High mother-to-child (MTC) transmission rate of HIV might contribute to the increased pandemic rate. The aim of this study was to identify the knowledge, attitude and practices of health personnel working in maternities in the prevention of MTC transmission of HIV. This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out from 20th February to 30th April, 2017. All health personnel working in the maternity wards were included in this study. The variables recorded included their age, grade, experience (number of year of practice), gender, educational level, health structure and the training in prevention of MTC transmission of HIV. Analyses were done using SPSS 21.0. The Pearson Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression were used for comparison. The level of significance was P < 0.05. A total of 140 health personnel were recruited. Knowledge was insufficient amongst 73 of them (52.1%). The factors significantly associated with sufficient knowledge were midwifery qualification (aOR 9.01, 95% CI 1.82–48.60) and training in prevention of MTC transmission of HIV (aOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.02–4.81). Regarding attitudes, it was negative in 85 practitioners (60.7%). Only those aged ≥33 years were significantly associated with a positive attitude (aOR 2.34, 95% CI 1.14–4.23). As concerns practices, only 32 practitioners (22.9%) had good practices. Only midwives were associated with good practices (aOR 3.23, 95% CI 1.21–9.95). Insufficient knowledge, attitude and practices in the prevention of MTC transmission of HIV were observed among the majority of health personnel in the region. This lack of knowledge in prevention can therefore contribute to the rise of the mother-to-child transmission rate of HIV. To reduce this rate, more health personnel should be trained, especially midwives, in the prevention of MTC transmission of HIV. Moreover, deliveries of all women living with HIV should be conducted or at least supervised by trained midwives, especially those of at least 33 years of age.

About 90% of new HIV-1 infections in children occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where treatment monitoring remains suboptimal. We sought to ascertain factors associated with immunovirological responses among an ART-experienced paediatric population in Cameroon. A laboratory-based and analytical study was conducted from January 2017 throughout December 2020 wherein plasma viral load (PVL) analyses and CD4 cell counts were performed. Viral suppression (VS) was defined as PVL < 1000 copies/mL and immunological failure (IF) as CD4 < 500 cells/µL for participants ≤5 years and CD4 < 250 cells/µL for those >5 years; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Overall, 272 participants were enrolled (median age: 13 [9–15.5] years; 54% males); median ART duration 7 [3–10] years. Globally, VS was achieved in 54.41%. VS was 56.96% in urban versus 40.48% in rural areas (p = 0.04). IF was 22.43%, with 15.79% among participants ≤5 years and 22.92% among those >5 years (p = 0.66). IF was 20.43% in urban versus 33.33% in rural areas (p = 0.10). Following ART, IF was 25.82% on first-line (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors; NNRTI-based) versus 10.17% on second-line (protease inhibitor-based) regimens (p = 0.01). Interestingly, IF was 7.43% among virally suppressed versus 40.32% among virally unsuppressed participants (p < 0.0001). A low VS indicates major challenges in achieving AIDS’ elimination in this paediatric population, especially in rural settings and poor immune statuses. Scaling up NNRTI-sparing regimens alongside close monitoring would ensure optimal therapeutic outcomes.

Background: Virologic failure (VF) in children living with HIV (CLHIV) remains challenging in sub-Saharan Africa, reaching alarming rates in Cameroon. We sought to evaluate predictors of virologic response and HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) among CLHIV in Cameroon during the introduction of pediatric dolutegravir (pDTG)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods: We conducted a facility-based longitudinal study from November 2022 through April 2023 among CLHIV (age 0–10 years) attending the Chantal BIYA Foundation’s Mother and Child Centre in Yaoundé-Cameroon. Plasma viral load (PVL) and HIVDR were evaluated, with VF defined as 2 consecutive PVL ≥1000copies/mL under active adherence counseling/support. Results: Overall, the 318 enrolled participants had a median (interquartile range) age of 8 (6–9) years and 162/318 (50.9%) girls. Most (299/318, 94.03%) received pDTG-based ART and mean ART duration was 5.6 ± 2.6 years. At enrollment, 37 (11.6%) children were virally unsuppressed (PVL≥1000copies/mL), with higher odds among children from rural areas ( P = 0.018) and among those reporting poor adherence ( P < 0.001). After active adherence counseling and support, 30/37 (81.1%) children were resampled after 1 month and 3 remained unsuppressed, indicating <1% (3/311) with VF overall. Among those experiencing VF, HIVDR mutations were found in <1% (2/311) children [L74V(1/3), K103N(1/3), M184V(2/3), P225H(1/3)]. Conclusions: Virologic response among children receiving pDTG-containing ART was strong in Cameroon. Combining robust ART regimens with active adherence support can advance sustained progress towards HIV elimination in children by 2030 in sub-Saharan Africa.

Long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy (LAI-ART) has the potential to transform HIV treatment for adolescents with perinatal HIV infection (APHI). Given the existing knowledge gaps surrounding this recent strategy, we aimed to assess interest in LAI-ART among ART-experienced APHI in Cameroon. We conducted a cross-sectional study among ART-experienced APHI aged 10–19 years, across four paediatric HIV clinics in the Centre region of Cameroon. Data were collected from 4 to 30 November 2024 using structured questionnaires to assess sociodemographic characteristics, awareness of, and interest in LAI-ART. HIV-1 viral load (VL) and CD4 cell counts were measured during the same period. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with interest in switching to LAI-ART. Of 248 participants (48.8% female; median [IQR] age 15 [13–17]), 40.0% lived with a guardian and 75.8% had partial/full HIV-disclosure; 3.2% reported stigma. Clinically, 77.5% were in multi-month ARV-dispensation (MDSD) and 28.2% had poor ART-adherence; fear of injection was none/moderate/high in 73.4%, 15.7% and 10.9%, respectively. Viral undetectability (VL < 50 copies/mL) and CD4 ≥ 500 cells/mm³ were 71.6% and 72.5%, respectively. Overall, 92.3% expressed interest in LAI-ART, motivated by reduced pill burden/fatigue (63.7%) and expected better adherence (74.2%); 30.2% reported prior LAI-ART awareness. In multivariable analysis, no prior awareness had 81% lower odds of interest (p = 0.036). Compared with no-fear, moderate-fear was associated with 46% lower odds (p = 0.393), while high-fear was associated with 78% lower odds (p = 0.017). Disparities in sex, education, residence, adherence, virological response, or treatment history did not influence interest in LAI-ART. Among all respondents, 77.1% said they would choose LAI-ART if available, whereas 20.2% preferred MDSD. In this Cameroonian APHI cohort, awareness of LAI-ART was low despite high-interest once adolescents were informed. Rollout in low/middle-income countries should prioritise targeted education, youth-friendly counselling to close knowledge gaps, reduce fear and ensure equitable uptake.

Late presentation of foreign body impaction in the esophagus, complicated by perforation in children, has rarely been reported in the literature. Esophageal surgery is very difficult and challenging in Cameroon (a resource limited setting). We are reporting herein 2 cases of esophageal perforation in children seen very late (12 days and 40 days) after foreign body impaction, complicated with severe sepsis, who were successfully operated upon with very good results.