PURPOSE Cervical cancer constitutes a public health problem in Cameroon where it represents 13.8% of cancers in women. We wanted to evaluate compliance with cervical cancer care with a focus on patients who are lost to follow-up from the time that symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer are clinically recognized to treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sociodemographic data, attitude toward diagnosis and treatment, and reason for discontinuing care were recorded and analyzed for a period of 5 years from January 2010 to December 2015. RESULTS One hundred twenty-six patients had symptoms suggestive of cervical cancer, but only 110 (87.30%) could pay for biopsy, 29 (26.36%) of those did not collect their results, 17 (18.7%) denied their results, and 20 (19%) did not benefit from treatment. Only 44 of 110 patients were able to finish their cancer care treatment program. Reasons for discontinuing the cancer care included lack of financial means to pay for it, distance from the care center, and belief in alternative treatments. CONCLUSION This study highlights the magnitude of the difficulties of accessing and receiving cancer care in semiurban areas in Cameroon. Poverty, belief in alternative treatment options, and unequal distribution of care services determined which patients would be lost to follow-up. Redistribution of resources and cancer care providers is mandatory to improve this situation.
Background: Pelvic fractures constitute about 2% -8% of all fractures. This incidence may rise up to 25% in poly-traumatised patients. These fractures have a high mortality rate due to the fact that they occur usually as a result of high energy trauma, and most of the injured are poly-traumatised with concomitant haemodynamic instability. The aim of this study is to describe the patterns of injury and complications of unstable pelvic fractures treated in a level III hospital in Cameroon. Methodology: This was a hospital based retrospective analysis of files of patients admitted and treated for unstable pelvic fractures at the Regional Hospital Limbe within a period of 10 years (from 1 st of January 2009 to 31 st of December 2018). Results: A total of 139 cases of pelvic fractures were identified, amongst which 77 were unstable; 68 were finally analyzed. The ages ranged from 18 to 80 years with a mean of 39 ± 5 years. The age group from 20 -40 years was most represented (58.88%, n = 40). There were 45 males and 23 females giving a sex-ratio of 2:1. Road traffic injuries accounted for most of the cases (73.53%, n = 50). Forty-five (66.2%) were classified Tile B and 23 (33.82%) were Tile C, and 15 cases were open fractures (22.06%). Associated lesions were recorded in 30 cases, fractures of the lower extremity being the most common (33.33%, n = 10). Most of the cases were definitively treated surgically (80.89%, n = 55). The most common complications were surgical site infections (23.64%, n = 13). Conclusion: Unstable pelvic fractures are relatively common. Young males in the age group 20 -40 years are the most affected, and the most common cause of injury was road traffic accident. Surgical site infections, pressure ulcers, severe
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