Knowledge and Attitudes of Population Living in Rural and Semi-Rural Areas towards Covid-19 :Case of the Menoua Division, Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: The pandemic situation the world is facing caused by the new SARS-Cov-2 continues to evolve and still represent a real problem. With more than eight thousand reported cases infection, Cameroon stands as the seventh most affected country in Africa. Prevention remains the best way to fight against this zoonosis. However, the limited information available about this infection is a great barrier to stopping the propagation of the virus within the population, especially in rural and semi-rural areas, where the lack of financial and material resources is a reality. This study aimed to assessing Awareness and attitudes of the population of the Menoua Division on COVID-19 infection. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 9 to April 15 2020 amongst the populations of rural and semi-rural areas of the Menoua Division. Data were collected using a questionnaire administered face to face to each participant. The analysis was carried out using the Statistical Analysis System software (SAS version 9.4). The significance threshold was set at a P value of less than 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 434 participants of which male majority (sex ratio 1.07) were included in this study. The most represented age group was [21 - 40] years old representing 40.29% of the participants. Approximately all participants (98.57%) were aware of the world emergency state due to Coronavirus. 75.56%, 91% and 90.93% of the participants knew respectively that having close contacts, kissing and touching the face with the hands could favor the transmission of the virus. However, nearly 91.14% were not aware of the clinical symptoms of the disease. Moreover, 85.02% responded that they would not be able to comply with the confinement measures if they were applied at national level. The level of awareness varied significantly according to the occupation (p=0.038) and the educational level (p<0.001)of the participants. CONCLUSION: The average level of awareness of the population of the Menoua Division on COVID-19 infection was relatively low. Overcoming this pandemic disease means ensuring the flow of the correct information towards the population. Community outreach activities focus on clinical manifestations and what to do in case of COVID-19 infection as well as material and financial support should be help the population to protect themselves effectively against pandemic, particularly in rural areas and surrounding.

The problem of lost to follow-up of mother-child pairs enrolled in the PMTCT program in Dschang District Hospital-Cameroon.

High rates of lost to follow-up (LTFU) in the Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs in Cameroon will only contribute in hindering the successful implementation of the program. The objective of this study was to determine the reasons of LTFU of mother-child pairs enrolled in the PMTCT program in Dschang District Hospital (DDH): Cameroon. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in HIV+ exposed children delivered in the DDH from1st Jan 2012 - 31st Dec 2014, who were greater than or equal to 18 months at the study period (1st August - 30th September 2016) and whose mothers were enrolled in the PMTCT program for at least 3 months. Children were considered LTFU if they did not return to the hospital for the establishment of their HIV status at 18 months. A complementary cross-sectional study was done whereby a structured questionnaire was administered to the LTFU group via telephone calls, in order to determine the causes of LTFU. Data was collected from hospital registers and analyses done using Epi info 7.1.3.3 software. Results: A total of 141 mother-child pairs were eligible for the study, 76 were reachable via phone calls and 36 (47.37%) met the case definition of LTFU. Out of the 36 (47.37%) children LTFU, lack of information, 19(65.52%); lack of support from male partners, 4(11.11%); Poor behavior of health personnel, 2 (5.56%); forgetfulness, negligence/time wasting, unavailability of results, fear of child being infected, and family problems were all listed at equal proportions of, 3(6.90%) as well as financial problem, 1 (2.78%) were all causes of LTFU identified in this study.

Knowledge on STIs / HIV / AIDS, Stigma-Discrimination and sexual behaviors AMONG students of the University of Dschang, in Cameroon.

This study reports the results of a survey conducted among students of the University of Dschang, on STI/HIV/AIDS, the Stigma-Discrimination pair and sexual behaviors. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted during the months of January and February 2017. We collected data by a face to face questionnaire administered to students of the University of Dschang. The codification, process and analysis have been done using the software EPI-Info 7.3.1.1, with the threshold of significance set at 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 520 individuals participated in this survey, with more than half (62.7%, n = 326/520) aged between 20-30 years, with a male/female sex ratio of 1,031. The vast majority (83%, n = 418/520) of them were in the undergraduate cycle. The main modes of transmission cited included: the combination of items such as blood transfusion / soiled objects / Mother-to-child transmission/ unprotected sex for 36.3% of respondents (n = 186/516) although 21.9 % (n = 112/516) of them admitted not knowing any modes of transmission of STIs / HIV. Also, 74.2% (n = 386/520) of respondents were sexually active, with the estimated age of sex debut being over 18 years (53.9%; 208/386) for half of them. Of the 36.2% (n = 186/514) respondents who reported knowing someone with STI / HIV and AIDS, the first feeling they had with regards to them was pity (86.6%; n = 386/446), followed by fear in 11.7% (n = 52/446) of respondents but yet 40.2% (n = 208/518) admitted they have never heard of discrimination. CONCLUSION: Stigma and discrimination in the student milieu remains a major barrier to students' development who, becoming sexually active at a very early age, are more exposed to the risk of contracting STI / HIV. Sensitization actions should be implemented within university campuses and reproductive health courses for young adults, included in the academic curriculum for a significant reduction in the number of new infections.