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Persons with albinism (PWA) in Yaounde, Cameroon are reported to experience stigma, discrimination and violation of their human rights based primarily on their lack of pigmentation in their skin, eyes and hair. This study explores the challenges faced by persons with albinism, with particular reference to their knowledge of albinism, social and health issues and support. This qualitative research study recruited persons with albinism through a non-probability sampling technique in the city of Yaounde, capital city of Cameroon. Data were collected through three focus group discussions with 19 persons (13 women and 6 men, adults) with albinism and thematic content analysis was employed to analyze responses. Almost all participants revealed societal discrimination, stigmatization, human rights violations, and some reported frustration due to injustice, rejection and superstitions. All the participants had visual problems and 12 had skin diseases. These conditions were inadequately managed due to lack of care, rejection by others, superstition and limited financial resources. The majority of participants had a good understanding of albinism. This study urges social work interventions such as support groups for persons with albinism and their families; educational awareness programmes; and advocacy for the rights of persons with albinism to healthcare, education and employment opportunities, and to demystify all myths and cultural beliefs surrounding albinism.

To investigate factors influencing rural and urban adolescents' food perceptions during a time of nutritional transition in Cameroon, Africa.Qualitative in-depth interviews.Yaoundé urban and Bandja rural areas.Fifteen adolescents 12 to 15 years old purposely selected from schools in urban and rural areas.Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using Grounded Theory method.Factors influencing adolescents' food perceptions from the rural area were "to live" "health" and "poverty." Among adolescents from the urban poor area, "health," "beauty," and "not enough money" were factors. Among adolescents from the urban rich area, "pleasure" and "beauty" were factors. Rural girls liked "to be fat," whereas girls from the urban poor wanted "to be a little bit fat," and girls from the urban rich wanted "to be normal."Food behavior is changing from a diet composed of traditional food in rural areas to a more westernized diet in urban areas. The relationship between socioeconomic factors and nutrition needs to be examined with a sufficiently large number of adolescents to investigate these factors in a quantitative survey. Healthful local food should be available at home and from vendors. Nutrition education about food and diet-related diseases is needed in school.