Diabetes mellitus is a growing cause of disease burden globally. Its management is multifaceted, and adherence to pharmacotherapy is known to play a significant role in glycaemic control. Data on medication adherence among affected patients is unknown in Cameroon. In this study, the level of adherence and factors influencing non-adherence to antidiabetic medication among patients with type-2 diabetes was assessed. A hospital-based cross-sectional study among adult patients receiving care in the diabetic clinics of the Limbe and Bamenda Regional Hospitals in Cameroon was conducted. Medication adherence was assessed using the Medication Compliance Questionnaire (MCQ). Factors associated with non-adherence to medication were determined using basic and adjusted multivariable logistic regression models. A total of 195 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited. The prevalence of non-adherence to medication was 54.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 47.1–61.5%]. In multivariable analysis, age > 60 years (aO.R. = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.25–0.94), alcohol consumption (aO.R. = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.10–4.14) and insulin alone therapy (aO.R. = 2.85, 95% CI: 1.01–8.08) were associated with non-adherence. Patients attributed their non-adherence to forgetfulness (55.6%), lack of finances (38.2%) and disappearance of symptoms (14.2%). Adherence to anti-diabetic medication is poor in this study with more than half of participants being non-adherent. Urgent interventions are required to tackle this problem in combined efforts to stem this looming diabetes epidemic.

Mental health and mental illness are often overlooked in the management of patients in our health services. Depression is a common mental disorder worldwide. Recognising and managing mental illnesses such as depression by primary health care providers (PHCPs) is crucial. This study describes the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of PHCPs regarding depression in Fako Division. A cross-sectional study was conducted among PHCPs (general practitioners, nurses, pharmacy attendants and social workers) in public-owned health facilities in the four health districts in Fako Division. Participants were selected by a consecutive convenience sampling. A structured questionnaire including the Depression Attitude Questionnaire (DAQ) was used to collect information about their socio-demographic characteristics, professional qualifications and KAP about depression. The survey had a response rate of 56.7%. Most of the 226 participants (92.9%) were aware that depression needs medical intervention. Only 1.8% knew a standard tool used to diagnose depression. Two-thirds agreed that majority of the cases of depression encountered originate from recent misfortune. About 66% felt uncomfortable working with depressed patients. Also, 45.1% of PHCPs did not know if psychotropic drugs were available at pharmacies within their health area. Very few (15.2%) reported to have prescribed psychotropic drugs. Less than half (49.1%) of the participants had prior formal training in mental health. PHCPs in Fako Division tend to have limited knowledge and poor attitudes regarding depression. Practices towards diagnosis and management of depression tend to be inadequate. There is an urgent need to train PHCPs in mental health in general and depression diagnosis and management in particular.

Metoclopramide is a commonly used anti-emetic drug known to cause extrapyramidal symptoms as adverse effects, amongst which are dystonic reactions. These reactions are more frequent at high doses of metoclopramide, in female patients, children and adults less than 30 years of age. We hereby present the case of a 16 year old female who had dystonic reactions from metoclopramide, highlighting its unpredictable nature and the shortcomings of the management in resource-limited settings. A 16 year old female Muslim from the Extreme North of Cameroon with no significant past history, was treated for severe malaria and associated refractory vomiting using intravenous quinine and metoclopramide respectively. She developed dystonic reactions after being administered her second dose of metoclopramide. The drug was discontinued and she was administered 8 mg of chlorpheniramine by mouth. Her symptoms resolved after 4 h. She was discharged 2 days later with no further complaints. Metoclopramide causes dystonic reactions which are often unpredictable and is frequently prescribed by health providers. This creates an environment of anxiety for the patient and the caregiver, and can result in life threatening consequences. Patients on metoclopramide should be monitored closely to detect these reactions early, and health facilities should be equipped to cope with the adverse effects before administration.

Objective: Burnout syndrome has been shown to mediate the pathway between job stress and depression. This study aims to assess the relationship between the various components of burnout syndrome and depression; and to determine the contribution of other sociodemographic variables to depression among medical students in Cameroon. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: Three of the five medical schools in Cameroon with students in both preclinical and clinical levels of studies. Participants: The study included 413 consenting medical students. Primary outcome measure: Data were collected via a printed self-administered questionnaire. The primary outcome—depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ-9). Burnout was assessed using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify independent correlates of depression. Results: The overall prevalence of depression (PHQ-9 >4) and major depressive disorder (PHQ-9 >9) in these students was 66.34% and 23.00%, respectively. After multivariable linear regression analysis, four variables—total OLBI (beta=0.32; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.42; p<0.001); number of children (beta=−2.26; 95% CI −3.70 to –0.81; p=0.002); occurrence of a life-changing crises (beta=1.29; 95% CI 0.13 to 2.45; p=0.029) and presence of a chronic illness (beta=3.19; 95% CI 0.96 to 5.42; p=0.005) significantly predicted depression in these students and explained 32.4% of the variance (R ² =32.4, F[14, 204]=6.98, p<0.001). The emotional exhaustion component (R ² =17.4, F[1, 411]=86.39, p<0.001) explained more of the variance in depression than the disengagement component (R ² =6.1, F[1, 411]=26.76, p<0.001) of burnout syndrome. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression among medical students in Cameroon is high. It is important that correlates of depression are identified early in medical students to limit progress to depression.

The rising burden from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) poses a huge challenge for health care delivery in Africa, where health systems are already struggling with the long-term care requirements for the millions of people now on antiretroviral therapy requiring regular visits to health facilities for monitoring, adherence support and drugs. The HIV chronic disease management programme is comparatively well-funded, well-organised and well-informed and offers many insights and opportunities for the expansion of NCD prevention and treatment services. Some degree of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and NCD service integration is essential, but how to do this without risking the HIV treatment gains is unclear. Both HIV and NCD services must expand within a resource-constrained environment and policymakers are in urgent need of evidence to guide cost-effective and acceptable changes in these health services.

Burnout syndrome defined as a state of emotional exhaustion and disengagement; which could reduce optimal healthcare delivery, is relatively common amongst healthcare trainees. We sought to assess the determinants of burnout syndrome amongst nursing students in Cameroon. A cross-sectional study which included 447 nursing students recruited after written informed consent by convenience sampling, was carried out from January to April 2018. A printed self-administered questionnaire assessing burnout using the OLdenburg Burnout Inventory was used. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify independent determinants of burnout syndrome. Most (81.17%) of the students were female with the average for disengagement items being 17.10 ± 3.09 (minimum = 8, maximum = 26) and 20.94 ± 3.04 (minimum = 13, maximum = 31) for exhaustion items. After multivariable linear regression analysis, satisfaction with results (RC: − 1.42, 95% CI − 2.52, − 0.32, p value: 0.012) and regret of choice of nursing studies (RC: 2.13, 95% CI 0.58, 3.68, p value = 0.007) were found to be independent predictors of burnout in these students. Early identification of these determinants is required to prevent progression to burnout.