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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.

ObjectiveTo assess energy and nutrient intakes and physical activity of adolescents in urban Cameroon according to sex and socio-economic status (SES).DesignCross-sectional study with adolescents randomly selected from schools in low-, middle- and high-SES areas. Weight and height were measured and information about food intake and physical activity was obtained through repeated individual 24 h recalls. Under- and over-reporting of energy intake and inadequacy of nutrient intake were assessed.SettingYaoundé, Cameroon.SubjectsBoys and girls aged 12–16 years (n227).ResultsBoys had a lower BMI and reported higher energy expenditures and physical activity levels (PAL) than girls. Under-reporting of energy intake was large among boys and girls regardless of PAL; boys under-reported more than girls. Among those with low PAL, over-reporting of energy intake was common. Over 50 % of boys and girls had protein below the recommendations. The intake of fat varied; 26 % of the adolescents were below and 25 % were above the recommendations. Inadequate intakes of vitamin B1, vitamin B3and Fe were more common among girls, while boys more often had inadequate intake of vitamin A. Adolescents with low SES were more likely to be below the recommendations for fat and vitamins B2, B3, B6and B12than those with high SES.ConclusionsA high proportion of boys and girls reported inadequate intakes. However under- and over-reporting were also very common. Boys under-reported energy intake more than girls and inadequate nutrient intake was more frequently reported by adolescents with low SES than by those with high SES.

The aim of this study was to assess adolescents' nutritional status according to socioeconomic status (SES) and sex using anthropometry in urban Cameroon, Africa. Adolescent boys (n = 248) and girls (n = 333) 12 to 16 years old were recruited from randomly selected schools in a cross sectional study in Yaounde city and grouped according to SES. Weight, height, skinfold thickness, and circumferences were measured, and body mass index, waist/hip ratio, arm muscle, and arm fat areas were calculated. Stunting, underweight, and overweight were determined using international cutoff points. Adolescents with medium and high SES were less likely to be stunted than adolescents with low SES (odds ratio [OR], 0.40; P < .01). Prevalences of stunting (12%, 6%, and 5%) and underweight (3%, 4%, and 1%) were higher among the adolescents with low and medium SES than those with high SES. Overweight prevalence was high among the adolescents with low (8%), medium (11%), and high (9%) SES. The OR for overweight was higher among girls than boys (OR, 4.13; P < .001). Girls were less likely to be stunted and underweight than boys (OR, 0.29 [P < .001] and OR, 0.20 [P < .01], respectively). Prevalences of stunting (15% and 6%) and underweight (5% and 2%) were higher among boys than girls. Pubescent adolescents were less likely to be stunted than nonpubescent (OR, 0.53; P < .05). Adolescents with low and medium SES were more underweight and stunted than adolescents with high SES. Girls were more overweight, less stunted, and underweight than boys.

Background: Food intake in Cameroon is based on three meals daily. The diet in rural areas is based on traditional staple foods, while that of the urban population incorporates more modern foods. The health and nutrition of adolescents is important as their eating behaviour and nutrition will affect their future health. Objective: To describe and compare food habits and nutritional status of adolescents in Cameroon. Design: A cross-sectional study using an unquantified food frequency questionnaire and anthropometric data, in urban and rural areas. Fifty-two adolescents, 12-15 years old, were selected from schools. Results: Frequencies of consumption of meat, vegetables, cereals, milk products and junk food were significantly higher in urban than in rural adolescents (11.8 vs 4.5, 9.5 vs 3.9, 16.5 vs 11.9, 5.7 vs 0.8, 24.2 vs 8.7, respectively). The frequency of in-between meals was higher in urban than in rural adolescents (4.9 vs 0.9, respectively). Arm muscle ar ea (AMA, mm2) and waist/hip ratio were significantly higher in rural than in urban adolescents (3554 vs 2802 and 0.82 vs 0.79, respectively). Body mass index (BMI, kg m-2) was higher in rural than urban adolescents, although not significant (20.6 vs 19.4, respectively). There was a positive significant correlation between BMI and AMA in urban and rural areas (r=0.67 and r=0. 72, respectively). Conclusions: Despite a lower frequency of food consumption, rural adolescents had higher AMA and waist/ hip ratio than urban adolescents. Less junk food and more traditional food consumption, more manual activities and walking in rural adolescents could explain these results. Keywords: Adolescents; arm muscle area; body mass index; Cameroon; food frequency; waist/hip