Search Results (89)

This study presents a comprehensive data-limited stock assessment of bonga shad (Ethmalosa fimbriata) and lesser African threadfin (Galeoides decadactylus) in the Central Gulf of Guinea using complementary catch- and abundance-based approaches, including Abundance-based Maximum Sustainable Yield (AMSY), Catch-based Maximum Sustainable Yield ++ (CMSY++), and the Bayesian State-space Schaefer Model (BSM). These models were applied because they are suitable for evaluating stock status in data-limited fisheries using catch and abundance information. While AMSY primarily uses abundance information, CMSY++ integrates catch and productivity priors, whereas BSM incorporates state-space error structures to account for observation uncertainty. Catch time series (1990–2021) were extracted from Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) FishstatJ accessed in 2023, with catch values for 2022–2023 cautiously extrapolated from recent trends due to the temporary absence of updated official statistics. Standardized and scaled relative abundance indices from Cameroonian and Nigerian EEZ were used to support model estimation and assess the stock status. For Ethmalosa fimbriata, the results from CMSY++ and BSM yielded an MSY estimate of 126 × 10³ t and 95.5 × 10³ t, respectively, while for G. decadactylus, MSY from CMSY++ and BSM were 9.1 × 10³ and 13.4 × 10³, respectively. Stock status indicators suggested the stock was fully exploited based on both AMSY (F/F_MSY = 0.83) and CMSY++ (F/F_MSY = 1.03) and overfished based on BSM (F/F_MSY = 1.77). For G. decadactylus, the analysis based on AMSY suggested an overfished stock state (F/F_MSY = 1.2), while under CMSY++ and BSM, the stock is fully exploited. The log scale CPUE was symmetrical within the expected bounds, and the posterior parameter distributions were constrained, indicating that the model passed the convergence test and had robust parameter estimates. The study recommends maintaining catches within MSY-based reference points as the total allowable catch (TAC) and emphasizes the need for improved data continuity, regional collaboration, and precautionary management for long-term sustainability of fisheries resources in the Central Gulf of Guinea. Full article

The present study provides a multi-faceted validation and refinement of a distributed system architecture designed to improve emergency response in resource-constrained urban areas. The architecture integrates IoT sensors, edge computing, field-programmable gate arrays and distributed shortest-path algorithms to enhance resilience and operational efficiency. As a primary validation strategy, a survey of 78 Cameroonian experts in software engineering, distributed systems, urban planning and emergency technologies was conducted. The survey yielded quantitative and qualitative data across multiple analytical dimensions, including subgroup analysis and a transferability assessment covering Nigeria, Senegal, and Kenya. The statistical analysis confirmed that the architecture is technically feasible, adaptable to local constraints, and has the potential to reduce response times. As a secondary validation strategy, a simulation-based study was conducted using iFogSim on smart-city models ranging from 25 to 100 nodes, encompassing five experiments: result consistency, geographic sensitivity, concurrent incident management, path-caching efficiency, and scalability analysis. The simulation results quantitatively corroborate the expert assessments, demonstrating low end-to-end latency and sustained throughput with realistic urban load conditions. Key challenges identified include interoperability, urban data structuring, financial sustainability and inter-institutional coordination. Experts have proposed a hierarchical structure of priority actions and concrete recommendations for engineers, researchers and policymakers. The combined findings validate the architecture and establish a replicable expert-simulation evaluation framework applicable to analogous distributed emergency-response systems in comparable resource-constrained contexts. The empirical results further constitute a reference baseline for the design and implementation of similar architectures. Full article

African migrants living in High-Income Countries are more vulnerable to socio-economic insecurity, as well as higher morbidity and mortality. In their cultural background, these populations, especially the Bamiléké ethnic group from Cameroon, tend to socially value stoutness as a symbol of health and prosperity, potentially obesogenic in urban areas. However, recent studies showed that urbanisation has led to an acculturation process toward the promotion of thinness in young African adults, exposing them to emerging eating disorders. From this perspective, we conducted an original mixed-methods anthropological study, through a repeated qualitative cross-sectional study (two time points in 2011 and 2021) and a quantitative survey (in 2012), in young Cameroonian Bamiléké [18–39 y] migrating to urban Cameroon and France to innovatively explore obesity- and eating disorder-related body weight perceptions. We observed that the qualitative rural–urban tendencies were similar between 2011 and 2021. While rural people tended to value stoutness as a symbol of prosperity, wellbeing and peacefulness, urban people, especially in Paris, tended to value thinness, even extreme thinness, as a symbol of beauty and health and reported a pronounced weight stigma. Quantitatively, we found that Parisian Bamiléké had a desired and ideal body size (DBS and IBS) in the normal-weight category with standard deviations reaching or close to the underweight category, whereas the rural and urban ones had DBS and IBS means between normal-weight and overweight categories. Moreover, we observed a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in both urban groups while the Parisian one tended to underestimate one’s weight and expected to lose it. Public health policies should consider body image as a persisting risk factor for obesity and also a risk factor for emerging eating disorders in young Cameroonian migrants experiencing this dual burden within the urban transition. Full article

Handwashing is one of the recommended measures during the COVID-19 period to limit the spread of the disease and also contributes to the prevention of WASH-related illnesses. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of using a handwashing device on household healthcare expenditures in Cameroon, particularly during the period of strict COVID-19 strict restrictions. The data used were collected in September 2021 from 604 Cameroonian households in the Centre and Littoral regions as part of a study funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). To account for unobserved heterogeneity affecting both the decision to use a handwashing device and household healthcare expenditures, an Endogenous Switching Regression (ESR) model was employed. The results highlight that the main determinants of a household’s decision to use handwashing devices include environmental factors such as the region, given its importance in the implementation of communication strategies, as well as specific characteristics of the household head. Furthermore, the use of this device leads to a reduction of approximately 52% in healthcare expenditures for households that used it, which corresponds to an average amount of 12,900 CFA francs. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance in infected chronic wounds present significant risk of complications (e.g., amputations, fatalities). This research aimed to formulate honey-loaded hydrocolloid film comprising gelatin and HPMC, for potential treatment of infected chronic wounds. Honeys from different sources (Cameroonian and Manuka) were used as the bioactive ingredients and their functional characteristics evaluated and compared. The formulated solvent cast films were functionally characterized for tensile, mucoadhesion and moisture handling properties. The morphology and physical characteristics of the films were also analyzed using FTIR, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Antibacterial susceptibility testing was performed to study the inhibition of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus by honey components released from the films. The % elongation values (8.42–40.47%) increased, elastic modulus (30.74–0.62 Nmm) decreased, the stickiness (mucoadhesion) (0.9–1.9 N) increased, equilibrium water content (32.9–72.0%) and water vapor transmission rate (900–298 gm² day⁻¹) generally decreased, while zones of inhibition (2.4–6.5 mm) increased with increasing honey concentration for 1 and 5% w/v, respectively. The results generally showed similar performance for the different honeys and demonstrate the efficacy of honey-loaded hydrocolloid films as potential wound dressing against bacterial growth and potential treatment of infected chronic wounds. Full article

Approximately 10% of the US Black diaspora were born either in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) or Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), projected to account for a third of the Black US diaspora by 2060. Yet, details on foreign-born Black women’s labor and delivery (L&D) characteristics, such as the type of birth attendant, remain scarce. We used the National Center for Health Statistics 2016 to 2020 Natality data (n = 2,041,880). The associations between detailed maternal nativity (DMN) and the type of attendant at birth (i.e., physician, certified nurse-midwife (CNM), certified professional midwife (CPM)) among US-born, LAC-born, and SSA-born Black women were examined using multivariate multinomial regression. The study revealed that LAC-born women were more likely to have a CNM during birth than US-born Black women, but Haitian-born and Jamaican-born women had lower odds of having a certified professional midwife (CPM) at birth. When compared to US-born Black women, Cameroonian-born women had decreased odds of having either a CNM or CPM during birth. Findings suggest that DMN could be an indicator of cultural preferences in maternity care. There is a need for further investigation beyond DMN and comprehensive data collection methods for future research to understand the specific needs and preferences of different ethnocultural groups to improve maternity care and prevent adverse maternal health outcomes. Full article

This study focuses on the ongoing conflict in Cameroon between Anglophone separatist fighters and the predominantly Francophone government over the marginalization and discrimination of Anglophones in Cameroon and the creation of an independent state called the Republic of Ambazonia. This study seeks to understand the extent to which perceived discrimination explains national identification with the Republic of Cameroon and national identification with the so-called Republic of Ambazonia. In a sample of 314 participants, the results showed that there was no significant difference between national identification with the Republic of Cameroon and national identification with the Republic of Ambazonia. In addition, perceived personal discrimination and perceived group discrimination were positively associated with national identification with the Republic of Ambazonia but negatively associated with national identification with the Republic of Cameroon. Lastly, there was a negative correlation between national identification with the Republic of Cameroon and national identification with the Republic of Ambazonia. Implications and opportunities for further research are discussed as well. Full article

African cities are experiencing rapid, unregulated growth, characterized by high land pressure and growing demand for housing and urban infrastructure. New arrivals often settle in vulnerable areas (wetlands, hills, flood) where land is cheaper and unregulated by public authorities. This type of settlement is accompanied by numerous land conflicts, exacerbated by the coexistence of formal and customary land tenure systems, which struggle to harmonize. In this context, public land regulation policies often remain centralized and ill-adapted, revealing their limitations in ensuring equitable and sustainable management of urban land. Faced with this gap, our systematic study explores the socio-environmental dynamics of this normative pluralism in land governance within Cameroonian cities. Our findings highlight the tensions and opportunities of this complex coexistence, which vary significantly according to city size (small, medium, and large), the colonial heritage (Francophone and Anglophone), and the dominant legal framework (civil law and common law). The analysis highlights the need to take into account historical, linguistic, and politico-administrative roots, which profoundly influence local forms of the institutionalization of normative pluralism and the associated socio-environmental vulnerabilities. This normative plurality underlines the importance of a hybrid system of land governance capable of integrating local specificities while ensuring land security for all. Future research will include comparisons with other African countries in order to understand transferable mechanisms for better land governance. Full article

Malaria remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in endemic regions. The extensive genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) complicates outbreak prediction and transmission control. One of its most polymorphic markers, merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2), presents a potential target for molecular surveillance. This cross-sectional study, conducted at King Faisal Hospital Rwanda (KFHR) from October 2021 to June 2023, assessed MSP2’s utility in malaria prediction. PfMSP2 was sequenced, and selected amplicons were cloned, expressed in bacteria, and purified. These antigens were tested against sera from malaria patients and geographically diverse healthy individuals, with complementary surveys contextualizing serological findings. Of the 75 processed monoallelic clinical isolates, 3D7 strains predominated over FC27. Three MSP2-derived biomarkers were produced, eliciting significantly low IgG responses in malaria patients and Belgian controls, but a complex pattern emerged in healthy individuals, with significant differences between Rwandan and Cameroonian samples. IgG3 was the predominant subclass in individuals with high IgG responses. Notably, Rwandan individuals with weak humoral responses to the tested antigens but also other with high responses experienced malaria episodes in the subsequent year. These findings highlight MSP2 polymorphism as a valuable tool for malaria surveillance and outbreak prediction. Integrating genotyping and serology could enable precise, community-specific malaria risk assessments, strengthening control strategies. Full article

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and their risk factors are increasing with associated disability and mortality burden globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries, including Cameroon. Physiotherapist-led health promotion (PLHP) interventions provide opportunities to improve health and reduce this burden. Understanding physiotherapists’ practice, confidence, and perception is crucial for designing effective, context-specific PLHP interventions. Methods: This qualitative study explored physiotherapists’ practice, perceptions, and confidence in delivering PLHP to pwCVDs in Cameroon. Results: Sixteen participants completed the interviews, and analyses of the transcripts generated three main themes, which included (1) the perception of physiotherapists’ roles in health promotion (HP), (2) current practice of PLHP, and (3) competence in the delivery of PLHP. Physiotherapists believe that delivering HP interventions in practice is within their professional role. Current HP practice was limited to exercise, physical activity, and dietary/nutritional interventions. Participants reported a lack of knowledge and formal training in PLHP delivery. Conclusions: Despite intense interest in HP, HP practice among physiotherapists is limited in scope, is under-resourced, and is limited by a lack of confidence in delivering behavioural change interventions. These findings are relevant for the design of appropriate clinical training and policies for the care of pwCVDs. Full article

Ticks are well-known vectors of pathogens, posing considerable risks to livestock health and productivity. In Cameroon, where livestock production is vital, established tick species such as Amblyomma variegatum and Hyalomma truncatum are prevalent in key cattle-rearing areas. The recent introduction of the invasive, acaricide-resistant Rhipicephalus microplus further complicates control efforts. In this study, we deliver baseline data on the composition of tick species and their shifts within agroecological zone I (AEZ I) and agroecological zone III (AEZ III) of Cameroon, providing a foundation for targeted vector control strategies to ultimately reduce the risk of pathogen transmission. From 1100 ticks collected across two Cameroonian agroecological zones, H. truncatum (39.9%), A. variegatum (31%), and R. microplus (10.64%) were the most prevalent species, along with Rhipicephalus lunulatus (4.45%), Hyalomma rufipes (1.45%), Hyalomma marginatum (1.09%), Hyalomma dromedarii (0.45%), and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (0.9%). Molecular identification using cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and 16s led to the identification of five additional species, Hyalomma nitidum (0.73%), Rhipicephalus simus (3.54%), Rhipicephalus sulcatus (2.64%), Rhipicephalus praetextatus (2.1%), and Rhipicephalus pusillus (1.1%). R. microplus emerged as the most dominant Rhipicephalus spp. in AEZ I, comprising 67.5% of the total Rhipicephalus ticks. In conclusion, we demonstrate the further spread of R. microplus, which represents a major source of vector-borne diseases, affecting both humans and animals. Full article

Croton sylvaticus, a tropical African plant, is traditionally used to treat several diseases, including fever, inflammation, and malaria. Essential oils (EOs) from the plant’s leaves, roots, and trunk bark were obtained by hydrodistillation, and their chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The major constituents identified were virdiflorene (18.13 ± 0.46%) in root EO, (E)-β-caryophyllene (18.40 ± 0.60%) in trunk bark EO, and farnesyl acetone (15.26 ± 0.25%) in leaf EO. Notably, Cameroonian C. sylvaticus leaf EO exhibited a distinct and newly described chemotype with high levels of farnesyl acetone, β-copaene-4-α-ol, β-cadinene, α-humulene, and trans-longipinocarveol. In vitro testing revealed significant antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum asexual (Pf3D7) and sexual (NF-54 strain) stages, with trunk bark EO showing the highest potency (IC₅₀: 9.06 ± 2.15 µg/mL for Pf3D7 and 0.56 µg/mL for gametocytes). These findings support the traditional antimalarial use of C. sylvaticus and represent the first chemical profile and antiplasmodial efficacy report for its root and trunk bark EOs against both parasite stages. To the best of our knowledge, we also report for the first time the antiplasmodial activity of an EO that exerts significant activity against both the asexual and sexual forms of P. falciparum. Full article

For the past 8 years, Cameroon has been witnessing a deadly conflict between anglophone separatist fighters and the Cameroon military over the form of governance. This study seeks to highlight anglophone attitudes and preferences towards forms of governance, as well as the differences between men and women and between northwesterners and southwesterners, i.e., the inhabitants of the two English-speaking regions in Cameroon, with respect to this question. In addition, it explores the relationship between age and attitudes toward the form of state. In a sample of 314 participants, the results show that men were more supportive of an independent state than women, but women were more supportive of a federal state than men. On the other hand, support for a unitary state, the current form of state, was extremely low, and there was no significant difference between men and women. Also, this study shows that there is no significant difference between anglophones from the northwest region and anglophones from the southwest region in terms of their support for an independent state, a federal state, and a unitary state. Lastly, the results indicate that there is a significant positive correlation between age and support for an independent state, a significant negative correlation between age and support for a federal state, and a nonsignificant negative correlation between age and support for a unitary state. The implications, limitations, and recommendations of this study are discussed as well. Full article

The coast is the most dynamic part of the Earth’s surface due to its strategic position at the interface of the land and the sea. It is, therefore, exposed to hazards and specific risks because of the geography as well as the geological and environmental characteristics of different countries. The coastal environment is essentially dynamic and evolving in time and space, marked by waves, tides, and seasons; moreover, it is subjected to many marine and continental processes (forcing). This succession of events significantly influences the frequency and severity of coastal hazards. The present paper aims at describing and characterizing the hazards and vulnerabilities on the Cameroonian coast. Cameroon possesses 400 km of coastline, which is exposed to various hazards. It is important to determine the probabilities of these hazards, the associated effects, and the related vulnerabilities. In this study, in this stable intraplate setting, the methodology used was diverse and combined techniques for the study of the shore and methods for the treatment of climatic data. Also, historical data were collected during field observations and from the CRED website for all the natural hazards recorded in Cameroon. In addition, documents on climate change were consulted. Remotely sensed data, combined with GIS tools, helped to determine and assess the associated risks. A critical grid combining a severity and frequency analysis was used to better understand these hazards and the coastal vulnerabilities of Cameroon. The results show that Cameroon’s coastal margins are subject to natural processes that cause shoreline changes, including inundation, erosion, and accretion. This study identified seven primary hazard types (earthquakes, volcanism, landslides, floods, erosion, sea level rise, and black tides) affecting the Cameroonian coastline, with the erosion rate exceeding 1.15 m/year at Cape Cameroon. Coastal populations are continuously threatened by these natural or man-induced hazards, and they are periodically subjected to catastrophic disasters such as floods and landslides, as experienced in Cameroon. In addition, despite the existence of the National Contingency Plan devised by the Directorate of Civil Protection, National Risk, and Climate Change Observatories, the implementation of disaster risk reduction and mitigation strategies is suboptimal. Full article

Dual therapies (DT) combining integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) with second-generation non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (2nd-Gen-NNRTIs) offer new possibilities for HIV treatment to improve adherence. However, drug resistance associated mutations (RAMs) to prior antiretrovirals may jeopardize the efficacy of DT. We herein describe the predicted efficacy of DT combining INSTIs + 2nd-Gen-NNRTI following treatment failure among Cameroonian patients. We genotyped the HIV-1 pol gene using Sanger sequencing and assessed acquired RAMs to NNRTIs and INSTIs in patients failing treatment from March 2019 to December 2023. Drug susceptibility was interpreted using Stanford HIVdb v9.5, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v22. Of 130 successfully genotyped participants (median age (IQR): 38 (27–46) years; 59.2% female), 92.3% had RAMs to NNRTIs and 1.5% to INSTIs. Prevailing RAMs were Y181C (32.3%) among NNRTIs and R263K (0.7%) among INSTIs. Among 2nd-Gen-NNRTIs, etravirine, doravirine and rilpivirine had 43.85%, 41.54% and 38.46% genotypic sensitivity, respectively. Among INSTIs, we found 97.69% efficacy for dolutegravir/bictegravir, 96.15% for cabotegravir and 92.31% for elvitegravir/raltegravir. The overall predictive efficacy of DT was lower among participants who failed 1st-Gen-NNRTI (p < 0.001); with etravirine + dolutegravir/bictegravir combination showing the highest score (43.8%). Conclusively, DT combining INSTIs + 2nd-Gen-NNRTIs might be suboptimal in the context of previous ART failure, especially with NNRTI-based treatment in low- and middle-income countries. The general data clearly indicate that without resistance testing, it is nearly impossible to use long-acting dual therapies in previously failing patients. Full article