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Background Burns are a serious public health problem worldwide accounting for an estimated 265,000 deaths annually from fires alone. The vast majority (96%) of deaths from fire-related burns occur in low- and middle-income countries and burns are one of the leading causes of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in the developing world. Most burn centres are situated in large cities and are inadequate for the high incidence of injuries. An 8 year review of 440 patients in the Douala General Hospital, showed that the majority of patients burned were males ( n  = 281, 68.9%), the mean age was 25.2 ± 17.77 years with an admission rate of 69.5% (306 patients). The modal and median age were 31.0 years and 25.0 years respectively, interquartile range (0.4–82). Majority of burns ( n  = 237, 53.9%) had burn surface area ≥ 10%, most burns were 2nd degree ( n  = 215, 48.9) and the commonest burn agents were flames ( n  = 170, 37.3%), electricity ( n  = 119, 26.3%) and water ( n  = 114, 25.2%). The paucity of data on burn mortality in Cameroon motivated this study and is aimed at determining the mortality rate, causes and factors associated with death of burnt patients in the burn unit of the Douala General Hospital (DGH). Methods It was a retrospective observational study carried out from the 1st of January 2008 to the 31st of December 2015 in the Burn Unit of the Douala General Hospital. An adapted questionnaire was used to collect demographic data, burn agents, burn depth; diagnostic delay, burn surface area, complications, comorbidity, mortality and its causes. Data was transferred to Microsoft Excel 2015 and the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 for data analysis. Results During this 8 year period, 440 patients were studied and the mortality rate was 23.4% (103 patients). The fatal burn agents were, flames ( n  = 69, 67.0%), electricity ( n  = 15, 14.6%), water ( n  = 12, 11.6%), contact ( n  = 4, 3.9%), Oil ( n  = 2, 1.9%) and chemicals ( n =  1, 1.0%). The causes of death were shock ( n  = 36, 35.0%), sepsis ( n  = 25, 24.3%), acute respiratory distress ( n =  25, 24.3%), acute renal failure ( n  = 6, 5.8%), severe anaemia ( n  = 4, 3.9%) and unrecorded causes ( n  = 7, 6.7%). Conclusion A quarter of all patients died mostly from flame burns and to a lesser extent, electricity and scalds. Increase in burn depth and burn surface area worsened the prognosis. Shock (the commonest cause of death), sepsis, acute respiratory distress, acute renal failure and wound infection were significantly associated with mortality.

Background Politically motivated violence and insecurity continue to be a major threat to progress in HIV epidemic control and a significant contributor to health inequality. Despite a decreasing HIV/AIDS disease burden, the Republic of Cameroon in West Africa is experiencing ongoing political instability in her North and South West Regions. Our study used qualitative methods to better understand key frontline health care providers’ (fHCP) perceptions of the effects of political instability on HIV/AIDS response gains in Cameroon since 2018, as well as lessons learned for overcoming them. Methods Between July and August 2022, semi-structured, in-depth key informant interviews involving 10 purposively selected participants were conducted in the two regions. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, coded thematically, and analyzed manually. Results Six overarching themes emerged from the transcribed key informant interviews. They were as follows: Challenge with access to and availability of health care services (HIV care, commodity supply chain) in the smaller communities; Impact on continuity of treatment; Increased risk of new HIV infections; The socioeconomic impact of the crisis on the quality of life; The impact of the crisis on fHCPs’ physical and mental health and the health system’; and Coping mechanisms. Conclusions Frontline healthcare workers have acknowledged the significant impact the current political instability has had in hindering the development and advancement of a successful local response to HIV/AIDS in the two impacted regions of Cameroon. Coordinated efforts must be made to strengthen the health sector in areas such as HIV healthcare decentralization, supply chain, and protecting frontline healthcare workers from political quagmires in order to lessen the impact of the nation’s socio-political crisis on the HIV/AIDS response and, more generally, on the entire health sector.

Over 179 million people worldwide are pushed into poverty each year due to out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditures, with lower-income countries disproportionately affected. Cameroon’s ambition to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has garnered policy interest, yet significant systemic and financial barriers persist. This perspective critically examines the financial and structural limitations confronting Cameroon’s UHC journey. As of 2022, government health expenditure represented only 3.9% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with per capita spending at approximately US$58. The health system remains heavily dependent on private household contributions, with Domestic Private Health Expenditure accounting for 71.8% of total health financing. The projected cost of implementing a basic UHC package is estimated at US$2.8 billion over five years, equivalent to 29% of the 2021 national budget—highlighting a significant funding gap. Cameroon’s rising public debt, which reached US$24 billion (45.6% of GDP) by the end of 2024, further constrains fiscal space. Additionally, legal and institutional frameworks are underdeveloped: no UHC-specific legislation exists, and outdated fee schedules remain in use despite changing economic conditions. Compounding these issues, the predominance of informal employment, representing 90% of the workforce, poses challenges to broad-based insurance enrollment and revenue generation. To advance UHC, Cameroon must prioritise legal reform, expand fiscal space through innovative and equitable taxation, and strengthen public financial management. Addressing foundational health system weaknesses is critical. Although the challenges are substantial, a strategic, equity-driven approach grounded in political-will could enable Cameroon to progress meaningfully toward achieving UHC.

Fonio ( Digitaria exilis ), also called “acha” in Nigeria, is a staple food crop that plays an important role in food and nutritional security for millions of people in West Africa. However, in Nigeria, as in most African countries where it is consumed as a whole grain to enrich local diets, its utilization patterns are poorly documented. Thus, generating knowledge of stakeholders’ perceptions of and preferences for its use is critical for understanding the constraints and drivers affecting fonio utilization patterns. The main objective of this study was to review the utilization patterns of fonio by providing key information on stakeholders’ perceptions and preferences in Nigeria. In this review, we first discuss production and synthesize some basic information relevant to different uses of fonio and stakeholders’ perceptions of and preferences for such use. We also examine how farmers often maintain fonio diversity, highlight challenges that limit production and consumption on a wide scale and propose a roadmap for scaling up production and increasing the adoption level of fonio. The roadmap proposed in this study is based on five axes, namely, production, innovation in postharvest and processing technologies, marketing systems, technology dissemination, and novel gene prospecting. We assume that documenting the generated knowledge will increase public awareness of the nutritional and health properties associated with food-based products and help guide policy-makers and the private sector to strategically support the research and development of the native crop of West Africa for sustainable food and nutritional security. Further ethnobotanical research will be necessary to shed light on the extent and patterns of indigenous knowledge of fonio-based traditional foods in Nigeria.

BackgroundMany low- and middle-income countries lack resources for well-functioning emergency care systems. Emergency nurses interact with injured and critically ill patients as the first contact in many health care settings. However, insufficient training limits nurses from providing ideal emergency care. The purpose of this research was to highlight educational needs specific to nurses working in 2 emergency departments in Nairobi, Kenya.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study involving emergency units of 2 of the largest referral and teaching hospitals (Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, and Kenyatta National Hospital) in Nairobi, Kenya, was conducted. Data were collected by using an adapted structured, self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The skills and competencies of the participants were assessed. In addition, the educational gaps and needs of the participants around emergency care such as trauma, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory and neurological illnesses were described. Results were presented in frequencies and percentages.ResultsThe questionnaire response rate was 63.6% (n = 84). Most of the respondents held associate degrees in nursing (72.6%), whereas 19% had a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Most respondents (84.5%) perceived themselves as being highly competent in basic skills such as performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and assessment of body systems. Less than half of the respondents (48.8%) perceived themselves as being highly competent in intermediate skills such as assisting with endotracheal intubation. In advanced competencies, such as analyzing electrocardiograms and administering thrombolytic medications, only 16.7% perceived themselves as highly competent.ConclusionThe results of this study suggest there is a knowledge gap and educational needs among emergency nurses in Nairobi, Kenya. It identified injuries/trauma; cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological disease; and other emergencies as topics of focus areas with a high need. To address these knowledge and skills needs, a future specialty training in emergency nursing is recommended and this could be achieved through continuing professional development and short courses or postgraduate-level training.

Objective: The objective of this research was to investigate the influence of evaluator capacity on performance of highway construction projects in Kenya. Theoretical Framework: This study was anchored on Utilization-Focused Evaluation (UFE) theory. It explains that the effectiveness of an evaluation depends on the evaluator's ability to engage intended users and tailor the evaluation process to their needs, thereby enhancing the use of findings to improve project performance. Methodology: This research utilized pragmatism research philosophy and correlational design. The target population was 69 Category A road construction projects that have been completed by KeNHA for the period between 2018 and 2022. The respondents in these projects were the project managers in all the 69 highway construction projects in Kenya. The study used a census approach and hence all the projects were included in the study. The research adopted both secondary and primary data. While qualitative data was analyzed by of thematic analysis, quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics included standard deviation, means, percentages, distribution of frequency. Inferential statistics include simple Pearson correlation analysis and linear regression analysis. Results and Discussion: The study found that evaluator capacity has a positive and significant effect on performance of highway construction projects in Kenya (81=0.524, p-value=0.000). The study recommends that project managers prioritize selecting qualified evaluators who possess strong academic backgrounds and relevant experience in similar projects. Originality/Value: This study enriches existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the influence of evaluator capacity on the performance of highway construction projects in Kenya. It contributes to the understanding of how evaluator skills, experience, and engagement with stakeholders\" impact project outcomes, offering a foundation for future research and informing policy and practice aimed at strengthening evaluation processes in infrastructure development. Research Implications: The findings contribute to practice by offering valuable insights for project managers, evaluators, and policymakers in Kenya's infrastructure sector. Enhancing evaluator capacity can lead to more effective project assessments, improved decision-making, and increased accountability, ultimately boosting the performance and success rates of highway construction projects.

The Open Institute of the African BioGenome Project empowers African scientists and institutions with the skill sets, capacity and infrastructure to advance scientific knowledge and innovation and drive economic growth.

Background: Family planning (FP) is a key intervention in improving maternal and child health. Hence, we assessed the factors associated with utilisation and unmet need for modern contraceptives among urban women in Kenya. Methods: The study used pooled data on 10,474 women 15–49 years from the seven rounds of the performance monitoring for accountability surveys collected between 2014 and 2018. The surveys were conducted in 11 of the 47 counties of Kenya using a multistage cluster design. Sample characteristics were described using frequencies and percentages while factors associated with utilisation and unmet need for modern contraceptives were assessed using multivariable logistic regressions. Results: The prevalence of modern contraceptives use and unmet need for FP among urban women in Kenya was 53.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 52.1–55.3%] and 16.9% (15.8–18.1%), respectively. The use of modern contraceptive was associated with the county of residence, age, marital status, parity, education, household wealth quintile, exposure to media, and survey year. Teenagers, poorest urban women, women with no formal or primary level of education and those who seek services at a dispensary or health centres had higher odds of unmet need for FP while women who resided in Kitui and Nyamira counties had reduced odds of unmet need for FP. The odds of unmet need decreased with the survey year while that of modern contraceptive use had an inverse trend. Conclusion: Overall modern contraceptive use in urban areas is lower than the national average while the unmet need for FP is higher than national average, highlighting a potential urban-rural disparity in FP indicators in Kenya. Individual sociodemographic and socioeconomic and contextual factors are associated with the use of modern contraceptive and unmet need for FP among urban women in Kenya. Urban family planning policies and programmes in Kenya need to focus on strengthening urban healthcare systems to provide equal and accessible FP services, especially targeted towards teenagers and young women and those of low socioeconomic status.

Interleukin (IL)-10 directly inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication, but it may also promote viral persistence by inactivation of effector immune mechanisms. Here, we show in an African cohort that individuals with genotypes associated with high IL-10 production at 2 promoter single-nucleotide polymorphisms (−1082 and −592) were less likely to become HIV-1 infected but had significantly higher median plasma viral loads during the acute phase (⩽3 months after infection). However, as the infection progressed, the association between genotype and median viral load was reversed. Thus, IL-10 may influence HIV-1 susceptibility and pathogenesis, but effects on the latter may differ according to the infection phase.

This study investigates the effect of climate on the growth and yield of sugar cane at the Savannah Sugar Company in Numan, Nigeria. Correlation and regression analysis were used to examine the relationship between sugar cane yield and climatic factors at different phenological stages of the crop. Results from the correlation analysis showed that several of the climatic factors studied significantly affect the growth and yield of sugar cane. Stepwise regression analysis identified 2 climate variables as the critical factors influencing crop yield: pan evaporation at the 'boom' (or 'grand growth') stage, and minimum temperature at germination stage. These 2 factors accounted for >68% of the variation in the yield of sugar cane in the study area. The implications of the results are discussed with respect to sugar cane cultivation in the region.