Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) contributes 29% of the global unsafe abortions with 62% of abortion-related deaths. This is due to restrictive abortion laws, low quality post abortion care (PAC) and inadequate access to effective modern contraception. The overall objective was to review current literature on PAC in SSA and make recommendations for improvement especially in Cameroon. A literature review was conducted on PAC in SSA published during 2000-2018. The following databases were searched: MEDLINE, POPLINE, COCHRANE Library, African Index Medicus and GOOGLE Scholar. Thirty articles were reviewed from 16 countries ranging from observational studies to systematic reviews with meta-analysis. Major outcomes: 1) Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and misoprostol are equally safe and effective. 2) There is comparable effectiveness between physicians and trained mid-level cadres in PAC management. 3) PAC contraception uptake was increased when offered immediately before patient leaves the facility. 4) Gaps to PAC service use include inadequate access, low quality care and less adolescent-friendly environment. Task shifting of PAC to trained mid-level staff, decentralization of medical PAC using misoprostol, offering post abortion counselling and contraception to clients before leaving the health facility, encouraging linkage and provider-community partnership in PAC and reinforcement of advocacy for less restrictive abortion laws in Cameroon are recommended.
Introduction: The first case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Cameroon was confirmed on March 6, 2020. Though widely considered that pregnant women are more susceptible to respiratory tract infections, the available body of literature on the effect of COVID-19 on pregnancy outcomes is shy from being conclusive. In Cameroon, the Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (DGOPH) was one of the main frontline tertiary health facilities for the management of severe forms of the disease. After four months of managing COVID-19 cases in the general population and especially in pregnant women at the DGOPH, we decided to take a stop, analyze our findings from the patients managed in order to drive future policies and clinical practices via informed decisions. Overall objective: To describe and understand the clinical burden of patients managed for COVID-19 in pregnancy or post-partum at the DGOPH. Methodology: Cross-sectional and descriptive study covering four months-March 24 th to July 24 th 2020 at DGOPH. Using a pretested questionnaire, we systematically enrolled all pa
Introduction: Cervical cancer is a public health problem in Cameroon, due to low screening and late diagnosis. We sought to assess practice of colposcopy at the Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (DGOPH) in Cameroon and its contribution to the fight against cervical cancer in our context. Method: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study of 99 colposcopies after which 71 exploitable biopsies were retained at the Douala for a period of 1year (December 1, 2019-December 1, 2020). The nomenclature of the French Society of Colposcopy and Cervico-Vaginal Pathology (SFCPCV) was used. Results: Mean age of the participants was 44 years, mostly multiparous (80%). Cytological abnormalities were the main reference pattern. During the examination 22% of colposcopies were found to be normal, 37% of TAG 1-2A, 31% of TAG 2B-C, and 5% suspected of cancer. After histological analysis of biopsies guided by colposcopy, we found 42% (30/71) of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) 1, 15.5% (11/71) of CIN 2 -3, and 24% (17/71) cancer. Upon analysis of the diagnosed CIN1/CIN2-3/Cancers, we noted a concordance with colposcopy in 62% (23/37), 37% (10/27) and 85% (6/7) respectively. Colposcopic performance in the detection of high-grade lesions and above was 36% (26/71), with a sensitivity of 92.86%, specificity
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