Abstract
BackgroundMalaria remains a leading cause of illness and deaths in Cameroon. The use of long lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLITN) is the most effective method to reduce the burden of malaria. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the mass distribution of LLITN on the hospital prevalence of malaria (prevalence of malaria in patients with a presumptive diagnosis of malaria), in the Buea Health District in the South-West Region of Cameroon.MethodsA hospital-based chart review of records of malaria confirmatory test results in health facilities of the Buea Health District from January 2011 through December 2013. Data were extracted with the help of a grid, then analyzed with EPIinfo version 6 and Microsoft Excel 2010. Chi square test was used to compare prevalence and ANOVA was used to compare mean parasitaemia.ResultsA total of 17,268 records were reviewed, 3545[20.5% (19.9–21.1)] confirmed malaria positive with mean trophozoite count of 2735.3 ± 23,323.5 trophozoite/µl of blood. Prevalence was higher in males 1497 [23.5% (22.4–24.5)] than females 2047 [18.8% (18.1–19.6)], p < 0.01. Significant evidence of a reduction in the prevalence of malaria was found in under-fives in 2012 (p = 0.03).ConclusionsUniversal coverage with LLITN failed to guarantee effective control of malaria in the Buea Health District, as expected. Continuous and appropriate use of LLITN is indispensable, in addition to periodic sensitization, booster campaigns of LLITN distribution and evaluation research for effective prevention and control of malaria.
Highlights
Malaria remains a leading cause of illness and deaths in Cameroon
An estimated one million people in Africa die from malaria each year, most cases being children under 5 years and 90% of all deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa [1]
The direct and indirect costs associated with management of the disease pose substantial economic burdens to the families of the victims and the country at large [4]. Trends indicate that it is difficult, perhaps impossible for clinical management alone to control and prevent new cases and deaths associated with malaria
Summary
Malaria remains a leading cause of illness and deaths in Cameroon. The use of long lasting insecticide treated bed nets (LLITN) is the most effective method to reduce the burden of malaria. The. Yekabong et al BMC Res Notes (2017) 10:534 government and her partners have made tremendous effort to improve access to basic health care that will especially benefit the poor. Yekabong et al BMC Res Notes (2017) 10:534 government and her partners have made tremendous effort to improve access to basic health care that will especially benefit the poor This includes provision of free treatment for simple malaria to children under five, free antenatal consultations and free intermittent preventive treatment of malaria for pregnant women in local health centers. Despite these efforts, malaria-associated morbidity and mortality rates are still unacceptably high. This is mainly caused by varying levels of drug effectiveness, non-compliance to drug treatment, low or late turn-out in consultation units, and constant genetic variation of the plasmodium parasite
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