Background The outbreak of COVID-19 has imposed many challenges on health systems. The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the clinical activity of pediatricians. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional and descriptive online survey among pediatricians practicing in Cameroon. Data were collected through an anonymous pre-tested Google Form®. Results Among the 118 pediatricians eligible for the survey, 101 responded (85.6%), of whom 61.2% were women. The pediatric outpatient consultations dropped significantly from 60.4% of pediatricians seeing more than 30 patients per week before the pandemic to 9.9% during the pandemic ( P < 0.000). According to the occupancy rate of hospitalisation beds, 45.5% of pediatricians reported having 76–100% of pediatric hospitalisation beds occupied per week before the pandemic but no pediatrician reported a similar rate during the pandemic ( P < 0.000). There was a significant increase in the use of telehealth, ranging from no pediatrician using telehealth “very frequently” before the pandemic to 23.8% using it during the pandemic ( P < 0.000). Most of the pediatricians had at their disposal surgical masks (96%), care gloves (80.2%), hydroalcoholic gel (99.0%), and soap and water (86.1%). For the management of children, 90.1% and 71.3% of pediatricians experienced difficulties accessing COVID-19 PCR and chloroquine, respectively, and 74.3% declared difficulties for proper isolation of patients. More than half (65.3%) of the pediatricians interviewed were “very afraid” or “extremely afraid” of being infected with SARS-Cov-2, respectively 45.5% and 19.8%. The most frequent reasons included fear of infecting their relatives (85.1%) and of developing a severe form of the disease (43.6%). The reluctance to consult health services expressed by the parents was due to: fear of being infected when leaving their home and especially in the health facility (96%), strict compliance with confinement (30.7%), and financial difficulties of families (13.9%). Conclusion This work highlights the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the clinical activity of Cameroonian pediatricians. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a significant drop in the use of health facilities, which probably has a negative impact on children's overall level of health. Although the preventive measures explain this drop in attendance at health facilities, the parents’ fear of being infected when leaving the house was the predominant reason likely to explain this drop in attendance at health facilities. This could constitute an axis for developing messages to parents to encourage a gradual return to child health services.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic reached Cameroon in March, 2020. The aim of this study was to unveil the consequences of this pandemic on hospitalizations and on mortality in a pediatric hospital. Methods: A descriptive and retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out using hospitalization and death statistics collected from a pediatric hospital. We compared the data before and after the pandemic and made predictions for the next 12 months. Results: A drastic drop in hospitalizations was noted coinciding with the partial lockdown in Cameroon. Paradoxically, at the same time, the number of deaths per month doubled though the causes remained the same as in the past. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic was marked by drop in hospitalizations and paradoxically, an increase in child mortality. These deaths were probably due not to SARS-Cov-2 infection, but rather due to the usual illnesses whose management was delayed, a probable consequence of the confinement.

Background In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, to palliate to the lockdown and cover academic programs, the faculty of medicine and pharmaceutical sciences (FMPS) of the university of Dschang (UDs) in Cameroon has implemented e-learning using WhatsApp®. Aim Describe the opinion of students and lecturers after its implementation of e-learning at the FMPS of UDs. Methods We designed a uniform teaching scheme using WhatsApp® during the university lockdown. Students and members of the teaching staff of the FMPS of UDs were enrolled after receiving clear information on the study implementation. At the end of the online-teaching period of two and a half months, we surveyed our students and teaching staff. Sociodemographic characteristics and opinions about e-learning were collected using a standard questionnaire. Results We enrolled 229 students and 40 lecturers of the FMPS. Students reported a decremented quality of internet connection (p < 0.001, p-homogeneity < 0.001) despite an increased expenditure related to internet use. Electronic devices were broadly used before the implementation of mobile learning. The use of course materials was significantly more challenging among students because of the size/format of lecture notes and internet connection/cost (all p < 0.05). Perception of discipline compared to classroom-based lessons was not significantly different among students compared to lecturers (all p > 0.05). While lecturers were mainly more comfortable conveying the contents of their lectures, students tended to be less prone to actively participate. The motivation and satisfaction of the latter group toward e-learning were modest compared to classroom-based lectures while their feedback about the organization was positive. Conclusions E-learning using WhatsApp® could be an effective alternative to conventional classroom-based lessons in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. The use of a blended-learning program including classroom-based sessions could help improve its limitations.

Despite some cases of severe or critical manifestations of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) described among children, the prevalence of this infection in the pediatric population is quite low worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Current data suggest indeed that, independent of the population considered overall, severe and critical cases of COVID-19 are rare among children. This observation prompted us to discuss the possible hypotheses which could explain the low prevalence of COVID-19 among children; amongst others, we discuss (1) immunomodulation by the Bacillus Calmette–Guerin vaccine or by some parasitic infections such as malaria, schistosomiasis, and helminthiasis and (2) cross immunization with other coronaviruses commonly found in the sub-Saharan African setting.

Background: Low vaccination coverage has been attributed to missed opportunities for vaccination (MOV). This study examines the prevalence of MOV, and its associated factors among children in Cameroon. Methods: Data from the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) was analyzed for children with at least one vaccination date in the home-based record (HBR). Immunization performances such as accessibility, drop-out, and timeliness, were assessed. Service quality was assessed using MOV. Multiple logistic regression examined the effect of DHS variables on MOV outcomes, and a decision tree approach was used to study their interaction. Results: Overall, 1824 children aged 12 to 23 months were surveyed; 1285 (70.45%) had cards seen with vaccination dates leading to 85.03% of immunization activities. A proportion of 46.5% of children were not completely vaccinated. There was 27% of drop-out between BCG and MCV1, and less than 10% with the specific antigens. Vaccination timeliness proportions ranged from 42.18% for BGC to less than 70% for PENTA1-3. The national prevalence of MOV for simultaneous vaccines was 75.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 72; 79). Among those who experienced MOV, 67.4% (95% CI = 60 -73) were uncorrected MOV. MOV was an issue in all regions and comparable in rural areas that urban areas (p = 0.2). Dose-specific MOV ranged from 2.66% (for the third dose of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) to 91.12 (for the yellow fever vaccine). Second birth order children experienced more MOV than first born children

Background Data on the prevalence and factors associated with low back pain (LBP) in schoolchildren are scarce in Africa, particularly in sub‐Saharan Africa. Objectives To assess the prevalence and factors associated with LBP in schoolchildren in Cameroon. Patients and methods We performed a cross‐sectional study in 10 randomly selected schools (public and private) in Douala, Cameroon. Using a self‐administrated questionnaire, sociodemographic, usual physical activity, and clinical data were collected and all the schoolbags were weighted. Informed consent was obtained from the parents. Statistical significance was established at P < .05. Logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with LBP. Results We included 1075 schoolchildren (543 boys, 50.5%). The prevalence of LBP was 12.3% (132 children: 81 girls and 51 boys). The mean age was 11 ± 1 years (range, 8‐14 years). Body mass index was normal in 110 schoolchildren (83.4%). Sixteen schoolchildren had already met a physician for LBP. Among the factors evaluated, those associated with LBP were female gender, doing competitive sport, sitting position, and LBP in at least 1 parent. The mean weight of the schoolbags was 4.9 ± 1.9 kg. We had 99 children with LBP and a schoolbag weight ≥10% of their body weight. No association was found between the weight of schoolbag and LBP. Conclusion LBP is common in Cameroonian schoolchildren, where 12.3% suffer from it. The weight of schoolbags was not associated with LBP. However, female gender, competitive sport, sitting position, and parental history of LBP were significantly associated with its occurrence.

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