Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and associated factors among inmates: a cross sectional study in the Douala New Bell Prison, Cameroon.

INTRODUCTION: in Cameroon, data on viral hepatitis B infection in prison environments is limited. We determined the prevalence of hepatitis B infection (HBV) and correlates among prisoners incarcerated at the Douala New Bell Central Prison in Cameroon. METHODS: this was a cross-sectional study carried out in July 2018 and included 940 randomly selected prisoners. Data were collected using pre-tested questionnaire while blood screening for HBV surface antigen (HBs Ag) used rapid test, with confirmation via Elisa test. Sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors were compared among the three age groups with respect to the prison's partitioning. Factors associated with positive HBs Ag were identified using logistic regression adjusted to age and gender. Confounders were then excluded by logistic multivariate analysis. All p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: of the 940 prisoners selected, 94% were male. The mean age of the study population was 33.81 ± 10.35 years. The median duration of incarceration and median number of incarcerations were 12 months (IQR: 5-36) and 1 (IQR: 1-2) respectively. HBV prevalence was 12.9% (95% CI: 10.7-15%). The use of non-injectable illicit drugs (OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.9-6.2; P<0.001), sharing of needle or razors (aOR: 24.1; 95% CI: 12.9-45.0; P<0.001), sharing of tooth brushes(aOR: 2.7; 95% CI: 0.9-7.4) (P=0.053), having tattoos or piercings (aOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.1; P=0.01) were significantly associated with HBs Ag seropositivity. CONCLUSION: prisoners in this setting had a high prevalence of HBV and related risk factors. These findings highlight an urgent need to implement control strategies and programs that reach people in detention centers in Cameroon.

Non-obstetric vulva haematomas in a low resource setting: two case reports.

Vulva haematomas are uncommon outside the obstetric population, with an incidence of 3.7% and represent only 0.8% of all gynaecological emergencies. The first case is a 24-year-old G2P1011 referred after the failure of conservative management of a progressively increasing right labia majora swelling. Vulva incision, exploration and relieve of hematoma were done under local anaesthesia. The second case is a 17-year-old G1P1001, a student who presented with spontaneous pain and swelling of the left labia majora. The swelling was rapidly increasing, tense and tender. It spontaneously ruptured, clots were drained and the wound was packed. Vulva hematomas are not very common hence necessitating careful assessment, right diagnosis and management. Management could be conservative (analgesics, local compression) as well as surgical in cases of hemodynamic instability, rapidly increasing size of hematoma and pain intensity. Prompt surgical management reduces the risk of infection and longer hospital stays, which is important in low resource settings like ours.

Awareness and Vaccine Coverage of Hepatitis B among Cameroonian Medical Students.

BACKGROUND: The endemic nature of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in Sub-Saharan Africa is a significant public health problem that places health care providers (medical students inclusive) at increased risk of occupational exposure. However vaccination against HBV is not systematic among medical students in Cameroon. Thus, we sought to evaluate awareness and HBV vaccine coverage among medical students in Cameroon. METHODS: Using semistructured questionnaire and a cross-sectional approach, medical students from 3 State Universities in Cameroon were evaluated for their knowledge, attitudes, and vaccination status against the HBV. Data were collected over a 3-month period. HBV vaccine status was defined as complete (3 doses), partial (1 and 2 doses), and unvaccinated. Data were entered and analyzed using Epi-info 7. RESULTS: There were 714 respondents among whom 186 (26.05%) had been vaccinated at least once against HBV. Sixty-six (9.24%) were partially vaccinated and 120 (16.81%) completely vaccinated. No student had done postvaccination serologic testing to confirm full immunisation. Eighty-three percent (83.00%) of respondents had adequate knowledge on HBV infection and vaccine, while 90.00% had adequate knowledge on HBV transmission. Most medical students had a positive attitude towards the HBV vaccine. The most common negative attitudes were worries about the side effects and fears of being infected by the vaccine. CONCLUSION: Despite adequate knowledge on HBV infection and vaccination only about 1 in 6 medical students had completed the HBV vaccination series. This highlights the need for better health policies aimed at increasing access and coverage of the HBV in at-risk populations like medical students.

Blighted ovum and tubal pregnancy: a rare form of heterotopic pregnancy: case report.

BACKGROUND: Heterotopic pregnancies are rare in spontaneous conceptions. Nonetheless, when it does occur, the intrauterine pregnancy is usually viable. We herein present a true rarity of the coexistence of a blighted ovum and an ectopic pregnancy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 25 year old G2P1001 married seamstress of African ethnicity at 8 weeks of amenorrhoea presented to our health facility with a 4 day history of lower abdominal pains and vaginal bleeding for which physical examination revealed a closed cervix. Trans-abdominal ultrasound scan confirmed a diagnosis of a blighted ovum and an ectopic pregnancy. Patient was managed with surgical therapy. Evolution thereafter was uneventful. CONCLUSION: The case presented confirms that HP can occur in the absence of predisposing factors, and that the detection of a blighted ovum should not preclude the possibility of a simultaneous ectopic pregnancy. A high index of suspicion could lead to early diagnosis, prompt management and a favourable prognosis even in a low-income setting.

Right iliac vein thrombosis mimicking acute appendicitis in pregnancy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Right iliac vein thrombosis is uncommon in pregnancy. Nonetheless, when it does occur, its presentation could be very unspecific with important diagnostic challenges and this could have negative therapeutic consequences especially in a resource limited setting. CASE PRESENTATION: The historical, clinical and laboratory data of a 30 year old G2P1001 woman of African ethnicity at 11 weeks of gestation pointed towards a right iliac vein thrombosis missed for an acute appendicitis with subsequent appendectomy and failure to cure. Following the diagnosis of right iliac vein thrombosis post-appendectomy, the patient was started on low molecular weight heparin and the clinical progress thereafter was favourable. CONCLUSION: Pelvic vein thrombosis should be considered a differential diagnosis of intractable lower abdominal pain in early pregnancy. A high index of suspicion could lead to early diagnosis, prompt management and a favourable prognosis even in a low-income setting.