Background: In Cameroon, induced abortion is permitted when a woman's life is at risk, to preserve her physical and mental health and on the grounds of rape or incest. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, reasons and complications of voluntary induced abortion among women attending the obstetrics and gynecology services in an urban area, Yaoundé and in a rural area, Wum in Cameroon. Methods: We carried out a cross sectional study, with 509 women recruited between August 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011 in three health facilities in Cameroon. We appreciated the frequency, complications and reasons for Voluntary induced abortions. Results: The prevalence of voluntary induced abortion was 26.3% (134/509) globally; 25.6% (65/254) in urban area and 27.1% (69/255) in rural area. One hundred and eleven (83%) cases of induced abortions were carried out in a health structure and 23 (17%) cases in private homes. Medical doctors and nurses were the most frequent abortion providers in both urban (84.7%) as well as rural setting (77.2%). The three main reasons for induced abortion were to pursue their studies (34.3%), not yet married (22.6%) and fear of parents (13.9%). Complications were reported by 20% (27/134) of respondents who had carried out voluntary induced abortion. Excessive bleeding was the most reported complication (70.4%). Conclusion: Despite its illegality in Cameroon, the prevalence of voluntary induced abortion was high in this study.

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.