**1. Introduction**

HIV/AIDS remains a threat to rural development rather than simply a health issue. HIV-AIDS have claimed the lives of an estimated 310,000 [220,000–400,000] adults and children in 2016, 21% fewer than the estimated 390,000 [300,000–480,000] who died due to AIDS-related causes in 2010 in Western and Central Africa [1]. The prevalence of this disease in the African continent is country- dependent. For Cameroon, the UNAIDS estimate data on the occurrence of HIV/AIDS says 58% of the infected population are aware of their status and 38% are on treatment [1]. It is tragic that youths in Cameroon like in order African countries still have blurred information and misconception about HIV transmission and prevention [2]. Human work

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

force can be hampered by several pathologies such as cancer, lung diseases, malaria, gastritis, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and others, but since many rural African communities rely on oxen for traction services in agriculture, a pathology such as African Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT) has also contributed in hindering agricultural production [3]. Agriculture remains the backbone of Cameroon's economy, employing 70% of its work force while providing 42% of its gross domestic product (GDP) and 30% of its export revenue. Such agro-activities take place in villages where they still exist enough surface area for it like the case of our study area. From the report of Manu et al. [4], 53.1 and 19.5% among other causes of food shortages have been caused by sickness and drought, respectively. Fondonera is a poor rural community found in the west region of Cameroon with a greater fraction of its population relying on agriculture as a source of livelihood. It was noticed that about 12.2% of patients coming for HIV test were farmers, and 79.2% were pregnant women advised to carry out the test through Antenatal Clinic (ANC) checkups. This indicates the capability of this disease in reducing agricultural output in this community as reported by Saliu and Adejoh [5] that the quantity and quality of labor input is strongly determined by state of health of individuals of that community.

will add to the labor force. This permits men to use their money to get any kind of young girl they want, exposing themselves and their family to the disease through such promis-

HIV test is one of the important tests carried out in pregnant women during ANC checkups; this is to avoid mother to child transmission (MTCT), which is another means of transmission of the disease apart from sexual intercourse. However, many villages in SSA lack health units and many pregnant women end up giving birth at home through local means, making it dangerous for both the woman and the child who has not received the necessary follow-up before delivery and obviously does not know her HIV status. Knowledge of HIV status is crucial in order that pregnant women access the appropriate treatment and care for themselves and their unborn infants [13]. The study area of this present study has one health unit offering health services to about 24 villages, and this community relies on agriculture as their main economic activity. This study seeks to determine the demographic factors and vulnerable groups associated to HIV infection in order to raise awareness about the existence/level of the disease so as to meet with the millennium development goal of Cameroon. This millennium development goal is to halve, between 1990 and 2015, the population of people who suffer from hunger through combatting HIV/AIDS, malaria, and

Fondonera was our study area; it is situated 30 km from the town of Dschang, to the extreme south east of Menoua Division, west region of Cameroon. This area is bordered to the North by Fongodeng, southwards by Foguetafou Village in the Sanzo community, eastwards by Fossong Wentcheng community and westwards by Fontem in the Lebialem Division. The name of this area is colloquially known as Ndoung'lah following the Bamileke tradition (meaning summit of villages). This area suspends on a mountain at altitude between 800

inhabitants. The climate here is equatorial type, characterized by a long rainy season and short dry season and vegetation here is forest. Agriculture is the main activity of the natives of this community, with cash crops such as coffee, cocoa, cassava, cocoyam, plantain, banana and pepper and others. This community is made up of 24 villages and they all seek for health

A retrospective study was carried out by studying hospital consultation and laboratory registers from November 27, 2008 to November 20, 2015, a prospective study commenced in December 1, 2015 to February 27, 2016. A prospective study was carried out in collaboration

with an estimated population of about 21,000

HIV/AIDS in a Community of Western Cameroon http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.77086 119

cuous habits.

other diseases.

**2.1. Study area**

**2.2. Study design**

**2. Materials and methods**

and 1700 m asl with surface area of 120 km<sup>2</sup>

services in the lone Nguiango health center.

It has been estimated that most vulnerable and affected groups to HIV in Cameroon include sex workers, truck drivers, mobile populations and military personnel; young people (15– 29 years old) are also highly affected. Urbanization is associated with higher levels of HIV infection than rural residents [6], many engage in risky business (prostitution) to meet up with their needs as well as those of their children [7] living with their parents in the village or with them in town.

Protected sex is a critical element in a comprehensive, effective and sustainable approach to HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) prevention and treatment. It was confirmed in Uganda that the use of condom coupled with increase delay in the age of first sexual intercourse and the reduction of sexual partners was an important factor in the decline of HIV prevalence in the 1990s [8].

Rural women especially in village settings still live in a world where they are expected to be submissive to men and where it is unacceptable for a woman to say no to unwanted and unprotected sex [9], and this makes it difficult for women to have a say when it comes to negotiating safer sex. Certain religions as well as social norms in many SSA contexts permit (and even encourage) men to get several wives, engage in sex with multiple partners, favor sex with younger partners, and dominate sexual decision-making [10].

In Africa, marriage is a social obligation and a woman's status in society is judged based on it [11]. Sex is considered as a marital duty to which no woman should withdraw herself from the moment when her husband wishes and even when she has doubts about her husband's sexual life [12]. Against the backdrop of such expectations, women often feel powerless to protect themselves against HIV infection and unintended pregnancies. Economic realities enable men to monopolize the sources of income. In addition, in certain village communities in Cameroon, men have the possibility of opening plantations and getting married to several women who are expected to give birth to several children who will add to the labor force. This permits men to use their money to get any kind of young girl they want, exposing themselves and their family to the disease through such promiscuous habits.

HIV test is one of the important tests carried out in pregnant women during ANC checkups; this is to avoid mother to child transmission (MTCT), which is another means of transmission of the disease apart from sexual intercourse. However, many villages in SSA lack health units and many pregnant women end up giving birth at home through local means, making it dangerous for both the woman and the child who has not received the necessary follow-up before delivery and obviously does not know her HIV status. Knowledge of HIV status is crucial in order that pregnant women access the appropriate treatment and care for themselves and their unborn infants [13]. The study area of this present study has one health unit offering health services to about 24 villages, and this community relies on agriculture as their main economic activity. This study seeks to determine the demographic factors and vulnerable groups associated to HIV infection in order to raise awareness about the existence/level of the disease so as to meet with the millennium development goal of Cameroon. This millennium development goal is to halve, between 1990 and 2015, the population of people who suffer from hunger through combatting HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.
