Résumé
Depression is a debilitating mood and mental disorder affecting approximately 13% of postpartum mothers worldwide with a prevalence of 25%-60% in low and middle income countries. The prevalence is yet to be published in Cameroon. Aim: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence, severity and risk factors of depression among postpartum mothers in Limbe Health District (LHD), Cameroon. Study Design: It was a cross-sectional, analytic community-based survey. A non- probability convenient sampling method was used to recruit four hundred participants in eight communities in the LHD. Postpartum mothers with infants aged 1-12 months constituted the study population. Data collected using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and a structured questionnaire was analyzed using Epi-Info version 3.5.4. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant for variables. Results: The prevalence of depression among participants was 61.8% based on PHQ-9 depression scale. The severity of depression varied from mild 54.7%, moderate 43.3% to severe2.0%. Socio-demographic factors associated with depression were: unemployment [OR=2.02;95% CI:(1.35-3.86), p=0.002], unsatisfactory support or assistance for care of baby [OR = 4.89; 95% CI: 2.25-10.612), p = < 0.001], marital conflict [OR = 0.44; 95%CI: (0.23-0.82), p = 0.009] and serious financial problems [OR = 0.31; 95% CI: (0.18-0.54), p =0.002]. Unplanned pregnancy was the only obstetric factor associated with depression [OR=2.02; 95% CI: (1.24-3.29), p= 0.004]. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression among postpartum mothers in the LHD was high. Unemployment, unsatisfactory assistance for child care, marital conflicts, financial difficulties and unplanned pregnancy were risk factors for postpartum depression.
Résumé
Objective: This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of Hepatitis B and associated risk factors such as CD4+ counts variation and liver enzymes among HIV co– infected patients and those with HIV mono-infections only. Design and Methods: Three hundred and fourteen (314) HIV patients took part in this cross sectional case control study. Socio-demographic information and history of exposure to risk factors such as scarification, blood transfusion, and unprotected sexual intercourse and alcohol consumption, were obtained through a well-structured questionnaire. Serological tests were done to determine the presence of Hepatitis B (HB) surface Antigen, liver enzymes’ activities were estimated and CD4+ cell counts evaluated using standard laboratory methods. Results: Out of the 314 HIV patients, 20 (6.4%) tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) while 294 (93.6%) were negative. Most HIV patients co–infected with HBV were in the age group 31 to 45 years. There was no significant variation when co-infection and mono-infection groups were compared based on age and sex (p=0.7405 and p=0.3361). More males, 7 (2.23%) against 2 (0.64%) females (P=0.02) co–infected with HBsAg had a CD4+ cell counts in the range 201-350cells/µL. No significant difference of liver transaminases (SGPT and SGOT) levels between mono and co-infection groups (P>0.05) was observed. No association of HBsAg with observed risk factors among HIV patients was noted. Conclusion: The study concluded that the prevalence of hepatitis B among HIV patients was 6.4% with majority of the patients having CD4+ cell counts within 201-350. The liver function parameters (transaminases) were not affected with HIV/HBV co-infection.