Littoral Region Of Cameroon Research Articles

Rainfall Variability, Flood Hazards and Adaptation Strategies in Douala IV and V Municipalities, Littoral Region of Cameroon

Excessive rainfall resulting to floods remain a thorny problem in developing countries including Cameroon. This follows the negative impacts of floods on the population, infrastructure and public services. This study examines rainfall variability, population vulnerability to floods and measures put in place by the population and other stakeholders to adapt to the situation in the Douala IV and V municipalities in Littoral Cameroon. The study exploits both primary and secondary sources data for its realization. Heads of households, quarter’s heads, municipal authorities and its personnel, and public administrative officials were contacted for data collection. The data focused on floods manifestation, their effects on the city, and adaptation strategies put in place to mitigate the negative outcomes. Data from semi structured interview conducted were analyzed using content analysis methods. Sociological and spatial data also collected were analyzed using remotely sensed techniques and statistical tools such as SPSS and Microsoft excel. Climatic data were collected from the urban council, the meteorological units in the town and the National Observatory on Climate Change of Cameroon. Sequential analyses (linear trend curves, standard deviations, and cumulative balances) were used to evaluate the evolution of rainfall and correlation to floods events. The result revealed that floods in Douala IV and V result from rainfall variability, characterized by deficit and excessive rains in the months of June, July, August and September. These heavy rains accompanied by human induced factors such as uncontrolled urbanization, anarchy in construction and occupation of wetlands, poor waste management, pollution of water ways and lack of drains for stagnant water evacuation leads to floods. Also, natural drivers such as the low relief of the area, a dense hydrographic network and contact with the Atlantic Ocean via the Wouri estuary result to floods. These floods are a problem to the health of the population, public services and infrastructure and sustainability of the city. Faced with the numerous damages caused by floods, remediation strategies such as: the construction of traditional dikes, solid house foundations, water embankments, and periodic weather forecasting by the National Observatory on Climate Change of Cameroon to reduce the negative outcomes of flooding has been ineffective in reduction of floods outcomes. Consequently, floods still remains a concern in Douala town. Good environmental practices such as civil education on hygiene and sanitation, periodic cleaning of drains, combats on deforestation of mangroves and afforestation campaigns, government investment on decentralization of waste collection and management will be productive in reducing the effects of floods in Douala. The implementation of all these remedial measures will not only ensure the safety of vulnerable civilian populations but the protection of their activities.

Practice of Sterilization and Disinfection during Hysterosalpingography in some Hospitals of the Northwest, Southwest and Littoral Regions of Cameroon

Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is a diagnostic imaging procedure used to study the female reproductive system using contrast medium which is injected into the uterus and x-ray images are taken as the dye fills the uterus and fallopian tubes. Proper sterilization and disinfection protocols are essential to minimize the risk of introducing pathogens into the reproductive tract during the procedure. The purpose of this study was to investigate disinfection and sterilization practices of HSG equipment before HSG procedure in some hospitals in Cameroon. At the end of the study, collected data was compiled and analysed, the results showed 0% of proper sterilization was done for the equipment used, all the equipment were poorly disinfected with poorly made chemicals (sodium hypochlorite) solution (100%). Most of the equipment used were either about 80% stained or rusted. Based on the finding of this study, it was concluded that the practice of sterilization and disinfection of HSG equipment in Cameroon is poor, and there is need for improvements of the practice.

Cancer profiling in the littoral region of cameroon: Insights from a major health centre

Cancer remains a significant public health concern worldwide, necessitating ongoing efforts to understand its epidemiology and im- prove patient care. This cross-sectional epidemiological study, based on third-party statistics collected over a period of one and a half years (from October 2021 to March 2023), aimed to examine the sociodemographic characteristics and clinical profiles of cancer patients in the Littoral Region of Cameroon. Data were gathered through structured questionnaires, with strict adherence to ethical considerations. The study included 307 cancer patients.Key findings indicate a predominance of breast cancer, a significant proportion of patients aged 41-50 years, and a majority diagnosed at stage 4 of the disease. These results highlight the urgent need for early detection and targeted interventions in cancer care. Furthermore, the research explores factors contributing to the high rate of late-stage cancer diagnoses, such as lack of awareness, insufficient diagnostic facilities, and economic barriers that prevent many patients from seeking timely medical help. Based on these findings, the study recommends the development of comprehensive cancer management strategies, including enhancing public health education, improving diagnostic and treatment capacities, and implementing policy reforms aimed at making healthcare more accessible and affordable. Such measures are essential for reducing the burden of cancer in Cameroon and improving the overall health outcomes for its population.

Comorbidity profiles among sputum-positive tuberculosis patients in Cameroon.

Comorbid non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), kidney diseases, and hypertension, could have implications for tuberculosis (TB) treatment management and increase the disease burden amongst active TB patients. This cross-sectional study aimed at profiling comorbidities amongst sputum-positive TB patients in the South West and Littoral regions of Cameroon and was relevant for improving disease management and public health interventions. Diabetes was defined by elevated blood glucose, body mass index (underweight: <18.5 kg/m2, normal: 18.5-<25.0 kg/m2, overweight: 25-<30 kg/m2 and obese: ≥30.0 kg/m2) and hypertension by elevated blood pressure levels (i.e., systolic ≥130 mmHg or diastolic ≥80 mmHg). Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using case report forms. Descriptive analysis was performed, bivariate logistic regression analysis was computed with at least one comorbidity as the dependent variable (global model) and a multivariable logistic regression analysis was done to provide adjusted odds ratios (final model). The covariate with the highest p-value was removed until p < 0.25 cut-off, using R software version 4.3.1. p-value <0.05 at 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. Five hundred and forty-nine sputum-positive microscopically confirmed active TB patients were enrolled into this study. Two-thirds (65.8%) of the total patients were male. Overall, 56 sputum-positive TB patients had at least one non-communicable disease, thus a prevalence of 10.2% (95% CI = 7.9-13.0). The most frequently recorded NCD was diabetes 4.4% (95% CI = 3.1-6.7) followed by kidney disease 2% (95% CI = 1.1-3.6), hypertension 0.9% (95% CI = 0.4-2.2), and CVD 0.91% (95% CI = 0.4-2.2). Three TB patients (0.6%) had all four comorbidities examined. Age group (p < 0.001), and level of education (p = 0.049) were factors significantly associated with having at least one comorbidity. Our findings showed that diabetes was significantly the most prevalent comorbid NCD amongst sputum-positive TB patients (p < 0.001). HIV status, occupation, body mass index (BMI), and alcohol intake were not significantly associated with having at least one comorbidity. Implementing public health intervention programmes such as systematic screening of TB patients for NCDs especially diabetes is highly recommended for better control of these diseases.

Universal Access to Healthcare in Cameroon: Financing Sources

Purpose: The research aims to identify sustainable sources of funding the implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Cameroon, in response to the current situation where households finance 70% of healthcare costs, and healthcare is largely unaffordable for many social groups. Material and Methods : The study used an exploratory qualitative approach in the Bangue Health District in the Littoral Region of Cameroon. Fifteen people participated in this study during ten days. Participants were selected using the purposive sampling method. Data were collected by means of a semi-structured interview guide. A general inductive approach was used to analyse the collected data. Findings: The main findings indicated that the identified funding sources are primarily based on local resources, including: 1) the State, through the budget allocated to healthcare; 2) the implementation of a health tax based on different sectors of activity; 3) contributions from the Diaspora; and 4) assistance from external and internal partners. Resource mobilisation could be carried out by decentralised government departments, with management overseen by an autonomous UHC body created for the project. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy : Considering the findings, the State should : 1) Raise public awareness and provide training on UHC ; 2) Equip healthcare facilities with adequate human and material resources ; 3) Decentralise the structures for collecting UHC-related funds ; 4) Ensure the security of the collected funds to operationalise UHC effectively.

Physical and Geochemical Characterisation of Pongo Pitti and Bossambo Farm Clays (Littoral Region, Cameroon) for use in Ceramics

The main objective of this work is to discern the physico-chemical and mechanical behavior of the Pongo Pitti and Bossambo Farm clay formations, located on either side of the Sanaga river in the littoral region of Cameroon. To achieve this, two field campaigns and laboratory works were carried out. Four clay materials were collected and brought back to the laboratory. The laboratory investigations involved physico-mechanical and geochemical analyses, followed by ceramic testing. The materials studied have a clayey texture, with clay percentages ranging from 26.89% to 80.3%, silt from 13.2% to 57.6% and sand from 1.58% to 47.26%. The plasticity index ranges from 11.9% to 24.2%. From a geochemical standpoint, the materials studied show a predominance of silica (49.6% to 63.5%), alumina (20.5% to 27.1%) and iron (2.39% to 8.6%), with the SiO2/Al2O3 ratio varying from 1.96 to 3.1. The Al2O3/Fe2O3 ratio is 8.4 for Pongo Pitti clays and 2.9 for Bossambo Farm clays. The geochemical weathering indices (ICV, CIA, PIA, CIW, CIW) show a high degree of weathering, with values in excess of 90%. Alkali and alkaline-earth proportions are lower, and the K2O/Na2O ratio varies between 8.45 and 14.24, showing an enrichment of potassium in relation to sodium. Lantane is the most abundant rare-earth element (323.84 ppm). The REE study shows a predominance of light REEs over heavy REEs (LREE/HREE~4.51) and a negative Europium anomaly. Infrared spectroscopy showed poor kaolinite crystallinity. Mechanically, the specimens studied, fired at temperatures ranging from 950℃ to 1050℃ showed good cohesion and metallic soundness. Linear shrinkage was 4.8%. Mass loss increases with temperature. Its value is 12.5% for Pongo Pitti materials and 8.5% for Bossambo Farm materials. Water absorption decreases with temperature and is 20.27% for Pongo Pitti samples and 15.79% for Bossambo Farm samples. Bulk density increases with temperature (2.11 at 950℃ to 2.51 at 1050℃). Flexural strength increases with temperature and is 6.66 MPa for materials from Pongo Pitti and 8.89 MPa for those from Bossambo Farm. These materials can be used to make fired bricks and roof tiles, and Pongo Pitti materials can be used to make refractory ceramics

Leveraging Local Ecological Knowledge for Bat Conservation: Insights from a Community-based Study in the Ebo Forest Reserve, Littoral Region of Cameroon

Leveraging Local Ecological Knowledge for Bat Conservation: Insights from a Community-based Study in the Ebo Forest Reserve, Littoral Region of Cameroon

Long-lasting insecticidal nets use and the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care at the Bonassama District Hospital, Littoral Region of Cameroon: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundMalaria during pregnancy continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality for both infants and mothers, particularly in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries, despite increased efforts to control it. The utilization of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) during pregnancy is a well-established strategy to reduce the prevalence of malaria. Nonetheless, inadequate adherence remains a persistent challenge in certain regions with high malaria endemicity. This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of long-lasting insecticidal nets in preventing asymptomatic malaria infections among pregnant women attending antenatal care at the Bonassama District Hospital in the Littoral Region of Cameroon.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2022. Data on sociodemographic characteristics and LLIN usage were collected through a structured questionnaire, while asymptomatic malaria infections were identified using a PfHRP2/pLDH malaria qualitative rapid diagnostic kit. The relationship between categorical variables was analyzed using the chi-square test and logistic regression at a significance level of 5%.ResultsOut of the 411 pregnant women included in the study, 35.4% were diagnosed with malaria. The LLIN utilization rate was 65.1%. The risk of malaria infection was 2.7 times higher (AOR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.83–4.14, p < 0.001) among women who did not consistently use LLINs compared to those who did. Pregnant women in their first trimester (AOR = 3.40, 95% CI = 1.24–4.64, p = 0.010) and second trimester (AOR = 1.90, 95%CI = 0.99–3.62, p = 0.055) were more likely to sleep under net when compared to those in the third trimester. Younger women 20–29 years (71.4%), those in the first trimester (69.6%) and those who had the nets before pregnancy (68.9%) were amongst those who frequently used use the nets. Among the reasons reported for not frequently using LLINs were heat (55.2%), suffocation (13.6%) and the smell of nets (8.4%).ConclusionThe use of LLIN was moderately high among the participants in this study, though still below national target. Age group, religion and gestation period were the major factors determining the use of LLINs. Considering the proven effectiveness of LLINs in reducing malaria morbidity and mortality, it is imperative for the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) to remain focused in promoting both LLIN ownership and utilization to achieve the national target of 100% and 80%, respectively.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Land Use and Land Cover Change in the Ebo Forest Reserve, Littoral Region of Cameroon

Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Land Use and Land Cover Change in the Ebo Forest Reserve, Littoral Region of Cameroon

The Effect of Co-creation on Competitive Advantage in Processing and Service Companies in the Littoral Region of Cameroon

Aim: The current customer is more informed and educated, more selective and has a higher capacity of choice hence demands a more significant value generation from firms. The co-creation remains a vehicle for competitiveness and business growth but without co-creation, business tends to stagnate and eventually fail. This study aims to examine the effect of co-creation on competitive advantage in the processing and service firms of the Littoral Region in Cameroon. Methods: The research adapts a correlational research design with a sample size of 500 companies from the processing and service sectors. The research applied a deductive approach. Data collection was through the use of a questionnaire and data analysis using the pairwise correlation analyses. Results: The results revealed a strong correlation structure between the items as the KMO measure of sampling adequacy was supportive and significant as well as Bartlett’s test of sphericity. Conclusion: The study reaffirms the positive significant effect of co-creation on the competitive advantage of processing and service firms in the Littoral Region of Cameroon. Recommendation: Management needs to adapt co-creation with customers to improve their products and services and to engage further with customers for innovation, customization and collaboration.

Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Staphylococcus aureus in Cancer Patients at Laquintinie Hospital in Douala, Littoral Region, Cameroon.

Cancer and chemotherapy predispose the patients to various bacterial infections. This study is aimed at isolating and establishing the distribution of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from fecal samples in subjects with cancer admitted to the Oncology Department at Laquintinie Hospital in Douala, in the Littoral Region of Cameroon. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to March 2023. Cancer and noncancer patients were suffering from Staphylococcus aureus infection. The isolation of Staphylococcus aureus was based on culture on the specific medium. The Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was used for drug susceptibility testing. Of the 507 patients studied, 307 (60.55%) were cancer patients, compared to 200 (39.45%) noncancer patients. S. aureus was isolated in 81 (15.97%) participants, among which 62 (76.55%) were cancer patients and 19 (23.45%) were noncancer patients. In the study population, 31.92% of participants had breast cancer, followed by cervical cancer (13.68%) and leukemia (7.17%). Staphylococcus aureus isolates showed high resistance rates in cancer patients compared to noncancer patients to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AMC, 77.42% versus 31.58%), cefoxitin (FOX, 80.65% versus 63.16%), ciprofloxacin (CIP, 75.81% versus 26.32%), ofloxacin (OFX, 69.35% versus 31.58%), fusidic acid (FUS, 70.97% versus 53.63%), and tetracycline (TET, 85.48% versus 78.95%). Staphylococcus aureus showed a significant increase in multidrug-resistant (MDR) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA) phenotypes in cancer patients compared to noncancer patients (p < 0.05). The prevalence of MRSA was 76.54%, higher than that of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (23.46%). The frequency of MRSA was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in cancer patients (80.65%) than in noncancer patients (19.35%). This study showed that there is an association between antibiotic resistance and cancer status. Research and interventions must be focused on the cancer population to combat the appearance of MDR bacteria due to the loss of effectiveness of antibiotics.

Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities as Indicator of the Water Quality of a Suburban Stream in the Littoral Region of Cameroon

As bioindicators, benthic macroinvertebrates are often used to assess stream quality. Based on standard hydrobiological study techniques, the physicochemical and biological health status of the Missolé stream was assessed. Waters of the Missolé stream were found to be slightly acidic (pH: 6.23–6.26) and well-oxygenated (O2: 69.80–76.80%), with low values of temperature (T°: 23.60–24° C), turbidity (49.40–88.40 FTU) and mineralized ions (NH4+: 0–1.19 mg/L; NO2-: 0–1.61 mg/L; NO3-: 0.02–6.80 mg/L). Concerning aquatic invertebrate communities, a total of 489 individuals, grouped in two classes, eight orders and 35 families, all belonging to the phylum Arthropoda, were collected and identified. The class of Insecta was the most diversified, with seven orders and 32 families, while that of Crustacea had only one order and three families. Overall, Insecta accounted for 52.35% of the total abundance, and Decapod Crustacea was 47.65%. The three predominant families were Palaemonidae, Dytiscidae and Atyidae. Shannon and Weaver (H’) and Piélou’s evenness (J) indices were high at all stations and showed a slight decrease from upstream to downstream. In the same vein, the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) classified the water quality of the Missolé stream as medium. Overall, this suburban aquatic ecosystem offers moderately favorable living conditions for aquatic biota.

An assessment of the nutritional status of internally displaced school children in the West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon.

Malnutrition remains a major public health challenge among children in developing countries, especially those experiencing civil wars and political unrest. It is imperative to ascertain the level of malnutrition, particularly in displaced children, to develop and effectively implement interventions. This study was a cross-sectional survey conducted to assess the nutritional status of 657 internally displaced school-aged children (5-15 years) enrolled in primary schools in the West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon. The height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference of the children were measured using standard measurements. Clinical examinations were also made on the children. Other parameters that affect nutritional status, such as morbidity and health-seeking practices, were assessed using pre-tested, structured interviewer questionnaires. An analysis of the data revealed that stunting was the most prevalent form of malnutrition (27.1%), followed by wasting (23%), thinness (21.6%), and underweight (20.1%). About 44.5% of the children had low serum iron, and 35.7% of them had poor protein status. The prevalence of anemia was 30.0%. The most common signs of protein, vitamin A, and iron deficiencies observed were thin, dry, or sparse hair (5.2%), pallor (7.3%), and xerosis (3.3%), respectively. About 32% of the children had been sick within the previous month of the study, and the most common illness was the common cold (19.8%). Most of them (>60%) had good health-seeking practices. The high prevalence of stunting, wasting, thinness, underweight, anemia, protein, and iron deficiency calls for interventions such as nutrition education and supplementation to prevent malnutrition and diet-related diseases among children.

Standardization of Mock Scores in Advanced Level Mathematics and Its Influence on Students Grades in Douala IV Municipality

The study investigated the effect of standardization of mock advanced level mathematics scores on students’ grades in Douala IV Municipality in the Littoral Region of Cameroon. Four specific research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. The study used the ex-post facto design since the data collected already existed in the various schools. A sample of 300 students’ scores were randomly sampled from three institutions. The instrument used was the raw mock scores of the students who wrote the Littoral Mathematics Teacher Association (LIMTA) mock in the 2022/2023 academic year. Mean scores, standard deviations, Z-scores and T-scores were used to describe the data while the independent T-test was used to test the mean difference between the raw scores and the transformed scores. The results showed that students’ academic performance greatly improved when their raw scores were standardized. There was also significant difference between the standardization of mock advanced level mathematics scores and the raw scores implying that students’ grades improve when raw scores are standardized. Based on these findings, it was recommended that national examination bodies like the GCE and BAC boards should be standardizing student scores so that the academic performance of the students would improve. Also, seminars should be organized for teachers to improve on their scoring and grading skills.

Exposure of Male Farmers and Nonfarmers to Neonicotinoid Pesticides in the South-West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon: A Comparative Study.

Pesticides, especially the newly developed neonicotinoids, are increasingly used in many countries around the world, including Cameroon, to control pests involved in crop destruction or disease transmission. Unfortunately, the pesticides also pose tremendous environmental problems because a predominant amount of their residues enter environmental matrices to affect other nontargeted species including humans. This therefore calls for continuous biomonitoring of these insecticides in human populations. The present study sought to assess the neonicotinoid insecticide exposures in two agrarian regions of Cameroon, the South-West region and Littoral region. The study involved 188 men, including 125 farmers and 63 nonfarmers. Spot urine samples were obtained from these subjects and subjected to liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric analysis for concentrations of neonicotinoid compounds, including acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, nitenpyram, thiamethoxam, and N-dm-acetamiprid. Neonicotinoid compounds were detected in all study participants, and residues of all the screened pesticides were detected among participants. N-dm-Acetamiprid and imidacloprid were the most prevalent among the subjects (100.0% and 93.1%, respectively), whereas nitenpyram was less common (3.2%). The median values of imidacloprid and total urinary neonicotinoid concentrations were elevated among farmers (0.258 vs. 0.126 µg/L and 0.829 vs. 0.312 µg/L, respectively). Altogether the findings showed that both the farmer and nonfarmer study populations of Cameroon were exposed to multiple residues of neonicotinoids, with relatively higher levels of pesticides generally recorded among farmers. Although exposure levels of the neonicotinoids were generally lower than their respective reference doses, these results warrant further research on the health risk evaluation of multiple residues of the pesticides and reinforcement of control measures to minimize the exposure risks, especially among farmers. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:952-964. © 2024 SETAC.

Analysis of Human Rights Needs of Internally Displaced Persons and the Role of Social Work Practice: The Case of the Northwest, Southwest, and Littoral Regions of Cameroon

The scourge of internal displacement has continued unabated despite efforts from the international community to address its root causes. Ironically, the so-called Anglophone crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon has been widely ignored on the world stage despite the toll and misery it has caused the local people, many of whom have been internally displaced. The purpose of this ethnographic study was to explore the human rights situation of internally displaced victims of this violent insurgency and reflect on the role social work practice can play to alleviate the suffering of displaced people. A quantitative research approach was employed through the use of a questionnaire in collecting data from 529 respondents in the Northwest, Southwest, and Littoral regions of the country. The major finding of the study is that most of the internally displaced respondents live under immense fear of either losing a family member or being killed themselves. Moreover, they have been deprived of their basic freedoms and live in indignity as there is hardly water, food, or other means of subsistence. The greatest aspiration of most of the respondents is to reunite with their families and return to their livelihoods. An important implication from this study is the potential contribution that social work professionals can make in the rehabilitation of IDPs. This study contributes to literature on forced migration and human rights, and practical suggestions on how to improve the human rights situation of internally displaced persons.

The Influence of Social and Economic Motivational Factors in the Performance of Health Professionals Involved in Mental Health Care in Douala, Littoral Region of Cameroon

Aim: Social and economic motivational factors can influence the performance of health workers. This and has special importance in mental health. In low and middle-income countries, health professionals are essential for the delivery of mental health interventions. However, inadequate mental health professional’s performance is a very widespread problem. Motivation is a prerequisite for better organizational performance. Motivation involves the biological, economic, social and cognitive forces that activate behavior. In everyday usage, the term “motivation” is frequently used to describe why a person does something. It is the driving force behind human actions. Thus this study seeks to investigate the extent to which motivational factors influence the performance of health professionals involved in mental health care in Douala, Littoral Region of Cameroon.&#x0D; Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional and analytical study design was adopted to investigate the extent to which motivational factors influence the performance of 210 mental health workers.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: It involved five mental health institutions in Douala, from May 2022 to August 2022.&#x0D; Methodology: A snowball sampling technique purely based on referrals and a purposive sampling technique to select the participants was used. Pilot test was done on 6 mental health workers in Minds Clinic Buea using a Crobach’s Alpha formula to calculate and the value 0.985 was gotten to prove the validity and reliability of the research tools. Data was collected quantitatively and qualitatively with the use of self-administered, well-structured questionnaire and face to face interview was applied to collect data, and analyzed with SPSS version 23.0.&#x0D; Results: Results revealed that social (rs=0.406), economic (rs=0.248), cognitive (rs=0.471) and biological (rs=0.263) motivational factors influenced the performance of health professionals involved in mental health care and consequently improve the quality of mental health care. Spearman’s rank correlation revealed that motivational factors improved work performance. Also, motivational factors have a significant relationship with performance at a two tail test. Moreover, there was general consensus among the management staff that the general motivation packages and strategies are yielding desired results and this has positively affected the moral and performance of staff.&#x0D; Conclusion: Overall the findings of the study suggest that to improve the performance of health professionals involved in mental health care in Douala Littoral Region of Cameroon there is the need to carefully define motivational factors that are reliable and strategically relevant ensuring that they are free from criterion contamination and deficiency.

Multidrug Resistant Enteric Bacteria from Cancer Patients Admitted in Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Littoral Region of Cameroon.

Patients with cancer have weakened immune systems, making them more vulnerable to infections. This study was carried out to determine the bacterial origins of enteric disorders in cancer patients and noncancer patients at the Oncology Department of Laquintinie Hospital in Douala. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to March 2023. Stool samples from 307 cancer patients with enteric disorders and 200 noncancer patients with enteric disorders were examined to diagnose the presence of bacteria using various techniques. Among all participants in this study, 62.13% were female and 37.87% were male. The average age of the participants was 46.38 ± 15.81 years, with a minimum age of 10 years and a maximum age of 84 years. The average age of participants was significantly higher (p < 0.000) in cancer patients (49.54 ± 14.65 years) compared to noncancer patients (41.53 ± 16.33 years). Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhi, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Yersinia intemedia, and Klebsiella oxytoca were more frequently isolated in cancer patients than in noncancer patients, with the respective percentages of 56.25% versus 43.75%, 50.00% versus 50.00%, 61.66% versus 38.34%, 66.66% versus 33.34%, 72.22% versus 27.78%, 80.00 versus 20.00%, and 100% versus 0.00%. Most isolates were sensitive to imipenem (IMP), gentamicin (GEN), and amikacin (AMK). Proteus vulgaris, the most prevalent isolate, showed significantly high resistance (with p < 0.05) in cancer patients compared to noncancer patients at amoxicillin/clavuranic acid (AMC) (89.13% versus 41.30%), ceftriaxone (CTR) (63.04% versus 39.13%), ciprofloxacin (CIP) (65.22% versus 34.18%), and tetracycline (TET) (93.48% versus 63.04%). Multidrug resistance was observed in cancer patients compared to noncancer patients for Klebsiella pneumoniae (85.00% versus 60.00%), Salmonella typhi (84.62% versus 60.00%), and Klebsiella oxytoca (86.49% versus 43.48%). The increase in the number of Gram-negative infections among cancer patients, as shown in the present study, highlights the need for broad-spectrum therapy and effective planning of control programs to reduce bacterial diseases among cancer patients.

Frequency of Fecal Carriage of ESBL Resistance Genes in Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates from Cancer Patients at Laquintinie Hospital, Douala, Littoral Region, Cameroon.

Background. Opportunistic infections are the second cause of death among cancer patients. This study aimed at determining the antimicrobial profile and the prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-gene carriage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates among cancer patients at the Douala Laquintinie Hospital, Littoral Region of Cameroon. Between October 2021 and March 2023, 507 study participants were recruited among whom 307 (60.55%) were cancer patients, compared to 200 (39.45%) noncancer patients. Fifty-eight P. aeruginosa isolates were isolated from fecal samples of forty-five cancer patients and thirteen noncancer patients using Cetrimide agar. The antimicrobial resistance profile of the isolates was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase genes among P. aeruginosa isolates. P. aeruginosa showed significant resistance rates in cancer patients compared to noncancer patients to imipenem, cefotaxime, and ceftazidime, piperacillin-tazobactam, ticarcillin-clavulanic acid, and ciprofloxacin. The multidrug resistance (MDR) rate was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in cancer patients than in noncancer patients. The frequency of beta-lactamase genes in the 58 ESBL-producing P. aeruginosa isolates was determined as 72.41% for bla TEM, 37.93% for bla OXA, 74.14% for blaCTX-M, and 44.83% for bla SHV genes. The study revealed an alarmingly high prevalence of fecal carriage of ESBL-producing P. aeruginosa with a high rate of MDR among cancer patients. It indicates that regular monitoring and surveillance of ESBL-producing P. aeruginosa among cancer patients are needed to improve the management of patients.

Prevalence and knowledge of urinary schistosomiasis in the Mungo Division, littoral Region of Cameroon

Prevalence and knowledge of urinary schistosomiasis in the Mungo Division, littoral Region of Cameroon