Preventing teenagers’ pregnancies and improving teenagers’ reproductive health are important as pregnancies in teenagers still represent an important health challenge in Cameroon. The purpose of this dissertation of a limited scope was to describe the perception of peer educators who underwent the ‘100% young’ peer education training and the effect it had on their own sexual behaviour. A qualitative descriptive, explorative and contextual research design was conducted. Data collection was done using in-depth interviews. Fifteen peer educators were purposively selected. Two questions were asked namely; please describe how you perceived the peer education training that you underwent and, describe how this training affected your own sexual behaviour. Findings revealed that participants had a positive education experience, positive personal growth and for many, that was enough to become mentors for their peers and build awareness. Recommendations propose that interventions such as the ‘100% young’ are urgently required to prevent teenage pregnancy. / Health Studies / M.P.H.

In the wake of the 19th century, the protestant reformation in Europe that led to the formation of mainline reformation traditions began impacting and shaping ministry in Africa, through missionary activities. But the clarion call for Africa’s renaissance was also a wakeup call for the African church to move from being consumers of the ‘imported’ theology brewed from a European perspective and take some responsibility in producing her own theology, which can be viewed and understood with an African cultural lens. If Africa must achieve the much needed renaissance, the church certainly has an indispensable role to play. But how can there be a meaningful church praxis in African polities without a solid contextualized theological foundation? Therefore in this project, I justify the need for a biblio-centric African theology by making a case for the Cameroon Baptist Convention in the Republic of Cameroon. I argue that, to be able to solidify its foundation and enhance its Christian theological praxis in the society, a Cameroon Baptist Theological Treatise is needed in the Cameroon Baptist Convention. One that would contain well delineated and defended theological tenets required of an independent Christian denomination in Africa. Central to the development of this treatise is the development of a soteriology with a cognitive theological understanding of divine predestination. To develop a correct soteriology for this purpose, a process is required, one that would need to use sound theological principles to ensure a biblically accurate and theologically sound doctrine of soteriology as the point of departure. As an evangelical systematic theological research, I attempt in this project to deconstruct biblical and theological paradigms from scriptures and reformation traditions, which the Cameroon Baptist Convention leaders could use as tools in the process of delineating and defending their own tenets on soteriology in the proposed theological treatise. It begins by gathering data from reformation traditions and scriptures on predestination and moves on to construct theories that would not only help the Cameroon Baptist Convention leaders to develop a soteriology but also be fundamental to developing other relevant doctrines needed in the proposed Cameroon Baptist Theological Treatise. / Philosophy and Systematic Theology / D. Th. (Systematic Theology)

The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that more than 2.3 million workers die yearly from work related accidents and diseases and this is probably an underestimation. Estimates indicate that occupational accidents are a serious problem in the world. The aim of this study is to investigate the nature and magnitude of health and safety challenges affecting workers in small-scale and informal woodworking enterprises and to develop guidelines for improvement. As a quantitative research, the exploratory-descriptive and contextual designs were used to conduct this research. Snowball sampling was used to collect data from all the 223 workers working in 88 small-scale and informal wood processing industries in Tiko, Mutengene, Buea, Ekona, and Muyuka areas from July 4th to 30th, 2016, using a structured interview and an inspection checklist. Data entry and cleaning was done using excel and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 20.0 for analyses. The findings revealed that a majority of the woodworkers were males, young and inexperienced, mainly trained through apprenticeship and worked for long hours. There was generally lack of knowledge and poor practices of occupational health and safety among respondents. The findings also showed a very high self-reported injury rate of 86.1% among woodworkers within the past 12 months which was significantly associated (P<0.05) with woodworkers’ age and practice of OHS. Major occupational injuries reported by the respondents include cut, sprain, backache, chronic joint, fracture of the upper and lower limbs and burns. The major sources of injuries included carelessness, insufficient use of PPE and fatigue caused by overworking. Further findings showed that most study sites did not comply with the Cameroon OHS Order No. 039/MTPS/IMT of 26 August 1984 as over half of the study’s workshops had narrow walkways with obstacle and were situated in dilapidated structures. Most workers were exposed to high vibration and noise, excessive heat and cold, hazardous chemicals and ergonomic hazards. The study thus recommends that effective measures be put in place to curb work-related injury rate by enhancing health and safety promotion programmes with emphasis on pre-employment OHS training for newly recruited workers, respect the 8 hours per day allocated for work, provide workers with suitable PPE, as well as other accompanying supplies such as appropriate fire extinguishers and first aids. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

This investigation into a process of transformation was intended to explore the institution of African sacral rule in its relation to the Christian church and to provide a theological model, which could be used to establish a new mission field. The bulk of the work has been conducted through anthropological and historical methods crossing international boundaries and cultures within both sacral rule and the Christian church in Africa. The specific case studies have been the sacral rule of Grassfields people in Cameroon and the Akan in Ghana with focus on the Basel Mission and resulting churches. On the one hand, this comparative approach brought to light in-depth knowledge of the sacral ruler's encounter with the institution of the Christian church and its representatives. On the other hand, the investigation shows that with some preconceived ideas of sacral rule inherited from the missionaries who had established themselves in deliberate rejection of the existing system of government and the people involved, the African church leaders were put at a disadvantage. However, it has been demonstrated that in the process of struggle for survival and change, each institution has been partially assimilated by the· other. Those who have helped these two institutions to deepen their relationship through a genuine dialogue are outstanding Christians who occupied the position of sacral rulers in both Cameroon and Ghana. They have provided historical material on which an understanding of the cultural changes within sacral rule as well as the Christian church was based. The previous religious experience and knowledge of the sacral rulers are invariably used as a frame of reference for their understanding and interpretation of the Bible and their relationship with Christ. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

Doctorat en philosophie et lettres / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Magister Public Health - MPH / Background: Antenatal care serves as a key entry point for a pregnant woman to receive a broad range of services and should be initiated at the onset of pregnancy (WHO, 2016). Cameroon has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world (UNICEF, 2016). The majority of pregnant women in Cameroon initiate antenatal care after the first trimester (Njim, 2016). Most studies on initiation of antenatal care in Cameroon have not explored in greater depth the reasons why most of the pregnant women initiate antenatal care late. Methodology: The aim of the study is to understand the reasons why pregnant women initiate antenatal care late in Nkwen Baptist Health Center, North West Region, Cameroon. It is an exploratory study and applied purposive sampling to recruit eighteen pregnant women and three key informants for data collection through individual interviews. Pregnant women who initiated antenatal care after the first trimester were recruited during antenatal care clinics and interviewed in a room at the antenatal care unit. Key informants were midwives working at the antennal care unit. Participation in the study was voluntary. Participants were explained the purpose of the study and signed a consent form if they were willing to participate in the research. Participation in the research did not inhibit the respondent’s access to care. Data was collected using an audio tape and analyzed using Thematic Coding Analysis (TCA) to identify recurring themes that emerged from the data to adequately describe the perceptions of respondents on the reasons for late initiation of antenatal care.

Cette thèse de doctorat traite la problématique de l’école au Cameroun pendant les périodes coloniales allemande et française, ainsi que leurs retombées sur la situation actuelle. Il s’agit d’une analyse approfondie de la place et des formes de l’enseignement au Cameroun sous les jougs coloniaux allemand et français. Elle tient compte des différents objectifs politiques et des conceptions de l’Homme propres à chacune de ces deux puissances colonisatrices. Un accent particulier est mis sur l’enseignement féminin dans chacune des parties de ce travail. L’analyse comparative des systèmes d’enseignement coloniaux allemand et français fait ressortir les différences et les similitudes entre les deux politiques éducatives et leurs applications concrètes. Notre travail ne se limite pas à cette approche comparative, mais va au-delà. Il montre que le système éducatif camerounais actuel porte essentiellement les marques du passé colonial français, tandis que les vestiges de la colonisation allemande sur le plan scolaire sont quasiment absents. / This thesis deals with the school issue in Cameroon during the German and French colonial periods, as well as their impact on the current situation. This is a thorough analysis of the place and forms of education in Cameroon under the German and French colonial yokes. It takes into account the different political objectives and conceptions of man, specific to each of the two colonial powers. It specifically underlines feminine education in each part of this work. The comparative analysis of the German and French colonial educational systems highlights the differences and similarities between the both educational policies and their concrete applications. Our work is not restricted to this comparative approach but goes beyond this. It shows that the educational system in Cameroon is now essentially marked by the French colonial past, whereas the remains of German colonization academically are almost absent.

Rarement phénomène social n’a été aussi captivant, passionnant, émouvant et en même temps truffé d’autant de contradictions et de conflits que le sport au Cameroun. En effet, d’une génération à une autre, cette pratique s’est traduite tantôt comme un facteur de cohésion nationale, tantôt comme vecteur de division et de troubles de toutes natures.Au demeurant, les exploits inattendus et inespérés engrangés dans ce domaine au cours des trois dernières décennies avaient fini par construire des représentations sociales tendant à faire du Cameroun un pays de sport, un grand pays sportif. Ce mouvement s’est traduit de manière concrète par la présence de ses athlètes et équipes dans les compétitions internationales. De manière évidente, la notoriété qui en a suivi donnait ainsi l’opportunité à ce pays de mieux organiser son sport, afin de maintenir cette belle image conquise par l’abnégation de ses acteurs sportifs.Or, l’on constate de manière paradoxale que les exploits et les résultats de ces athlètes n’ont pas produit les fruits escomptés, en raison de l’embrigadement des instances dirigeantes dans d’inextricables luttes et conflits internes. Ces jouxtes généralisées et pernicieuses ont donc empêché le sport de s’y développer de manière harmonieuse et professionnelle, et conséquemment de permettre aux principaux acteurs de vivre décemment de cette activité.La présente étude effectue l’analyse de l’organisation et du fonctionnement de ces instances dirigeantes, à partir des textes en vigueur et des faits recueillis sur le terrain. Elle est fondamentalement tournée vers la recherche appliquée, et prend pour principal socle épistémologique, l’analyse documentaire.Cette démarche a globalement permis de mieux décrypter d’une part l’origine de ces conflits et de bien comprendre d’autre part, les modes et modalités de règlements y afférents. En particulier, elle a débouché sur la mise exergue les conflits liés aux élections, ceux liés au sport proprement dit et enfin ceux liés au contentieux administratif et financier. Dans le même ordre d’idées, la définition même de la nature et du type de conflits sportifs du Cameroun a constitué à n’en point douter l’obstacle épistémologique majeur à surmonter, en raison de l’inexistence de travaux spécialisés ou une jurisprudence consacrée sur cette question. Par ailleurs, la mise en évidence de l’arbitrabilité ou non de ces conflits a permis de disséquer, faits et éléments de jurisprudence à l’appui, les institutions, les méthodes, et procédures mises en place pour leur résolution.Au total, il y a lieu de faire observer que le mouvement sportif au Cameroun est traversé par d’inextricables conflits qui entravent de manière considérable son déploiement, et, les modes de règlements à géométrie variable que l’on y retrouve en permanence constituent l’exacte traduction du désarroi sportif dans lequel ce pays est embourbé depuis lors. Aussi bien, les atermoiements et les interminables conflits de toutes natures qui traversent en ces jours l’organisation de la Coupe d’Afrique des Nations prévue au Cameroun en 2019 témoignent, grandeur nature, d’un environnement particulièrement défavorable au développement du mouvement sportif au Cameroun. Les suggestions que nous faisons s’inscrivent dans un processus de long terme, et ne pourraient être véritablement pertinentes et efficaces qu’avec la refonte totale du système sportif national et surtout, son arrimage aux standards internationaux en la matière. / There is seldom any event as captivating, fascinating, touching and at the same time riddled with so many contradictions as sports in Cameroon. In fact, from one generation to another, sports has sometimes been considered as a factor of national cohesion and sometimes as a seed of division and all sorts of discord. If we look at it closely, the unexpected achievements, which no one dreamt of, that have been done in this field over the last three decades eventually led to the social tendency to portray Cameroon as a sports country, a great sports country. In concrete terms, this has resulted in the participation of its athletes and teams in international competitions. The resulting fame thus gave the country the opportunity to better organise its sports, in order to maintain this beautiful image earned by the selflessness of its athletes.Paradoxically, however, it is observed that the achievements of these athletes have not produced the expected results, due to the involvement of governing bodies in unending internal struggles and conflicts. In fact, the recurrence of conflicts and disputes within Cameroonian sports bodies is a real problem, both in terms of stakeholders` fulfilment and infrastructure development. These widespread and pernicious issues have thus prevented sports from developing in a professional way and enabling its main actors to make a decent living from it.This study aims to analyse the organisation and functioning of these bodies based on texts in force and facts on the ground, in order to better identify the origin of these conflicts and to understand the ways of resolving them.The documentary analysis that we used as theoretical framework for this study made it possible to highlight conflicts related to elections, sports proper and finally, administrative and financial litigation respectively. Moreover, defining the nature and type of sports conflicts in Cameroon has been undoubtedly a major epistemological obstacle since the review of related literature showed little or no previous work on this issue.Moreover, highlighting the question of whether or not these conflicts can be settled by arbitration has enabled an analysis of the institutions, methods, and procedures put in place for their resolution, based on facts and legal precedents.Finally, it is to be said that the sports movement in Cameroon is experiencing endless conflicts that significantly hamper its operation and, the various ways of regulation that are observed are a reflection of the confusion in which the country`s sports practice is mired

<p>The majority of Cameroonians depend on traditional medicines for their health care needs and about seven per cent of the average household health budget is spent on traditional medicines irrespective of their incomes. The aim of this study was (i) to assess the role of traditional healers (THs) in providing oral care services in Cameroon / (ii) to determine their cost of treatment and to investigate reasons why people visit THs. The present study was cross sectional and consisted of a sample of 21 THs and 52 clients with a history of dental problems. It utilized semi structured questionnaires and photographs to collect data. The mean age of THs was 46.0 years (range 20-77 years). Thirty per cent of THs were above 40 years and the majority males. Nearly a quarter of the THs practiced as herbalists and the remainder practiced both divination and herbalism. More than two thirds of Cameroonians, who patronize THs for their oral health needs, fall within the 20-40 year age group. THs in this region are experienced and enjoy good relationships with hospitals and other THs. However, collaboration between the oral health work force and THs is very poor as only 6% of all patients seen by THs are referred to the dentist. Socio-cultural and economic factors affect the oral health care seeking behavior of patients in this area and only 6.5% of patients visit dental clinics. Reasons for not attending dental clinics included cost, poor accessibility, superstition and fear.</p>

At the opposite of numerous countries in the world, despite its natural assets and its enormous surface and underground water potential, Cameroon is still trying to put down effective policies for the supply of safe drinking water for its rural population. Many initiatives to supply these communities through a national water distribution network have remained for the most dead letters or fruitless. A very high number of people still endanger their life daily by relying on archaic water supply techniques – when they are working – and by consuming unsafe water. This study therefore investigates if fog and rainwater harvesting could help in securing safe drinking water to these same rural communities, leaving the remaining demand - if any - to be provided by the existing but too often non-reliable supply system. Two pilot sites have been selected for their different climatic conditions; a village in the mountainous Western Province and another in the low-lying area of the Far-North Province of Cameroon. Average climatic data and basic topographical information from each location were used to determine the size and number of required collectors. The potential monthly water-yield at each site was then assessed using an actual climatic data series (8 years) and the theoretical performance simulated based on an increasing per capita daily consumption (10 – 40 l.d-1). An estimate of implementation cost is provided as part of the discussion on the feasibility of using both fog and rainwater harvesting as low-cost approaches to securing safe drinking water in Cameroon.