Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are a widely used tool that has been proven to be effective in the prevention and control of malaria in malaria endemic countries. However, usage varies among households and can greatly affect the benefits of ITNs as a control tool for malaria transmission. This study determined the coverage and usage of ITNS as well as associated factors and the effect of coverage and usage on the prevalence of malaria parasitemia within households in the Mount Cameroon area. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between August and September 2014 in six communities within the Mount Cameroon area. Households within the communities were enrolled through multistage sampling and household survey was done using a structured questionnaire. Capillary blood was collected for malaria parasite determination. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20 for windows. Differences in proportions were assessed using the Chi-square test while factors affecting ITNs usage were assessed in multivariate logistic regression at a statistical significance of P ≤ 0.05. A total of 504 households were surveyed, 1564 bed spaces reported while 915(58.5, 95% CI: 56.1–60.9) of the bed spaces had nets and 391(77.6, 95% CI, 74.0–80.2) of the households had at least one bed net. The odds of using ITNs was 2 folds higher (OR = 2.41; 95% CI 1.58–3.69 p = 0.001) and 3 folds higher (OR = 3.149, 95% CI 1.53–6.47 p = 0.002) among houses with 5 to 9 occupants and above 10 occupants respectively when compared to houses with less than 5 occupants. In addition, Individuals living in cement block houses were less likely to use ITNs. Compared to those living in wooden houses (OR = 0.488, 95% CI: 0.269–0.885; p = 0 .018). Rural communities had lower ITN coverage compared to semi-urban communities (p = 0.0001). Increase in ITNs coverage significantly reduces malaria prevalence (correlation − 0.899, p = 0.015). Despite the efforts made to scale up ITN distribution so that universal coverage can be attained, coverage remains low. Increasing coverage and putting in place a mechanism to replace torn nets will go a long way reduce the prevalence of malaria parasitemia.

Introduction Antimicrobial resistance has become a global concern and is particularly affecting developing countries where infectious diseases and poverty are endemic. The effectiveness of currently available antimicrobials is decreasing as a result of increasing resistant strains among clinical isolates. Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the resistance pattern of bacterial isolates from different clinical urogenital specimens at different hospitals in the Buea Health District, Cameroon. Methods A retrospective study was conducted in three hospital laboratories in the Buea Health District, Cameroon, from June to August 2017. All culture and antimicrobial susceptibility test results of patients who presented at each of the laboratories for urine, vaginal swab or urethral swab cultures from January 2012 to December 2016 were included in the study. Data were analysed using SPSS Windows version 20.0. The comparisons between different isolates’ resistance to antimicrobials were performed using the chi-square test. The difference in the resistance of urogenital isolates to various antimicrobials within different years was also compared by the chi-square test. Results A total of 423 bacterial isolates were obtained from clinical urogenital specimens such as: urine 93 (21.9%), vaginal swab 175 (41.4%) and urethral swab cultures 155 (36.6%). The predominant bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus spp. 320 (75.5%), Escherichia coli 37 (8.7%) and Enterococcus spp. 24 (5.7%). All the isolates showed significantly high resistance rates to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (67.6% resistant rate, p = 0.025), but most isolates, except those of Staphylococcus, were relatively more susceptible to nitrofurantoin (82.6% susceptibility rate, p = 0.045). However, Staphylococcus spp. was more susceptible to ceftriaxone (91.0% susceptibility rate, p < 0.0001) and cefotaxime (74.4% susceptibility rate, p = 0.034). Generally, most of the isolates showed significantly rising rates of resistance to the majority of the antimicrobials tested from 2012 to 2017. Conclusion Our findings showed a progressively rising rate of antimicrobial resistance in urogenital bacterial isolates over the last 5 years in the Buea Health District. Thus, uncontrolled and irrational use or prescription of these drugs should be avoided to maintain low resistance of highly susceptible antimicrobials.

Background: Globally, approximately 267,000 women die each year from preventable maternal causes, with more than 94% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) have been developed to improve adherence to evidence-based guidelines; however, their effectiveness is constrained by incomplete data, lack of contextualization, and usability challenges. Emerging applications of artificial intelligence (AI), including machine learning, natural language processing, and large language models, offer opportunities to strengthen CDSS through risk prediction, context-aware recommendations, and real-time support for health providers. However, integrating AI into maternal health CDSS also raises important questions about data quality, transparency, equity, and governance. This scoping review maps and critically synthesizes the global evidence on AI-enabled clinical decision-support interventions in maternal health, with particular attention to implementation readiness, ethical and governance considerations, and equity implications.Methods: The review follows the six-stage methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley and the JBI 2020 methodology for scoping reviews and will be reported according to the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A librarian-conducted search will cover PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Global Health (CABI), and PsycINFO from inception to June 2026, including preprint databases (arXiv, medRxiv) and the WHO Global Index Medicus. Published reviews (systematic reviews, scoping reviews, narrative reviews, rapid reviews, and meta-analyses) published in English or French will be included. Two independent reviewers will screen, critically appraise, and extract data. Conflicts will be resolved by a third reviewer. Two independent reviewers will screen, appraise, and extract data. Conflicts will be resolved by a third reviewer. Data will be extracted using a standardized, pre-piloted extraction form; an AI lifecycle framework and clinical maturity scale will assess implementation readiness. A narrative synthesis supported by descriptive statistics and visualizations, where applicable, will be produced.Anticipated results: This review is expected to provide a comprehensive map of AI applications in maternal health CDSS across the care continuum, including antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care, and HIV-related prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services. Anticipated outputs include: (1) a typology of AI approaches used; (2) the clinical and health system functions they support; and (3) the outcomes most frequently assessed, including implementation readiness, ethical and governance considerations, and equity implications.

Mental health and psychosocial well-being remain critically underprioritized in Central Africa, a region characterized by persistent conflict, displacement, poverty, and fragile health systems. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs across Central Africa, identifies gaps, and informs policy directions. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted (January 2010-December 2025) using keywords related to mental health, psychosocial support, and Central African countries. Nine articles met the inclusion criteria and were synthesized narratively. The literature reveals consistently elevated prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (> 30% among internally displaced persons in the Democratic Republic of Congo), depression, and anxiety among conflict-affected populations. Mental health services remain grossly inadequate, concentrated in urban areas, underfunded, and poorly integrated into primary healthcare. Key barriers include insufficient infrastructure, scarcity of trained professionals, pervasive stigma, and logistical challenges. Community-based and task-shifting approaches demonstrate promise, yet sustainability remains constrained. Cultural contexts significantly influence help-seeking behaviors. Addressing MHPSS needs in Central Africa requires multi-sectoral strategies that integrate mental health into broader public health agendas, strengthen community-based interventions, build local capacity, and foster partnerships. Context-specific research and policy reforms are essential.

Background: Despite advancements in Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), adherence remains a challenge, particularly within younger populations. Considering that Adhering to lifelong ART treatment can often be challenging, this pilot study investigated the effect of mHealth application on adherence to ART among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in the Fako Division of Cameroon. Methods: The study used a quasi-experimental design in which participants from selected treatment centers were proposed a mobile application to facilitate their adherence on treatment. Adherence measurements were taken before and after the intervention to assess the mobile application’s effectiveness. Adherence was measured using self-reports, pill counts, and viral load assessments. Results: The study recruited 129 individuals, with more participants coming from Regional Hospital Limbe 49 (38.0%) and Regional Hospital Buea 47 (36.4%). Comparing adherence levels at baseline and end line, the most significant improvement was seen in pill count adherence, which rose from 56.8% to 79.1% (p<0.01). Increases in self-reported adherence and combined methods were also significant, with p-values of 0.003 and p<0.01, respectively. Viral suppression increased from 76.7% to 80.6%, but this change was not statistically significant (p=0.063). Conclusion: The study’s findings indicate that the mHealth app effectively improves adherence to ART among adolescents and young adults, with significant increases observed after six months of use. This pilot study highlights the app’s potential to enhance care. However, further research with a larger sample size, longer duration, and a control group is recommended as next steps to assess the application’s impact on care.