To estimate national and geography-based variations in blood pressure and burden of hypertension in Cameroon, generally called ‘miniature Africa’. PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, CINHAL, Web of Science, Popline, Scopus and BDSP were searched through November 2018, for hypertension studies among Cameroonians aged at least 18 years. Hypertension was measured as SBP at least 140 mmHg or DBP at least 90 mmHg. Random-effects meta-analysis was used. Twenty studies involving 46 491 participants met inclusion criteria. Overall hypertension prevalence was 30.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 27.0–34.8]: 29.6% (24.1–35.1) and 32.1% (27.2–37.1) in 1994–2010 and 2011–2018, respectively. Of hypertensive participants, only 24.4% (18.9–30.0) – 31.6% (21.0–42.3) and 20.8% (14.0–27.7) in 1994–2010 and 2011–2018, respectively – were aware of their status, 15.1% (10.6–19.6) were taking antihypertensive medications and 8.8% (5.7–11.9) – 10.4% (7.5–13.3) and 8.3% (4.4–12.3) in 1994–2010 and 2011–2018, respectively – were controlled. Hypertension prevalence varied by sex: 34.3% (30.0–38.6) for men and 31.3% (26.5–36.1) for women; ethnicity: from 3.3% (0.4–6.2) among Pygmies to 56.6% (49.4–63.8) among Bamileke; urbanity: 25.4% (17.1–33.7) for rural and 31.4% (27.3–35.5) for urban dwellers; agroecological zone: from 35.1% (28.9–41.3) in Tropical highlands to 28% (20.1–35.9) in Guinea-Savannah; and subnational region: from 36.3% (27.8–44.9) in the West to 17.1% (9.9–44.2) in the South. Cameroon's hypertension prevalence is high and increasing whereas awareness, treatment and control are low and declining. Emerging patterns call urgently for effective campaigns to raise hypertension awareness alongside strategies for hypertension prevention and BP control. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0

Approximately 26.3 million people in the United States have chronic kidney disease and many more are at risk of developing the condition. The association between specific metabolic syndrome components and chronic kidney disease in African American individuals is uncertain. Baseline data from 4,933 participants of the Jackson Heart Study were analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds and 95% confidence intervals of chronic kidney disease associated with individual components, metabolic syndrome, the number of components, and specific combinations of metabolic syndrome components. Metabolic syndrome was common with a prevalence of 42.0%. Chronic kidney disease was present in 19.4% of participants. The prevalence of metabolic components was high: elevated blood pressure (71.8%), abdominal obesity (65.8%), low fasting high density lipoprotein cholesterol (37.3%), elevated fasting glucose (32.2%) and elevated triglycerides (16.2%). Elevated blood pressure, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, and abdominal obesity were significantly associated with increased odds of chronic kidney disease. Participants with metabolic syndrome had a 2.22-fold (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.22; 95% CI, 1.78–2.78) increase in the odds of chronic kidney disease compared to participants without metabolic syndrome. The combination of elevated fasting glucose, elevated triglycerides, and abdominal obesity was associated with the highest odds for chronic kidney disease (AOR 25.11; 95% CI, 6.94–90.90). Metabolic syndrome as well as individual or combinations of metabolic syndrome components are independently associated with chronic kidney disease in African American adults.

Background: Intellectual disability (ID) is a global public health concern. Prevalence of ID and its association with age and other demographic factors is required for planning purposes in India. Objective: This study analyzed the age-adjusted prevalence of ID in rural and urban populations and its correlation with age in children and adults. Materials and Methods: Disability data published in the report (2002) of National Sample Survey Organization were analyzed, using Z-test to measure differences in age-adjusted prevalence. Spearman rho was calculated to determine strength and direction of the association, and regression analysis was used to predict prevalence rate, based on age in rural and urban population settings. Results: Overall, India has a prevalence of 10.5/1000 in ID. Urban population has slightly higher rate (11/1000) than rural (10.08/1000; P = 0.044). Age was found to be highly correlated with prevalence of ID in rural children (ϱ =0.981, P = 0.019) as well as in children (ϱ = −0.954, P = 0.000) and adults (ϱ = −0.957, P = 0.000) in urban population. The possibility of confounding or the existence of covariates for children in urban settings was noted. Conclusion: Results of this study match findings in other epidemiological studies. However, multistage, large-scale studies are recommended for investigating prevalence rates with different severity levels of ID.

A prevention program that promotes attitudinal and behavioral change has been repeatedly recommended as an effective measure for community prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. Within the past decade, disease control programs among African Americans have shown no significant changes, as HIV/AIDS and related infections continue as the leading causes of death and disability in this population. It is particularly acute among African American females who, although representing only 13.9% of the United States female population, presently account for over 60% of all AIDS cases among females in the United States. The epidemic nature of the disease in this group poses the issue of African American women's rights and underscores their physical, emotional and sociocultural vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. This study used an open-ended attitude, knowledge, feelings, and behavior questionnaire (AKFBQ) survey approach to assess knowledge and various HIV/AIDS high-risk attitudinal and behavioral factors that affect the incidence, mortality, and morbidity of HIV/AIDS among women in specific urban centers and rural communities in the United States. Data analysis showed no differences in factors favoring rate of infection and level of spread of HIV/AIDS among the women in both the urban and rural communities. Although level of knowledge was higher among the urban subjects than rural ones, their beliefs, attitude/feelings, and potential for behavioral change did not differ significantly among women in the two communities. This article advocates both an ethnically sensitive and gender-specific HIV/AIDS intervention program for African American women and a more active involvement in and participation of African American leaders, parents, and faith-based communities in AIDS control efforts for African Americans.

Background: The Indian population suffers with significant burden of mental illness. The prevalence rate and its association with age and other demographic indicators are needed for planning purpose. Objective: This study attempted to calculate age-wise prevalence of mental illness for rural and urban settings, and its association with age. Materials and Methods: Data published in National Sample Survey Organization (2002) report on disability is used for the analysis. Spearman correlation for strength of association, z-test for difference in prevalence, and regression statistics for predicting the prevalence rate of mental illness are used. Result: Overall population have 14.9/1000 prevalence of mental illness. It is higher in rural setting 17.1/1000 than urban 12.7/1000 (P < 0.001). There is a strong correlation found with age in rural (ϱ = 0.910, P = 0.001) and urban (ϱ = 0.940, P = 0.001). Conclusion: Results of this study confirm other epidemiological research in India. Large-population epidemiological studies are recommended.

In developing countries, indiscriminate slaughtering of pregnant ruminants and consequent foetal wastage (FW) are persistent practices, which have impacted the agricultural and economic advancement of such countries. Retrospective data from 2008 to 2016 of a municipal slaughterhouse in Ogun state, Nigeria was assessed for the current patterns of female cattle (FC) slaughter and FW. A total of 353,503 (mean/year: 29,457 +/- 1651) FC were slaughtered, and 44,713 (12.65%; mean/year: 3,726 +/- 584) FW estimated over a period of 9 years. There were significant yearly variations in throughput of FC and FW (p< 0.0001), and a strong and positive correlation between FC and FW (r = 0.74,p= 0.006). We report a significant increase in FC slaughter and FW. Action plans such as awareness programs among livestock stakeholders, review on slaughter reforms, enforcement of policies that encourage realistic and positive attitude geared towards sustainable livestock practices, animal welfare, food security, and prohibition of pregnant animal slaughtering are required.