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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.
RESUMO
Background:Typhoid is a vital health hazard globally but its incidence is greater in developing compared to developed countries owing to low sanitation, poor hygiene practices, unsafe food and drinking water.Objective:This study was designed to determine the changes in renal parameters associated with male and female Typhoid patients.Materials and Methods:A hundred and twenty male and hundred and twenty female Typhoid patients were divided into four groupsmade up of sixty Typhoid positive male, sixty Typhoid negative male, sixty Typhoid positive female and sixty Typhoid negative females. The renal parameters were evaluated using Spectrophotometer. The results were analyzed using statistical package for social science version 20 statistical software.Results:The result of renal changes associated with male and female Typhoid fever patient Original ResearchArticle showed insignificant increase (p < 0.05) in Total serum Protein and significant increase (p < 0.05) in Creatinine level of both male and female patient compared to their control. It showed insignificant increase (p < 0.05) in potassium ion and sodium ion of the Typhoid positive male patient, significant decrease in sodium ion and insignificant decrease in potassium ion of the Typhoid positive female compare to their controls. Similarly, the result of the Typhoid positive male patients showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in Chloride ion and insignificant decrease (p < 0.05) in Chloride ion of Typhoid positive female compare to their control. Furthermore, it showed insignificant decrease (p < 0.05) in Urea level of the Typhoid positive males and insignificant increase (p < 0.05) in Urea level of the Typhoid positive females. Conclusions:Renal parameters as a tool for examining cases of early typhoid infections may aid in detecting early complications related to typhoid fever so as to aid in patients care and avert death that may come from such complication
RESUMO
Background: Vaccination is what is strongly recommended in protecting against childhood diseases. The Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) in Cameroon started in 1976 as a pilot project and became operational all over the country in 1982 where vaccinationis seen a fundamental right of every child in the country. However, rural areas have lots of constrains to the effective implementation of vaccination programs some of which are population-related. Purpose: This study aimed to assess the association between some factors and adherence to vaccination appointments in Ngambe Health District; a typical rural health district in Cameroon. Methods: This was a case control study where the vaccination records of health facilities in the district were reviewed and parents who respected their vaccination appointments formed the controls while those who missed a vaccination appointment were the cases. They were then traced for interviewed and data analyzed using Epi infos version 3.5.4. Results: Out of 94 parents, 37.2% had missed a vaccination appointment. In parents older than 36, the odds of missing an appointment was 11 (95%CI 3.69-34.43) while those with <4 children were 0.10 less likely to miss an appointment (95%CI 0.04-0.28). Parent’s education, household size and ANC attendance also influenced adherence to vaccination appointments. After adjustment, only age and whether or not child was born in the hospital remained statistically significant associated with adherence. Conclusion: User related factors influence uptake of vaccination services in the Ngambe Health District of Cameroon; a rural area, some of which are age of the parents, number of children the parent has and the total household size. Therefore, adding to the availability of vaccines, a high-level political commitment aimed at increasing utilization of health services and effectively taking vaccination to the population are indispensable.
RESUMO
Background:Gonorrhoea and Syphilis are common STIs,particularly among the reproductive age group in most developing countries. Their control is important considering the high incidence of acute infections, complications and their socioeconomic impact and a means of effecting control measures against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Knowledge of the prevalence and risk factors of these infections in a student residential area will enable development of better strategies for STI control.Methods:A health facility based historical study design was conducted where laboratory records of patients screened for Syphilis and/or Gonorrhea and HIV in selected Primary Health Care (PHC)Original Research Article facilities in Buea Health District (BHD) between 2010 and 2015 were reviewed. Data analysis was done using EPI Info version 3.5.4. with a level of error set at 5%.Results:A total of 1106 records were reviewed. Majority 472(42.7%) were between 21-30 years old, while 923(83.4%) were females. A significant proportion 78 (8.1%) were HIV positive. The prevalence of the both STIs was highest in 2015. The prevalence of gonorrhoea was 12.9% and that of syphilis was 16.9%. The odds of testing positive for syphilis for female compared to males was 0.33 (95% CI: 0.18-0.62); p-value of 0.001, while that for gonorrhoea was 0.22 (95%CI: 0.11, 0.44); p-value of 0.0001. Patients between 21 and 30 years were 2.46 times as likely to be syphilis positive compared to those below 21. Compared to those tested positive, patients who were negative for were 3.33 (95%CI 1.66-6.69) times as likely to test negative for HIV (p value of 0.001).Conclusion:The study revealed a high prevalence of gonorrhoeaand syphilis. Although these infections have similar risk factors, there are distributed differently in the sexually active student residential area. This thus calls for the implementation of targeted screening and to revise control measures for STIs in the population