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Increased HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in two health facilities in Northern Cameroon between 2021

Patrice Djataou^1,2, Marceline D Ngounoue², Georges Nguefack-Tsague³

¹Laboratory of Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, 'Chantal Biya' International Reference Centre for Research on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management (CBIRC), University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Journal of Public Health in Africa

|March 14, 2025

Abstract

Background:

Human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) remain a global public health problem. Other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are aggravating factors.

Aim:

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and identify new cases of HIV and STIs, as well as their associated risk factors.

Setting:

Political insecurity in the northern regions of Cameroon has led to population displacement, weakening an already fragile health system.

Methods:

A cohort of 684 consenting participants from the north and far north were enrolled in 2021 and followed up in 2022. Socio-demographic variables and risk behaviours were collected. Anti-HIV Ab, hepatitis B surface antigen, Treponema pallidum haemagglutination tests were performed. The data were analysed using Epi Info 7.5.2. The associations between variables were evaluated using the Chi-square test with a 95% confidence interval.

Results:

The new cases of HIV rate and overall prevalence were 1.63% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83% - 2.41%) and 3.8% (95% CI: 2.01% - 3.97%), respectively. New HIV cases increased from 0.27% (2017, Demographic and Health Survey [DHS]) to 1.63%. The prevalence of syphilis and hepatitis B was 1.03% (95% CI: 0.98% - 1.09%) and 4.56% (95% CI: 4.51% - 4.66%), respectively. Factors associated with HIV included religion (p = 0.027), unprotected sex (p = 0.006), sex with a sex worker (p = 0.00009), and co-infection with syphilis and hepatitis B (p = 0.033). New HIV infections may also be associated with population displacement.

Conclusion:

HIV infection, syphilis and hepatitis B are on the rise in the Northern Cameroon.

Contribution:

Future HIV prevention strategies should consider population displacement and HIV-associated infections such as hepatitis B and syphilis in order to secure achievements in HIV programme and further curb the burden of these infections in the country.

Keywords:

HIV Northern Cameroon hepatitis B insecurity new infection cases prevalence syphilis

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