COVID-19 pandemic global impact on children´s health in Cameroon

Abstract

In the acute phase of the COVID-19 outbreak, focus is usually made on the fact that children are less susceptible to severe forms. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has numerous other issues in children’s health that maybe minimized in the Cameroonian context. A survey of pediatricians practicing in Cameroon showed a significant drop in pediatric outpatient consultations from 60.4% of pediatricians seeing more than 30 patients per week before the pandemic to 9.9% during the pandemic. This had many consequences among which the delay in urgent care with an increased mortality, postponed routine immunization with the risk of an upsurge in vaccine-preventable diseases.  Another study showed that mortality doubled during the months of April and May 2020 with 9.9% and 11.2% of hospital deaths respectively, compared to 4.9% (p<0.0008) and 5.1% (p<0.0001) during the same period of the previous year. The closure of schools and universities, by imposing an unusual sedentary lifestyle, could result in highest exposure to risk related to insufficient physical activity. Another major issue is the psychological impact of the outbreak on child’s mental health. Regarding the therapeutic and acute aspects of the care of children during the COVID-19 pandemic should not obscure a more global approach with other issues. The organization of care should be inclusive and take into account the physical, somatic impact as well as the psychological and socio-cultural aspects.