Rural Communities In Cameroon Research Articles

Optimization of a Hybrid Off-Grid Solar PV—Hydro Power Systems for Rural Electrification in Cameroon

The use of decentralized renewable energy systems will continue to play a significant role in electricity generation especially in developing countries where grid expansion to most remote areas is uneconomical. The income levels of these off-grid communities are often low, such that there is a need for the delivery of cost-effective energy solutions through optimum control and sizing of energy system components. This paper aims at minimizing the net present cost (NPC) and the levelised cost of energy (LCOE). The study presents a hybrid power system involving a hydroelectric, solar photovoltaic (PV), and battery system for a rural community in Cameroon. The optimization of the system was done using HOMER Pro and validated using a meta-heuristic algorithm known as genetic algorithm (GA). The GA approach was programmed using the MATLAB software. After the HOMER simulation, the optimal power capacity of 3 kW solar PV, 334.89 Ah battery, and 32.2 kW microhydropower was used to meet the load. The village load profile had a daily energy usage of 431.32 kWh/day and a peak power demand of 38.49 kW. The optimized results showed an NPC and LCOE of $90,469.16 and 0.0453 $/kWh, respectively. The system configuration was tested against an increase in hydropower capacity, and it was observed that increasing the hydropower capacity has the ability to significantly reduce the LCOE as well as the battery and solar PV size. A comparative analysis of the two approaches showed that the optimization using GA was more cost-effective than HOMER Pro with the least LCOE of 0.0344 $/kWh and NPC of $86,990.94 as well as a loss of power supply probability (LPSP) of 0.99%. In addition, the GA method gave more hydropower generation than HOMER Pro. This supports the fact that stochastic methods are more realistic and economically viable. They also accurately predict system operation than deterministic methods.

Climate change, water availability, and the burden of rural women’s triple role in Muyuka, Cameroon

Many rural communities in Cameroon rely on natural sources of water (rivers, springs, and rainfall) for agriculture and domestic use. Access to and reliability of water from these sources depend on changes in rainfall and temperatures. Household roles in Cameroon are traditionally defined along gender lines, with women playing key roles in food production, home management, and caregiving. Water is indispensable for women to successfully accomplish these roles. Climate variability is affecting reliability of water in Cameroon; however, impacts are not the same for men and women in rural communities. This paper examines how climate-induced water challenges adversely affect women’s ability to perform their multiple roles in a predominantly farming community in southwest Cameroon. Data collected by survey from a hundred women, supplemented by interviews with local water and agricultural technicians, suggest that climate change has contributed to the disappearance of several water sources and decreased volume of others. This hampers local water availability, compromises women’s productivity, and increases the burden on women’s triple roles as farmers, caregivers, and home managers. Although individual women are implementing some adaptation strategies, comprehensive public policy measures, including promotion of better land use management and gender-sensitive technologies, are vital to sustain efforts against climate change in Cameroon.

Optimal Design and Comparative Analysis of a PV/Mini-Hydropower and a PV/Battery Used for Electricity and Water Supply

This work proposed an optimal design of PV-system-based water-pumped energy storage for both electricity and water supply. A case study was considered in a rural community in Cameroon. The parameters of the assessment of the system were reliability, represented in the present work by the system supply deficiency (SSD), and economic accessibility, represented by the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). The obtained results showed that for 0% SSD, the optimal configuration of the system was composed of 438 PV modules of 235 W, an immersed solar motor pump of 35 kW, a hydroelectric turbine of 51.7 kW, an upper reservoir of 2307.1 m3, an inverter of 25.27 kW, and a total dynamic head of 88 m. The corresponding LCOE to this configuration is 0.224 USD/kWh. The economic accessibility of the designed system was evaluated by comparison with a PV-system-based battery energy storage. The optimal design configuration of the studied PV-system-based battery energy storage was a PV generator (120 PV modules of 235 W), solar motor pump (15 kW), upper reservoir (590.4 m3), battery capacity (351.78 kWh), inverter (25.27 kW), and total dynamic head (81 m). The corresponding LCOE to this configuration was 0.1857 USD/kWh. Although the PV-system-based battery storage appeared to be economically more cost-effective than the PV-system-based water-pumped energy storage, the sensitivity analysis revealed that there was the possibility for the PV-system-based water-pumped energy storage to be economically more profitable than the PV-system-based battery energy storage. This economic outperformance occurred when the project lifetime was a multiple of 7.5 years or when the costs of the storage components were reduced from 20% to 60%.

Retracted: Quality of Life Following Major Limb Amputation in a Rural Community in Cameroon.

Amputation is considered the last resort when a limb is no longer salvageable, a limb is dead or dying, is viable but non-functional, or is endangering the patient's life. Limb amputation is associated with profound economic, social, and psychological effects on patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate quality of life following major limb amputation in a rural setting in west Cameroon. This was a cross-sectional descriptive, analytical study. Participants were interviewed and data collected using a pre-defined accredited questionnaire of the WHOQOL-BREF to assess quality of life. There were 63 participants, and a majority (60.32% ) reported trauma as the cause of amputation. Participants with a prosthesis had better quality of life. Quality of life of people following major limb amputation in this study was generally fair according to the World Health Organization (WHO) quality of life tool.

Quality of Life Following Major Limb Amputations in a Rural Community in Cameroon

Background: Limb amputation is considered the last resort when the limb is no longer salvageable or when the limb is dead or dying, viable but nonfunctional or endangering the patient’s life. It is associated with profound economic, social, and psychological effects on the patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of life of major limb amputees in a rural setting in western Cameroon. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study carried out at the BATSENGLA-DSCHANG community in the West Region of Cameroon. Participants were interviewed and data collected using a pre-defined accredited questionnaire of the WHOQOL-BREF to assess the quality of life. Results: There were 63 participants, and a majority (60.32%) reported trauma as the cause of amputation. Participants with prostheses had a better quality of life. Conclusion: The age range of the study participants was 18 to 85 years with a mean of 46.73 ± 18.31 years. The majority were males (74.6%). Most of them (41.27%) had attained at least a secondary level of education, a majority (80.95%) were unemployed and more than half (55.56%) have less than the guaranteed inter-professional minimum wage. Major limb amputations were mostly due to traumatic causes (72%) and involved the lower limbs. Only a few (12.70%) used prostheses. Almost all of them (90.48%) had symptoms consistent with a phantom limb. The quality of life after major limb amputation in this study was generally fair according to the WHO quality of life tool.

Revitalization and Branding of Rural Communities in Cameroon Using a Circular Approach for Sustainable Development—A Proposal for the Batibo Municipality

Rural communities in Cameroon have high levels of poverty, poor living conditions and lagging sustainable development. Lack of economic, social and physical infrastructure opportunities make these communities unsustainable and impact the quality of life for residents. Existing conditions render these areas unattractive for visitors and external and local investors. Initiatives to reduce poverty and improve living standards have had limited impact to reducing poverty or improving quality of life. The recent signing of Cameroon’s decentralization law, giving authority for planning and investments to local council governments now provides an opportunity to rethink existing strategies. Using Batibo, a representative community in the north western region of Cameroon, this paper examines the status of development initiatives and identifies new priorities for planning and steps to improve economic status. Guided by the Theory of Ecological Design and Five Pillars of Economic Development, and using a circular city approach, this paper outlines a concept for town planning and architectural flagship projects that can project the image, culture and heritage of the community and strategies for improving markets. With decentralized governance and re-envisioned priorities, Batibo has an opportunity to become a prototype for sustainable development and model of a quality future in rural Cameroon.

Epilepsy-associated neurocognitive disorders (EAND) in an onchocerciasis-endemic rural community in Cameroon: A population-based case–control study

BackgroundEpilepsy affects at least 50 million individuals worldwide, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA). Cognitive impairment is common in people with epilepsy (PWE) yet, little is known on the burden of cognitive impairment in people with epilepsy in sSA. This study was thus designed to assess cognitive impairment in PWE or epilepsy-associated neurocognitive disorders (EAND) in a rural population in Cameroon. MethodsThis was a case–control study including PWE and age/sex-matched healthy controls from July to September 2017 in Bilomo, a village in the Mbam and Kim Division. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS), Dubois' Five Word testing, Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Isaac's Set Test and the Clock drawing test were administered to the study participants to evaluate global and specific cognitive functions. ResultsEighty participants were included (40 cases and 40 controls) with a mean age of 25.78 years. Using the MoCA, 87.5% of cases had cognitive impairment, against 37.5% of controls (p < 0.001; OR 11.67; CI 3.40–45.09). Using the IHDS, the prevalence of global cognitive impairment was 84.6% among the cases against 40% for the controls (p = <0.001; OR 7.07; CI 2.29–29.19). Specifically, executive function deficits (92.5% of cases vs 40.0% of controls p = <0.001 OR = 18.50 CI; 4.48–105.08) and decreased verbal fluency (100% of cases against 45% of controls p < 0.001) were the most affected cognitive domains. Longer duration of epilepsy and higher seizure frequency were associated with global cognitive impairment. Low level of education was associated with both decreased verbal fluency and executive dysfunction while a longer stay in Bilomo correlated with poor results on the Isaac's Set Test. ConclusionThe prevalence of cognitive impairment appears to be much higher in PWE in the Mbam valley, particularly decreased executive function and verbal fluency, than in people without epilepsy. Longer disease duration, higher seizure frequency, low level of education and length of stay in Bilomo are associated with poorer cognitive performance. More studies are needed to refine evaluation tools to better characterize and manage EAND in sSA.

Community-based door to door census of suspected people living with epilepsy: empowering community drug distributors to improve the provision of care to rural communities in Cameroon

BackgroundEpilepsy is a severe neurological disorder with huge psychological, social, and economic consequences, including premature deaths and loss of productivity. Sub-Saharan Africa carries the highest burden of epilepsy. The management of epilepsy in Cameroon remains unsatisfactory due to poor identification of cases and a limited knowledge of the distribution of the disease. The objective of this study was to determine whether community drug distributors (CDDs) - volunteers selected by their communities to distribute ivermectin against onchocerciasis and who have been proven efficient to deliver other health interventions such as insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria, vitamin A tablets, and albendazole to treat soil transmitted helminthiasis - can be used to reliably identify people living with epilepsy to promote better management of cases.MethodsThis study was carried out in three health Districts in Cameroon. An exhaustive house to house census was carried out by trained CDDs under the supervision of local nurses. In each household, all suspected cases of epilepsy were identified. In each health district, five communities were randomly selected for a second census by trained health personnel (research team). The results of the two censuses were compared for verification purposes.ResultsA total of 53,005 people was registered in the 190 communities surveyed with 794 (1.4%) individuals identified as suspected cases of epilepsy (SCE) by the CDDs. In the 15 communities where the SCE census was verified, the average ratio between the number of suspected cases of epilepsy reported in a community by the research team and that reported by the CDDs was 1.1; this ratio was < 0.8 and > 1.2 in 6 communities.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that CDDs, who are present in about 200,000 communities in 31 Sub Saharan African countries where onchocerciasis is endemic, can be successfully used to assess epilepsy prevalence, and therefore map epilepsy in many African countries.

Challenges and Prospects of Sustaining Donor-Funded Projects in Rural Cameroon

For more than five decades, developing countries (including Cameroon) have been primary beneficiaries of donor-funded projects targeting many sectors, including agriculture and rural development. Cameroon’s rural landscape witnessed a series of project interventions which emphasized sustainability. Although research efforts have been directed towards understanding the planning, implementation and impacts of donor-funded projects, not enough scientific information exists on the determinants, challenges and prospects of sustaining donor-funded projects in rural communities in Cameroon. For this study, the Investment Fund for Communal and Agricultural Micro-projects (FIMAC I) scheme, was used to diagnose the determinants, challenges and prospects for sustaining development projects in the North West Region (NWR) of Cameroon. A representative sample of 150 beneficiaries drawn from 20 farming groups in the NWR was conducted, to generate data which was complemented by interviews. The binary logistic regression results reveal the following: Although there is a significant change in the level of incomes for the FIMAC I project beneficiaries, its sustainability (mirrored through continuity) is dependent upon a myriad of socio-economic factors including family size, length of stay in the community, gender, education and the status of the beneficiary. Furthermore, the less transparent loan application process and the lack of collateral security were the main challenges faced by project beneficiaries. We argue that the introduction of soft loans with minimal demands for collateral security could increase beneficiary participation in projects, while beneficiary groups should further diversify their sources of capital and productive activities. The study does not only contribute to existing theoretical constructs on sustainable rural development, but also makes a succinct request for future studies to unbundle the conditions, under which donor-funded projects are rendered sustainable in rural contexts.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with hypertension among adults in a rural setting: the case of Ombe, Cameroon.

IntroductionHigh blood pressure is the most common cardiovascular disorder affecting approximately one billion people globally and remains a major contributor to the global burden of non-communicable diseases and mortality. Hypertension, once rare in traditional African societies, is now a major public health problem probably because of a rise in its risk factors. In sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 74.7 million individuals live with hypertension. This study was designed to determine the prevalence and identify risk factors associated with hypertension in adults aged 21 years and above in Ombe village, a rural Cameroonian setting in sub-Saharan Africa.MethodsThis study was a cross-sectional community based survey from March to September 2016 (seven months) in the village of Ombe, a rural community in the southwest region of Cameroon. Following ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Faculty of Health Science, University of Buea and administrative authorization, 243 participants (141 males and 102 females) through multi-stage sampling were randomly selected to take part in the study following consent which was voluntary and without any form of coercion. The principal research instrument was a questionnaire adapted from the WHO STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance- Instrument v2.1 which was administered to participants. The self-administered questionnaire collected socio-demographic information, data related to knowledge and practices related to hypertension, anthropometric data (weight and height from which the body mass index (BMI) was calculated). The blood pressure of study participants was measured. Data was entered using Microsoft Excel, then imported and analysed in SPSS v22.0. Frequencies and percentages were determined for categorical variables. Means and standard deviations (mean ± SD). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to investigate factors associated with high blood pressure (hypertension).ResultsThe results showed that 19.8% of the adult population had hypertension. Of the 243 respondents, 77.7% understood what is hypertension, 85% indicated that they could tell some consequences of high blood pressure (they indicated hypertension affects the heart, brain and kidneys) and 63.3% of study participants had never checked their blood pressure. Age greater than 40 years, harmful alcohol intake for more than 10 years, physical inactivity and obesity (BMI ≥ 25Kg/m2) were variables associated with hypertension on univariate analysis. Following multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for hypertension in our study were: physical inactivity (Adj. OR 2.6, 95%CI: 1.3-4.4, p = 0.021), regular alcohol consumption for more than 10 years (Adj. OR 2.9, 95%CI: 1.6-5.1, p = 0.014) and being older than 40 years of age: Adj. OR 2.5, 95%CI: 1.02-4.1, p = 0.002 in age category 41-60 years and this age related risk was even higher in persons older than 60 years of age Adj. OR 4.5, 95%CI: 2.1-6.3, p = 0.002.ConclusionThe findings of this study showed the prevalence of high blood pressure among adults in Ombe (a rural community in Cameroon) was 19.8%. Old age, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity were independent risk factors for hypertension. Despite the population demonstrating knowledge about hypertension and its possible poor consequences on health, less than half had ever gone for blood pressure checks. Interventions to improve physical activity, reduce alcohol consumption and boost health seeking (high blood pressure screening) behaviour will be beneficial as preventive measures in combatting hypertension.

Influence of food taboos on nutritional patterns in rural communities in Cameroon

Abstract Food taboos are observed in all traditional societies. In Cameroon, various taboos ranging from food to religious and social have significant impact on the diet of the people. Specific food items are regarded differently by different communities. While in certain communities, some food items are seen as fit for consumption, others deem it unfit. Although food taboos related to culture are more subject to change due to the level of literacy that prevails in the society and due to cultural contacts, violators of taboos suffer grievous consequences. Methods used included key informant interviews, focus group discussions and observations in all studied communities. The objective of the study is to understand how culture (food taboos) influences consumption patterns in traditional communities and the impact of disobedience on the people. This study of Cameroon food taboos has showed that dietary rules and regulations govern particular phases of life and is associated with special events like pregnancy, childbirth, lactation etc. In traditional societies, festivities such as hunting, wedding, and funeral are marked by specific food items. Punishments to violation of food taboos vary across food items and communities as what are considered a taboo in one community is not a taboo in another. Food taboo in some communities is considered as a way to maintain identity creating a sense of belonging.

Retraction of: Influence of food taboos on nutritional patterns in rural communities in Cameroon

Retraction of: Influence of food taboos on nutritional patterns in rural communities in Cameroon

Feasibility of integrating HIV testing into local youth development p rogrammes in Cameroon.

Many young people do not know their HIV status in sub-Saharan Africa where it is estimated that only 10% of young men and 15% of young women know their HIV status. In a rural community in Cameroon, we present a collaborative project that has successfully nested HIV testing for youths into a youth life skills development programme run by youths themselves with support from various local government services and private organisations. We tested 2024 clients, including 1623 (80%) aged ≤35 years, of whom 839 (51.7%) boys and 784 (49.3%) girls. The number of young people becoming aware of their HIV status for the first time was 1256 (77.4%). We urge HIV programmes to be inspired by this example that made it easier for more young people to know their HIV status.

Will China redefine development patterns in Africa? Evidence from Cameroon

China’s resource-driven foreign policies have led to closer relations with Africa where mineral resources remain the primary draw for Chinese investment. The expanding Chinese presence in Africa’s extractive industries has been portrayed as dominated by state-owned enterprises with central government sponsorship, taking the form of ‘package-financing’ where infrastructure was constructed to access mineral resources. Less attention has been paid to expansion of Chinese private enterprises which have become more significant in response to China’s ‘going out’ strategy in recent years. This study assesses the impacts of Chinese private firms investing in extractive industries particularly their impacts on rural communities in Cameroon. We show that the assumption that China’s state-owned enterprises are dominating extractive industries is not always the case and the Chinese private sector is becoming increasingly influential in Africa. In Cameroon, political instability, challenging investment conditions and environmental issues hinder all overseas investment, and terrorism has become a challenge for both recipient governments and foreign investors. Rural communities suffer the consequences of these constraints on investment. The conditions under which Chinese private sector investment could contribute to sustainable livelihoods in rural areas are discussed.

Influence of food taboos on nutritional patterns in rural communities in Cameroon

AbstractFood taboos are observed in all traditional societies. In Cameroon, various taboos ranging from food to religious and social have significant impact on the diet of the people. Specific food items are regarded differently by different communities. While in certain communities, some food items are seen as fit for consumption, others deem it unfit. Although food taboos related to culture are more subject to change due to the level of literacy that prevails in the society and due to cultural contacts, violators of taboos suffer grievous consequences. Methods used included key informant interviews, focus group discussions and observations in all studied communities. The objective of the study is to understand how culture (food taboos) influences consumption patterns in traditional communities and the impact of disobedience on the people. This study of Cameroon food taboos has showed that dietary rules and regulations govern particular phases of life and is associated with special events like pregnancy, childbirth, lactation etc. In traditional societies, festivities such as hunting, wedding, and funeral are marked by specific food items. Punishments to violation of food taboos vary across food items and communities as what are considered a taboo in one community is not a taboo in another. Food taboo in some communities is considered as a way to maintain identity creating a sense of belonging.

Community pico and micro hydropower for rural electrification: experiences from the mountain regions of Cameroon

Less than 15% of rural areas of Cameroon have access to grid electricity. Only 53% of the population has access to grid electricity. Notwithstanding, Cameroon has a huge hydropower potential which could be harnessed. Mini grids, powered by pico and micro hydropower plants, are a relatively new rural electrification strategy in Cameroon. Several of such mini grids have been realized in the mountain regions of the country. Some of these systems have been more successful than others. This paper aims to share the experiences of community-based pico and micro hydropower schemes for rural electrification in Cameroon. The paper provides insight to the challenges that three of such mini grid systems powered by pico and micro hydropower plants had encountered and it attempts to identify issues related to their performances. The study was based on personal experience, field visits, participant observations, interviews and focus group discussions with key members of the beneficiary communities and documentations from the local NGO which implemented the schemes. Key findings of this study relate to the description of the main aspects about: planning of a robust system design, organizational aspects, like social cohesion at all levels of scheme management, community leadership and ownership of the system and involvement of the beneficiaries at all stages of the project cycle. These aspects were particularly addressed within the context of rural communities in Cameroon.

Assessment of the Content and Utilization of Antenatal Care Services in a Rural Community in Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Pregnant women receive antenatal care (ANC) to ensure favorable pregnancy outcomes. Despite the high ANC coverage rate registered nationally in Cameroon; rural women, women with no formal education and those in the most deprived quintile still face difficulties in having access to quality ANC. The impact of the aforementioned factors on ANC use in the Muea Health Area (MHA) is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of women attending ANC and the factors influencing ANC attendance in the MHA. Materials and Methods: This was a community based, analytical, cross sectional survey that involved pregnant women and women with children less than two years old who gave an informed consent or assent. Data were collected using a semi structured questionnaire. EPI info Version 7 and Stat Pac for Windows version 12? 1998-2011 (Stat Pac Inc, Bloomington, USA) were used for data analysis. Associations were considered statistically significant for p values less than 0.05. Results: Two hundred and twenty women were interviewed. The mean age was 25 years (SD 5.28). Ninety-nine percent of women had at least one ANC visit meanwhile 84.8% had at least four ANC visits. Only 27.2% of women booked for ANC in the first trimester. Rural (Maumu) residence was associated with inappropriate ANC attendance (attending less than four times) (χ2 = 18.5; p = 0.001). Semi urban women (87%; 95% C.I. = 85.10% - 89.0%) were more likely to attend four or more sessions than rural (Maumu) women (60.7%; 95% C.I. = 44.2% - 77.3%) (p = 0.001). Participant’s educational level was a significant predictor of early booking for ANC (χ2 = 26.8; p = 0.0002). Semi urban wom- en (79.1%; 95% C.I. = 76.0% - 82.2%) were significantly more likely to have a vaginal examination done than rural (Maumu) women (42.1%; 95% C.I. = 17.5% - 68.2%) (p = 0.0001). Women who met a doctor during ANC (84.0%; 95% C.I. = 80.8% - 87.0%) were more likely to have a vaginal examination done than women who only met a nurse or a midwife during ANC (65.0%; 95% C.I. = 57.7% - 71.4%) (p = 0.002). One third of women did not have a vaginal examination performed during ANC. 45.83% and 47.6% neither did a stool test nor received an insecticide treated net (ITN) respectively. Conclusion: Women in the MHA start their antenatal care late, so they should be encouraged to book early for antenatal surveillance. Furthermore, efforts should be made to increase the access of these women to quality ANC services and to adequately trained ANC providers.

Opportunities for and capacity barriers to the implementation of REDD + projects with smallholder farmers: Case study of Awae and Akok, Centre and South Regions, Cameroon

There is increasing consensus over the inclusion of smallholder farmers in REDD+ (Reduced Emissions through reduced Deforestation and Degradation) initiatives, expected to be one essential component within the new set of “Flexible Mechanisms” in the post-Kyoto Climate Change Agreement. However, with few long-term REDD+ pilot projects implemented with smallholders, this paper attempts to anticipate potential synergies and constraints of such initiatives from smallholders' point of view by developing a framework to examine the capacities of two rural communities in Cameroon as a case study. Smallholder experiences with REDD+ pilots and their predecessors such as integrated conservation and development projects (ICDPs), Payments for Environmental Services (PES) and the Clean Development Mechanism's Afforestation/Reforestation Projects (CDM AR), are outlined in order to highlight local-level REDD+ project requirements. This paper assesses the capacity for smallholders in the South and Centre Provinces of Cameroon to respond to these requirements through data collected from individual and small-group key informant interviews. The two case study communities possess similar but different livelihood capitals regarding proximities to market, forest cover, livelihood strategies and access to extension services. For both villages smallholder capacity for future REDD+ project adoption was found to require reinforcement to guarantee local feasibility of REDD+ projects. Possibilities to encourage already in use agroforestry systems under a REDD+ scheme are discussed. From these results, we outline recommendations, areas of concern and key targets for capacity building for future REDD+ initiatives with smallholders in rural Africa.

The relationship between perception and prevalence of faecal-orally transmitted parasitic infections among school children’s in a rural community in Cameroon

Background : Faecal-orally transmitted parasites are those which are spread through faecal contamination of food and drinks. Infections with these parasites are responsible for high morbidity and mortality, especially in children in developing countries. Objective : This study was carried out to determine school children’s perception of faecal-orally transmitted parasitic infections and the relationship between that perception and the prevalence of the infections. Methods : Data were collected through questionnaires and laboratory analysis of stool samples. The study was conducted in two phases. In phase 1 questionnaires were administered to determine children’s knowledge on the cause, risk behaviours and prevention of the faecal-orally parasite infections. Stool specimens were analyzed using the formol-ether concentration technique. Health education was utilized in the experimental village, but not the control. Phase 2 was conducted six months later during which questionnaires were distributed and stool samples analyzed from both villages. Results : A total of 370 children were enrolled in this intervention study, out of which 208 were from Kake II (experimental arm) and 162 from Barombi-kang (control arm). At Kake II there was a significant increase in awareness in relation to the source of infection (9.5% vs. 62.5%, P 0.1) and there was no significant change in the prevalence of any of the faecal-orally transmitted parasites detected. The relationship between the perception and the prevalence of feacal orally transmitted parasitic infections showed a strong negative correlation (r dispersed between -0.97 and -99) Conclusion : Health education applied in the experimental village was responsible for the changed perception of infection by children and consequently for the reduction of infestation rate. Good perception of the infection was inversely proportional to its prevalence. Therefore, health education through the framework of school proved to be an effective control method for faecalorally parasite infections. We recommend this inexpensive method to be adopted as a national policy in developing countries, especially in rural communities. Key Words : Perception and prevalence, Faecal-orally transmitted parasitic infections, School children, Cameroon

Measuring the Impact of Health Education Modules in Cameroon, West Africa

Each year, more than two million people die from diarrhea-associated diseases. Although there is a global need for safe drinking water, culturally appropriate health teaching is essential to behavior change. This study evaluated the impact of a health education program in a small rural community in Cameroon. Flash cards and a modified version of the CDC-KPC 2000 survey were used to collect data in 57 homes. Children who lived in households with working Manz BioSand filters were less likely to have had diarrhea in the 2 weeks prior to the evaluation. There remained a gap between health knowledge and healthy behaviors for hand hygiene and malaria prevention. This gap was significant in the diarrheal treatment (McNemar's test, p < .000). The interdisciplinary program and 7-year time frame were crucial to sustainability. Faculty and students learned the importance of pairing service learning and research that respect local cultures in fostering a healthier global community.