Connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des professionnels de santé sur le cancer du col de l'utérus au Cameroun.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer is the cause of 311,000 deaths each year worldwide and 1,540 deaths in Cameroon. It is a public health problem, but only one in ten women is screened for cervical cancer screening in Cameroon. Little data is available on the KAPs of health professionals in the Mifi Health District, in the west Region of Cameroon. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of these professionals vis-à-vis cervical cancerResults: Overall, 200 health professionals were interviewed. Regarding the knowledge of the cause of cervical cancer, only 35% of participants were able to declare HPV. With regards to prevention measures, 32% of health professionals knew HPV vaccine. Regarding the perception of the disease; 79.3% of Physicians evoked cervical cancer as severe disease. Concerning the practice of screening, only 15% of health professionals routinely advise screening. CONCLUSION: Health workers in the health district of Mifi have poor knowledge on cervical cancer and weak practice of screening. Training of health professionals and the development of cervical cancer screening units are needed.

[Knowledge, attitudes and practices of health professionals regard to cervical cancer in Cameroon]. / Connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des professionnels de santé sur le cancer du col de l'utérus au Cameroun.

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer is the cause of 311,000 deaths each year worldwide and 1,540 deaths in Cameroon. It is a public health problem, but only one in ten women is screened for cervical cancer screening in Cameroon. Little data is available on the KAPs of health professionals in the Mifi Health District, in the west Region of Cameroon. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of these professionals vis-à-vis cervical cancerResults: Overall, 200 health professionals were interviewed. Regarding the knowledge of the cause of cervical cancer, only 35% of participants were able to declare HPV. With regards to prevention measures, 32% of health professionals knew HPV vaccine. Regarding the perception of the disease; 79.3% of Physicians evoked cervical cancer as severe disease. Concerning the practice of screening, only 15% of health professionals routinely advise screening. CONCLUSION: Health workers in the health district of Mifi have poor knowledge on cervical cancer and weak practice of screening. Training of health professionals and the development of cervical cancer screening units are needed.

Dysfonctionnements du processus d'évacuation sanitaire hors de la République du Congo de 2014 à 2017.

BACKGROUND: Medical evacuation is the transfer of a patient from a health institution to another for more appropriate care. The medical evacuation process is framed by legal texts. Dysfunctions are still possible. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to study the medical evacuation process in order to identify possible dysfunctions. METHODS: A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted from December 2017 to August 2018. We recruited 11 people according to saturation principles. They were all involved in the medical evacuation process. Data were collected according to an interview guide and recorded using a Dictaphone. Data analysis consisted of gathering the information extracted from the verbatim. RESULTS: Dysfunctions were noted in the doctor’s decisions for a possible evacuation, the constitution of the medical evacuation file and the signature of the clinical observation by the doctors. Irregularity in the Medical Evacuation Board meetings was also noted, leading to inappropriate decision-making. We found the absence of inter-sectorial collaboration in evacuation, leading to poor follow-up of transferred patients. We also found the payment for hospitalization and medical care in private accounts instead of selected hospitals’ accounts as stated in the evacuation guide. CONCLUSION: The medical evacuation process in the Republic of Congo suffers from many irregularities including the doctor’s decision, administrative and financial decisions, as well as the follow-up of patient in the host country and in the hospital abroad.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of staff of 4 hospitals in Yaoundé on the prevention of vertical transmission of hepatitis B.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis B virus infection is a public health concern in Cameroon and worldwide. With hepatitis C virus, it is the first cause of liver cancer in Cameroon. The high prevalence of 11.9% in Cameroon is associated with the premature contamination at the perinatal period, due to vertical transmission, from mother-to-child. To put into practice the preventives measures, actors need a good knowledge on premature contamination of a baby. The general objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of level of knowledge on the attitudes and the professional practices concerning prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B (PMTCT/HBV) in Yaoundéhospitals and environs. METHODS: We carried out a cross sectional multicentric, KAP study from 10th March to 15th December 2015 in the obstetrics services of 4 hospitals in Yaoundéand environs. For each health care provider who gave his consent, we used a pretested questionnaire to collect socio-demographics and professional data as well as their knowledges, attitudes and practices on PMTCT/HBV. After given a grade to each item, we proceeded to a quantitative analysis of data using SPSS software and Epi info 7th version. RESULTS: 105 health care provider took part in the study, made up of 82 women (79%) and 22 men (21%). The ages were between 23 and 60 years, with a mean age of 40.9 ± 9.2 years. Only 21% of the participants had good knowledges on HBV/PMCT. This knowledge had a significant link with the profession, the professional experience and the duration in the same service. All the nurseaids had inadequate knowledges as well as the elders in the profession. Most of the participants (64.4%) had favorableattitude on PMTCT/HBV and that was significantly associated to good knowledges. (OR:5.34; CI 95% [1.47-19.47], p = 0.006). The practices on PMTCT/HBV were inappropriate in 57.1% of the participants. There were no significant relation between good knowledge and the practices (OR: 1.818, CI 95% [0.705-4.68]; p = 0.213) as well as between good attitudes and practices on PMTCT/HBV (OR: 0.932; CI 95% [0.423-2.058]; p = 0.862). CONCLUSION: The healthcare provider in hospitals in Yaoundé and its environs are old. Their knowledge on PMTCT/HBV is inadequate and their practices inappropriate. Good knowledge doesn't always lead to good practices of PMTCT/HBV. There exist some obstacles or intermediate variables between good knowledge, good attitudes and appropriate practices of PMTCT/HBV.