[Epidemiologiy of obesity among university students in Douala, Cameroon]. / Épidémiologie de l'obésité en milieu estudiantin à Douala, Cameroun.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of obesity, its risk factors, and its health risks among students of the University of Douala. METHODS: In April, 2011, 2696 students volunteered to participate in a screening campaign for diabetes, high blood pressure (HBP), and obesity. Their physical activity (PA) level was also evaluated. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 1276 (47.3%) men and 1420 (52.7%) women with a mean age of 23.8 ± 3.5 years. The general prevalence of obesity was 4.1%, and it was more common among women (p = 0.043). The age group most highly affected was those 35 years or older, with a prevalence of 39.5% (p<0.02). Among the obese, the risk level was high in 78 (70.9%) women. The prevalence of HBP was higher among obese than non-obese students (20.9% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.019), and the prevalence of diabetes five times higher (4.5% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.003). Obesity was highly associated with alcohol consumption (p = 0.01), physical inactivity (p = 0.007), and family history of diabetes (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Obesity is a worrisome disorder among students in Douala. Educating students about this topic and developing an obesity prevention and management program may improve their health.

[Epidemiology of obesity in the work milieu, Douala, Cameroon]. / Epidémiologie de l'obésité en milieu du travail à Douala, Cameroun.

Obesity is a worldwide public health problem, and its burden has been poorly explored in Cameroon, especially in work place. We therefore carried out in April 2010, an analytic cross-sectional study aiming to determine the prevalence of obesity, associated risk factors and health risk in six randomly selected enterprises based in Douala. Among the 552 participants, 383 (69.4%) were males. Most of the workers (55.4%) were aged less than 35 years old. There was 191 (34.60%) office staff as against 361 (65.40%) labourers. In each participant, blood pressures, and fasting blood glucose were recorded, as well as obesity indexes comprising body mass index and waist circumference. They were calculated and data analyzed using SPSS 16 and Win Pepi 11.8. The prevalence of obesity in workers was 23.4%, and was more pronounced in women than in men (36.1% vs 17.8%; P < 0.005). The workers aged > or = 45 years old exhibited highest obesity rate than other age group (P = 0.03). Importantly, the prevalence of hypertension was two fold greater in obese workers than non obese (P < 0.005; RR = 2.1; IC 95%: 1.57-2.83). 271 (49.1%) of the workers were overweight. Among the obese subjects, those with visceral obesity: 56 (43.4%) females with a waist circumference > 88 cm and 41 (31.8%) men with a waist circumference > 102 cm were at very high health risk. Obesity was significantly associated with excessive alcohol consumption (P = 0.013) and high salt diet (P = 0.022). This study reveals a high burden of obesity in the work place in Douala and outlines the urgent needs of implementation of prevention programme in that milieu.

Ivermectin distribution and the cultural context of forest onchocerciasis in South Province, Cameroon.

This investigation examined the cultural context of forest onchocerciasis in several communities in the Dja-Lobo Division of southern Cameroon. The study sought to elucidate behaviors that would enhance or diminish health status relative to forest onchocerciasis and other filarial infections, and to make culturally sensitive and appropriate recommendations regarding the development of health education materials and the long-term sustainability of the ivermectin distribution program in Dja-Lobo. The study consisted of two sequential components; the first was a qualitative study of a few severely affected villages and the second was a quantitative study of 212 randomly selected heads of households from eight villages. The Boulou and Baka peoples in these communities defined general filariasis (minak) as small worms under the skin, identified flies as important transmitters of the illness, and indicated that blindness and other skin and ocular problems were a consequence of the illness. Illness of the Dja (referring to an illness found near the Dja River) was another illness that was closely linked to onchocerciasis; local people indicated it was transmitted by the black flies found near the Dja River, resulting in severe itching and leopard skin. These and other cultural-behavioral data on filariasis were used to implement a health education and distribution program.

PIP: The cultural context of forest onchocerciasis was studied in the Boulou and Baka ethnic communities in the Dja-Lobo Division of southern Cameroon. A 2-day survey used focus group interviews followed by a questionnaire administered to 212 randomly selected individuals in 8 communities (88 male and 124 females heads of household) to assess their knowledge about onchocerciasis. Most people (98%) had some knowledge about the disease. Minak was the term used for filariasis by most people (97%) and people knew (90%) that black fly (nyamendimi) was responsible for its transmission. Other vectors of the illness identified were mosquitoes, dirty water, sorcery, and taboo foods. 81% thought that maternal transmission was possible and 66% indicated that filariasis could be transmitted sexually. Virtually all respondents associated itching and rash with minak (filariasis) and more than 60% also recognized the swelling of the skin and leopard skin as manifestations of filariasis. Filariasis, malaria, worms, and blindness were placed in the middle category when the severity of various diseases was ranked by 20 Boulou adults. In contrast, the Baka did not think that filariasis caused blindness, nor that it is linked to eye-worms. However, the 212 individuals ranked blindness as the most severe among other diseases (filaria, malaria, diarrhea, and intestinal worms). 80% of the Boulou and Baka adults had had filariasis in the previous year, but only 5% of the Boulou children and none of the Baka children had had filariasis during that time period. With respect to intestinal worms, 71% of the Boulou adults and 60% of the Baka adults had had intestinal worms in the previous year, while more than 90% of the Boulou children and all of the Baka children had had intestinal worms. Of the 90% who revealed that they had had filariasis at least once before, 69% sought treatment. 54% had tried traditional treatment, while 50% had tried Notezine, 49% had tried Phenergan, and 38% had tried M.G. Lumiere.

Couverture vaccinale 1994 dans l'aire de sante de Soboum-Zone Nylon (Douala; Cameroun)

L'enquete de couverture vaccinale realisee en 1994 dans l'aire de sante de Soboum (Zone Nylon) a montre des resultats mediocres; tres eloignes des objectifs que l'OMS a fixes pour 1995. Manque d'information; manque de motivation et obstacles a la vaccination sont les principaux responsables de cette situation. L'information sanitaire et la participation communautaire doivent etre redynamisees; ainsi que la formation du personnel et le monitorage du programme

Evaluation of alternate methods of rapid assessment of endemicity of Onchocerca volvulus in communities in southern Cameroon.

Potential diagnostic indicators of onchocerciasis (subcutaneous nodules, depigmentation or leopard skin, microfilaruria, diethylcarbamazine patch test positivity, excoriations, and pruritus) were evaluated in a rain forest region of southern Cameroon for usefulness in rapid assessment of onchocerciasis endemicity in communities. Thirty-two study villages were selected, representing high, intermediate, and low prevalence levels, and 846 adult male residents of these communities 20 or more years of age were examined according to a defined protocol. Skin snips (from each iliac crest) served as the reference standard. Skin snip positivity was 75.5%; the effect of age was minimal. Leopard skin and nodules showed the strongest correlation with both the skin snip prevalence and community microfilarial load, as reflected by the adult male study population. We selected > or = 20% nodules or > or = 20% leopard skin as the most appropriate local criteria for assigning a community to high priority for control, which corresponds to a > or = 90% skin snip prevalence in adult males. While this criteria should not be applied to regions with savannah onchocerciasis, we believe the methodology can and should be used to determine appropriate diagnostic indicators for rapid assessment of Onchocerca volvulus endemicity in regions with different dynamics of transmission and clinical expression of disease.

[Epidemiology of dracunculosis in the Mandara Mountains (North Cameroon). Organization of a control campaign]. / Epidémiologie de la dracunculose dans les Monts Mandara (Nord-Cameroun). Organisation d'une campagne de lutte.

The map of the Mandara Mountains dracuntiasis focus showing the wells and water bodies, which are the transmission sites of the disease in the study area, shows that the focus is relatively well limited. The drilling of new wells, the protection of existing water bodies used for human consumption, the health education project and the treatment of water by temephos lead to ascertain that the number of Guinea worm cases seen is decreasing every year in the area where the project is meticulously performed. These encouraging results show that it is now possible to eliminate the Guinea worm from North Cameroon by extending the operations in progress to the comprehensive surface of the focus, including the remote areas in mountains and the satellite foci in the plain along the Nigerian border.

[Evaluation of morbidity, mortality and therapeutic procedures in diarrheal diseases of young children in Cameroon]. / Evaluation de la morbidité, de la mortalité et des conduites thérapeutiques relatives aux maladies diarrhéiques chez les jeunes enfants au Cameroun.

The authors report the results of 3 sample surveys carried out in Cameroon and designed to determine the diarrhoeal morbidity, mortality and treatment rates in children under five years of age living in urban and rural areas, under different types of climate.

[The expanded vaccination program in Cameroon: status of the intermediate objectives and future prospects]. / Le programme élargi de vaccination au Cameroun: état de réalisation des objectifs intermédiaires et perspectives d'avenir.

The authors report the results of nine sample surveys for the evaluation of the immunization coverage program carried out in urban and rural areas in Cameroon. The halfway target of 30% is reached in urban areas and approached in rural areas. The achievement of the target (85%) will need the solution of more and more intricate problems and the participation of the whole national community.

[Prevalence of markers of viral hepatitis B in northern Cameroon]. / Prévalence des marqueurs de l'hépatite à virus B dans le nord du Cameroun.

The authors report the results of a sample survey made in January 1985 in a Northern Cameroon Division following the observation of a very high mortality rate by serious jaundice in 1983 and 1984. Within a representative population sample of 395 persons of more than 4 years old, they observed that: 100 were HBs antigen carriers (detected by ELISA), 25.3% +/- 5.5%, 19 were HBe antigen carriers (RIA), 4.8% +/- 2.4%, and 202 were HBs antigen or HBs antibody carriers: 51.1% +/- 6.5%, There was only one carrier of delta antigen. There is no difference in HBs antigen bearing according to sex or age, but HBe antigen appears to be more frequent among young people.