{
  "abstract": "Background Integrating the principles of humanized care into healthcare systems is critical to promoting optimal well-being. In a context of limited resources, improving quality of care means identifying priority sites to optimize cost-effectiveness. The objective was to measure key indicators of quality and safety in health facilities and map priority health districts (HDs) for effective implementation of high-impact interventions in the Centre Region. Methods We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional analysis of retrospective data from 32 HDs in the Centre Region for the period 2018–2022. Data were extracted from the national District Health Information System 2 (DHIS2) database in April 2023 and checked for completeness. The health indicators assessed were those defined in the Cameroon Health Sector Strategy for 2020–2030. Data were analyzed using R statistics version 4.2.3. Results The density of the qualified healthcare workers was 13.7 per 10 000 inhabitants in 2022. Over the five-year study period, the density of doctors in rural areas declined by almost 20% by 2020, whereas urban areas experienced a concurrent increase. The Odza HD had the highest inpatient mortality rate over the five-year study period (49%). In rural areas, the Esse HD had the highest mortality rate (32.4%). Esse (18.8%) and Odza (6.7%) HDs had the highest perioperative mortality rates in rural and urban areas, respectively. Most of the urban HDs (5/8 = 62.5%) had a neonatal mortality rate higher than the regional median (RM = 3.1). Half of the rural HDs had a maternal mortality ratio higher than the RM = 118 per 1000 live births and the Mbandjock (357/1,000) and Mvog-Ada (285/1,000) HDs carried the highest burden in rural and urban areas respectively. More than two thirds of urban HDs recorded a proportion of free malaria treatment cases below the RM (14%). Conclusions Efforts to humanize healthcare in the Centre Region are hindered by persistent disparities in care quality and inconsistent policy implementation. Addressing these challenges requires timely implementation of a National Strategic Plan to Improve the Quality of Healthcare and Service Delivery, emphasizing on capacity building through training and supervision.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaoundé 1",
    "Health Emergencies Programme, World Health Organization (WHO)",
    "Direction for the Fight against Diseases, Epidemics and Pandemics, Ministry of Public Health",
    "Data Management Unit, Planning Department, Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Centre",
    "Direction of Family Health, Ministry of Public Health",
    "Department of Public Health and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ebolowa",
    "Direction of Operational Research, Ministry of Public Health",
    "Direction of Healthcare Organization and Technology, Ministry of Public Health",
    "Regional Delegation of Public Health, Centre Region"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 16,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Fabrice Zobel Lekeumo Cheuyem"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Adidja Amani"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Brian Ngongheh Ajong"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Lionel Berthold Keubou Boukeng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Christian Mouangue"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Martine Golda Mekouzou Tsafack"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Esther Andriane Bitye Bi Mvondo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ariane Nouko"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Claude Axel Minkandi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Christelle Sandrine Ngos"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Edwige Omona Guissana"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Raissa Katy Noa Otsali"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Djoulay-Hatou"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Adam Yaya"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Pamela Sonfack"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Florence Kissougle Nkongo"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dtx78a2tg7a7f.bib",
  "cited_by": 1,
  "doi": "10.1186/s12913-026-15247-x",
  "fulltext_url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15247-x",
  "id": "dtx78a2tg7a7f",
  "issns": [
    "1472-6963"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15247-x",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "RA1-1270"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3604|Global Health Workforce Issues"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W4404446265",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-07-01",
  "publisher": "BMC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dtx78a2tg7a7f.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:45:50Z",
      "native_id": "dba505dfa3c34acca3521759052615bf",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15247-x"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "lcc:RA1-1270",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Humanization of care: a geospatial analysis of key indicators of quality and safety of health care and service in the Centre region, Cameroon",
  "title_text": "Humanization of care: a geospatial analysis of key indicators of quality and safety of health care and service in the Centre region, Cameroon",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:45:50Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/dtx78a2tg7a7f",
  "venue": "BMC Health Services Research",
  "versions": []
}