Current Issue : April-June Volume : 2026 Issue Number : 2 Articles : 6 Articles
Vitamin D is a crucial vitamin that regulates human metabolism, and its deficiency or insufficiency significantly impacts human health. Maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy can affect both the mother’s and her offspring’s health to varying degrees. Whether routine screening for vitamin D nutritional status in pregnant women and their offspring is necessary requires further large-scale clinical research to provide scientific evidence aimed at enhancing the health outcomes for both mothers and their offspring....
Background: Infertility carries a major psychosocial burden in sub-Saharan Africa, yet women’s quality of life (QoL) is rarely assessed with standardized tools. The Fertility Quality of Life questionnaire (FertiQoL) is internationally validated but had not been used in Cameroon prior to this study. Objective: To assess the impact of infertility on women’s QoL in Douala using FertiQoL and to identify associated determinants. Methods: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study over nine months in four health facilities in Douala. One hundred and seventy-three infertile women aged 25 - 55 years were included. QoL was measured with FertiQoL (emotional, social, relational, and mind–body domains). Associations with impaired QoL were examined using multivariable logistic regression (p < 0.05). Results: Mean age was 37.2 ± 6.1 years; secondary infertility accounted for 76.9%. Over half reported self-medication (63.6%) or phytotherapy (68.2%). Overall, 55.1% had impaired QoL. The most affected domains were emotional (72.3 %), social (71.7%), and mind–body (68.8%), whereas the relational domain was comparatively preserved. Independent determinants of impaired QoL were single marital status (OR = 1.57; p = 0.001), monthly income < 100,000 FCFA (OR = 1.50; p = 0.019), history of STIs (OR = 3.60; p = 0.001), nulliparity (OR = 1.32; p = 0.001), and infertility duration >20 years (OR = 1.48; p = 0.038). Conclusion: This study the first Cameroonian application of FertiQoL shows a substantial negative impact of infertility on women’s QoL in Douala, particularly in the emotional and social domains. Findings support a holistic, multidisciplinary approach that includes psychological support and improved access to reproductive care....
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic cancer. Early detection is one of the most important predictors of survival. The cancer is curable if detected early but the five-year survival rate in advanced cases can be as low as 22%. Microsatellite instability (MSI) testing is used to screen populations for Lynch Syndrome (LS), the most common cause of inherited EC, and to classify EC into distinct groups with unique histological, prognostic, and molecular features. Accurate sample identification is crucial for successful MSI testing because instability is assessed by comparing amplification patterns in markers in the normal and tumor samples that must be taken from the same individual. Penta-C and Penta-D pentanucleotide markers are used widely for sample identification in not only MSI testing but also parentage verification, forensic science, and population genetics studies. The objective of this study was to test 324 pairs of tumor and matched normal DNAs from EC patients for instability in these markers using the Promega MSI Analysis SystemTM considered the “gold standard” in MSI testing. Both markers were unstable, and therefore not reliable for MSI testing, in 8.2% of the EC patients with MSI. Instability in both mono- and pentanucleotide markers suggest that the tumors with MSI likely suffer from a “generalized” form of instability also affecting other short tandem repeats. Results from many studies using these markers for various purposes may not be accurate if samples with MSI are involved....
Introduction: Trial of Labor After Cesarean (TOLAC) is an alternative to iterative cesarean section. This study aimed to identify maternal-fetal factors associated with the outcome of TOLAC in four referral hospitals in Cameroon. Methodology: This was a retrospective case-control study conducted from January 2016 to December 2018 at the Yaoundé Central Hospital, the Yaoundé Teaching Hospital, the Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, and the Douala General Hospital. Cases (VBAC success) and controls (TOLAC failure) were matched according to maternal age and delivery site. Multivariate analysis identified factors independently associated with a favourable outcome. Results: Out of 468 women with unicatricial uterine who attempted vaginal delivery, 156 were successful and 312 were unsuccessful. Factors independently associated with a favorable outcome were: a favorable Bishop score (aOR = 42.24; 95% CI: 22.04 - 84.12), dilation ≥ 5 cm at admission (aOR = 7.63; 95% CI: 4.73 - 12.36), an estimated fetal weight between 2500 - 3500 g (aOR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.44 - 3.17), clear amniotic fluid (aOR = 3.18; 95% CI: 1.73 - 6.16), and the absence of major obstetric comorbidities (aOR = 5.09; 95% CI: 2.1 - 14.73). Conclusion: Both maternal and fetal characteristics influence TOLAC outcomes. These results support the development of appropriate protocols to reduce unnecessary cesarean sections in resource-limited settings like Cameroonian hospitals....
Introduction: Obstetric hemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide, accounting for approximately 25% of pregnancy-related deaths, particularly during the postpartum period. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of blood transfusion in the management of obstetric emergencies. Patients and Method: We conducted a cross-sectional, analytical study with prospective data collection, covering the period from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019. Included in this study were all women in the period of pregnancy and childbirth presenting with hemorrhage and who were admitted to the gynecology-obstetrics departments of the different health districts for an obstetric emergency requiring a blood transfusion. Results: Blood transfusions were required in 16.3% of obstetric emergencies. The mean age of the patients was 28 ± 6.6 years, ranging from 15 to 49 years. The mean parity was 4.3, with a range from 1 to 11 children. The majority of patients (85.78%) were unpaid, and 75% had received prenatal care. Most patients (76.80%) were transferred to the hospital, often due to symptoms such as dizziness and dyspnea (42.56%). The shock index was less than 0.9 in 30.75% of patients. The main indications for blood transfusion were uterine atony, retained placenta, soft tissue tears, nutritional anemia, and malaria complicated by anemia. The most frequently requested blood types were O positive and B positive. In more than half of the cases (50.50%), the requested blood product was whole blood, while 21.20% of cases required packed red blood cells. Transfusion reactions were recorded, including acute pulmonary edema (5 cases), anaphylactic shock (4 cases), and 18 maternal deaths due to delays in obtaining blood products and/or unmet needs. Conclusion: Blood transfusion plays a crucial role in the management of obstetric emergencies. The implementation of preventive measures and the continuous availability of blood products could significantly improve obstetric outcomes and reduce maternal and fetal mortality....
Introduction: Repeat induced abortions constitute 31.3% of all induced abortions. Three in ten induced abortions are carried out on students. The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with repeat induced abortions among students at two public universities in Cameroon. Methods: A casecontrol study was conducted. The cases involved students who had undergone two or more induced abortions, while the controls comprised students with one induced abortion. These data were analysed using SPSS software version 23.0. Bivariate analysis was followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: We identified a total of 60 cases and matched them with 60 controls. The significant factors influencing the repetition of induced abortions were: recourse to the previous abortion ≥ 3 years (P = 0.0001; OR 12.65 [5.24 - 30.5]); pressure from the environment (P = 0.032; OR 3.30 [1.11 - 9.99]); unstable situation of the couple (P = 0.012; OR 4.20 [1.37 - 12.91]); and the absence of psychological support after the previous abortion (P = 0.033; OR 3.28 [0.01 - 9.78]). Conclusion: A delay of three years or more between two abortions, coupled with a lack of psychological and family support, increases the risk of repeat induced abortion....
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