Background: Meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) is frequently encountered in obstetric practice. Literature on the subject is still poorly documented in the African setting. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the maternal and fetal outcomes in case of meconium stained amniotic fluid observed during term labour. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study enrolling all consenting pregnant women with term singleton fetus in cephalic presentation admitted for labour with ruptured fetal membranes in the maternity units of the Yaoundé Central Hospital (YCH) and the Yaoundé Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (YGOPH) of Cameroon between December 2014 and April 2015. The exposed grouped was considered as participants having MSAF, while the non-exposed group comprised those with clear amniotic fluid (CAF). The two groups were monitored during labor using the WHO partograph, and then followed up till 72 hours after delivery. Variables studied included the colour and texture of amniotic fluid as well as maternal and fetal complications. Data was analyzed using Epi-info version 3.5.4. The chi-square and Fischer's exact tests were appropriately used to compare the two groups. A p-value less than 5% was considered statistically significant. Results: 2376 vaginal deliveries were recHow to cite this paper: Dohbit, J.S., Mah, E.M., Essiben, F., Nzene, E.M., Meka, E.U.N., Foumane, P., Tochie, J.N., Kadia, B.M., Elong, F.A. and Nana, P.N. (2018 ) and prolonged labor (RR = 3 p < 10 −4 ). In this same group, the incidences of chorioamnionitis and puerperal sepsis were low (0.94% and 0.70% respectively), although there was a three-fold higher risk that was not statistically significant (RR = 3, P = 0.31). Fetal and neonatal outcomes were poorer in the MSAF group compared to the CAF group. The complications included fetal heart rate abnormalities, low Apgar score at the 5 th minute, need for neonatal resuscitation, neonatal asphyxia and neonatal infection which were significantly higher in the MSAF group (all p < 0.05). Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) was found in 2.34% of MSAF cases. Perinatal mortality was 2.34% and all cases of death occurred in the thick MSAF group. Conclusion: MSAF observed during labour is associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. Its detection during labor should strongly indicate very rigorous intra partum and postpartum monitoring. This will ensure optimal management and reduction in the risks of complications.

Palm kernel oil is a vegetable oil derived from Elaeis guineensis and widely used in neonatal settings for skin care. It is a good emollient with a beneficial effect in moisturizing the skin and preventing transdermal heat and water loss. However, it's putative roles in the prevention or treatment of fatty acid defificiency is still controversial. So is its function in the improvement of neurological development from its longchain polyunsaturated fatty acids? We set out in this review to verify whether its empiric use in this context has any scientific justification and is recommendable. Although there is evidence that it has emollient and moisturizing properties necessary for softening the skin and restoring elasticity, controversy subsists on its other nutritional and neurodevelopmental properties.

Background: Brain malformations (BMs) are congenital abnormalities of the shape or structure of the brain, with corpus callosum agenesis known as the most frequent. Diagnosis of most BMs can be prenatal with ultrasound and fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); post-natal diagnosis is based on transfontanellar ultrasound, CT-scan, and head MRI which is the imaging gold standard technique. MRI has been recently introduced and the CT-scan was previously the reference technique for the diagnosis of BMs in our context. Almost no publication has been made in sub-Saharan Africa on the clinical and CT scan characteristics of Brain malformations in children. Objective: The aim of this study was, in the absence of MRI, to describe the clinical and CT-scan presentations of brain malformations in children at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital (YGOPH). Patients and method: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted from February to May 2016 at the YGOPH, including all children of 15-year-old and less with BM diagnosed on CT-scan at YGOPH between April 2006 and March 2016. The studied variables were clinical (age at diagnosis, sex, clinical manifestations) and CT findings (type of cerebral malformation). The data was analyzed using the SPSS 20.0 software with the estimation of hospital prevalence of BMs, frequencies and associations. The chi-square test was used to seek for an association between variables. The threshold of significance was p < 0.05. Results:The prevalence of BMs was 0.52%, with 29 cases of BMs identified out of 5590 patients followed up at the pediatric neurology outpatient unit over a period How to cite this paper: Moifo, B., Azegha Jiotsa, R., Nguefack, S., Tatah, S., Mah, E., Dongmo Nguefack, F. and Mbonda, E. The mean age at diagnosis was 37.2 months (3.1 years) and the most represented age groups were 0 -1 year (37.9%) and 1 -5 years (37.9%). The sex ratio was 0.81 (55.2% girls). The clinical presentation was represented by neurological signs (93.1%) with convulsions (65.5%) and psychomotor retardation (58.8%) associated with skin lesions (34.5%) and/or facial dysmorphic features (27.6%). BM was suspected on antenatal ultrasound in 14.3% of cases (4/28). Abnormalities of cortical development accounted for 65.5% of BM followed by abnormalities of brain separation (31%). Tuberous sclerosis complex was the most common BM (31%) followed by agenesis of the corpus callosum (27.6%). The presence of dysmorphic facial features was associated (p = 0.007) with disorders of brain separation (DBS) while the presence of cutaneous lesions was associated (p = 0.013) with anomalies of the cortical development (ACD) especially tuberous sclerosis complex. Conclusion: BMs are infrequent, dominated by tuberous sclerosis complex and agenesis of the corpus callosum. They are mainly revealed by convulsions and psychomotor retardation. Efforts are needed to improve antenatal diagnosis and facilitate access to cerebral MRI.