Distribution of sources of household air pollution: a cross-sectional study in Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Household air pollution (HAP) is a recognised risk factor for many diseases, including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular/circulatory disorders, adverse pregnancy outcomes and cataracts. Population exposure to biomass fuels, including wood, varies among countries and from one fuel source to the other. This study aimed to investigate the different sources of HAP in peri-urban and rural communities in Cameroon. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a representative sample of households from the Dschang Health District (DHD) region. This included 848 homes in which a range of fuels for cooking including biomass (firewood, charcoal, sawdust), kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were used both indoors and outdoors. RESULTS: Of the study households, 651 (77%) reported exclusive use of firewood and 141 (17%) reported using more than one source of fuel. Exclusive use of firewood was greater in rural communities (94%) than in peri-urban communities (38%). In peri-urban communities, use of multiple fuels including LPG, wood, sawdust and kerosene, was more common (44.75%). A total of 25.03% of households in both peri-urban and rural communities reported using bottled gas (or liquified petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking. Motivations for choice of fuel included, affordability, availability, rapidity, and cultural factors. CONCLUSION: Wood is the main cooking fuel in both peri-urban and rural communities in the Dschang Health District. Supporting households (especially those with limited resources) to adopt LPG equipment for cooking, and use in a more exclusive way is required to help reduce household air pollution.

[Distribution and therapeutic path of patients with stroke admitted to Hospital]. / Distribution et itinéraire thérapeutique des patients reçus pour accident vasculaire cérébral à l'Hôpital Régional de Bafoussam, Cameroun.

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of strokes is continuously growing in Africa. Morbidity and mortality related to this disease depend on patients management in the community and health care facilities (FOSAs). The purpose of this study was to describe the outcome and the therapeutic path of patients with stroke admitted to the Bafoussam Regional Hospital (BRH). METHODS: We conducted a cohort non-controlled study of patients who were diagnosed with stroke. Data were collected using two tools such as an anonymous questionnaire among patients or on their pre-hospital management and a grid for the collection of data on patient's outcome during hospitalization. Data were analyzed by describing the frequency distribution of the sources and types of supports solicited prior to and during hospitalization as well as that of patients' outcome at the end of hospitalization including the incidence of complications. RESULTS: A total of 46 patients were included in this study, with an average age of 62 years: 27(58.7%) were women and 37 (80.4%) were referred to other FOSAs. Four (8.7%) patients had taken products before their hospitalization; 2(4.3%) patients had taken a traditional product. Thirty-six (78.3%) patients had a cardiovascular history, of whom 22 with high blood pressure. Ten days after hospitalization, 32 (69.6%) patients resumed their autonomy and 5(10.9%) died. CONCLUSION: Few patients used non-medical treatments before their arrival to hospital. Most of them underwent care in time, but the rate of hospital complications and deaths were high. A study should be conducted to determine the factors contributing to high rate of complications and death in patients hospitalized for stroke at the BRH.

Assessments of the efficacy of a long-term application of a phytoremediation system using hybrid poplar trees at former oil tank farm sites.

A poplar tree-phytoremediation system was installed at former refinery and tank farm sites in Cabin Creek, West Virginia, to cleanup petroleum-contaminated-soils and groundwater. Groundwater and soils in both sites were sampled and analyzed on a regular basis to monitor changes in contaminant concentration since 1999. The concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and gasoline range organics (GRO) decreased an average of 81%, 90%, 67%, 78%, and 82%, respectively, in the lower soil horizons and 34%, 84%, 12%, 19%, and 59%, respectively, in groundwater. In addition, concentrations of oxygen, methane, and carbon dioxide in soil gas demonstrated that tree roots dewatered soils and allowed penetration of oxygen deep into the soil profile, creating necessary conditions for rhizosphere bioremediation. Although required clean-up time can limit phytoremediation, it has proven to be a cost-effective strategy for site improvement if imminent pathways for human exposure and risk are not an issue.

Distribution et itinéraire thérapeutique des patients reçus pour accident vasculaire cérébral à l'hôpital régional de Bafoussam, Cameroun

Introduction: l'incidence des accidents vasculaires cérébraux (AVC) est sans cesse croissante en Afrique. La morbidité et la mortalité liées à cette maladie dépendent de la prise en charge des patients aussi bien en communauté que dans les formations sanitaires (FOSA). L'objectif était de Décrire la distribution de l'évolution et l'itinéraire thérapeutique des patients reçus pour AVC à l'hôpital régional de Bafoussam (HRB). Méthodes: il s'agissait d'une étude de cohorte non contrôlée ciblant les patients qui ont été diagnostiqués pour AVC. Les données étaient collectées à l'aide de deux outils dont un questionnaire anonyme adressé au patient ou à son garde sur la prise en charge pré-hospitalière du patient et une grille pour la collecte des données sur les documents de suivi du patient pendant son hospitalisation.Les données ont été analysées en décrivant la distribution des fréquences des sources et types de soins sollicitées avant et pendant l'hospitalisation ainsi que celle de l'évolution à la fin de l'hospitalisation y compris l'incidence des complications. Résultats: au total 46 patients ont été inclus dans cette étude avec un âge moyen de 62 ans. Vingt- sept 27 soit 58,7% étaient des femmes et 37 soit 80,4% étaient référés d'autres FOSA. 4(8,7%) patients avaient pris des produits avant leur hospitalisation dont 2(4,3%) un produit traditionnel.36 (78,3%) patients avaient des antécédents cardiovasculaires dont 22 cas connus d'hypertension artérielle. A la sortie après 10 jours d'hospitalisation, 32 (69,6%) avaient repris leur autonomie et 5 (10,9%) patients étaient décédés. Conclusion: peu de patients recourent aux soins non médicalisés avant l'arrivée à l'hôpital. La plupart bénéficient des soins dans les délais requis mais les taux de complications et de décès hospitaliers restent élevés. Une étude devrait être faite pour déterminer les facteurs contribuant à un taux élevé de complications et de décès chez les patients hospitalisés pour AVC à l'HRB