the prevalence of water insecurity and its association with water access-related behaviors such as time, distance, and sources of water; ii) identify major themes of concern raised in reference to anxiety, water quality/quantity, and perceived health risk domains of water insecurity, and; iii) examine the relationship between water insecurity, hygiene practices, and diarrhea lincidence among children in rural areas of the Menoua Division in the Western Region of Cameroon In-person interviews were conducted with 18 years or older women living with at least one child between 2 and 5 years old (n=134). Participants spent on average 17±12 minutes walking to a drinking water source. Prevalence of water insecurity was 58%, and it was associated with a lower hygiene score among caretakers, i.e., hygiene score of water secure: 9.2±1.2 vs. insecure: 8.2±2.2, F(1, 132)=8.096, P<0.01). Overall, the incidence of diarrhea among children was 18%, and it was significantly higher among water insecure house-holds (79%) compared with secure house-holds (21%, P=0.02). In conclusion, access to improved sources of water is an issue in rural areas. Addressing water insecurity is critical in promoting optimal health and development of children due to its association with poor hygiene practices among caretakers

Décès d'enfants avant l'arrivée au Centre Mère et Enfant de la Fondation Chantal Biya : Yaoundé- Cameroun

Contexte. Au Cameroun; la mortalite des enfants de moins de 5 ans reste elevee et serait fortement influencee par la qualite des soins. Nombre de parents recourent aux soins inappropries pour leurs enfants et ne se rendront a l'hopital qu'a un stade critique. Certains enfants decedent par consequent avant leur arrivee a l'hopital. Le but de l'etude etait d'analyser le profil familial de ce groupe d'enfants et de rechercher les causes de deces a l'aide de l'autopsie verbale (AV).Methodologie. Cette etude transversale conduite entre octobre 2013 et avril 2014; a porte sur 40 enfants qui sont decedes avant l'arrivee dans un centre pediatrique a Yaounde. Les familles etaient contactees par telephone 5 a 6 semaines apres le deces de l'enfant et un seul membre de la famille etait interviewe a domicile grace au questionnaire d'AV. La methode de lecture par des medecins etait adoptee pour l'analyse des donnees. Les pediatres ont independamment attribue a chaque deces; une cause medicale ainsi qu'une possible cause sous-jacente basees sur les definitions de la classification internationale des maladies de l'OMS. Les informations portaient essentiellement sur les caracteristiques sociodemographiques des familles et les causes de deces.Resultats. Les repondants etaient generalement jeunes: 50;0% avaient moins de 30 ans et la tranche de 20 a 30 ans predominait (47;5%). Il s'agissait surtout des geniteurs (87;5%). Les enfants decedes; etaient majoritairement (82;5%) ages de moins de 5 ans avec 50% 1 an. 40;0% 'entre eux etaient malades depuis au moins 3 jours. La meningite (27;5%) et le paludisme (22;5%) representaient la moitie des causes directes probables de deces. Les principales causes sous jacentes etaient a malnutrition aigue severe (43;8%); le VIH/SIDA (12;5%) et la drepanocytose (12;5%).Conclusion. L'autopsie verbale a permis d'attribuer les causes medicales aux deces survenus chez les enfants en cours de transport vers notre site. Une sensibilisation des jeunes parents sur la recherche precoce des soins medicaux dans des structures appropriees permettrait d'eviter les deces en communaute chez les enfants qui convulsent surtout en contexte de fievre