Northwest Cameroon Research Articles

Nutritional Status and Eating Habits of Children in Orphanages in Bamenda (North West Cameroon)

Regular growth assessment of children helps maintain adequate dietary intake and physical growth. However, very little or no information is available on the nutritional status of children in orphanages in Cameroon making control of deficiency diseases in children very difficult in these institutions. The main aim of this study was to determine the nutritional status and eating habits of children in some orphanages in Bamenda (North West Cameroon). The height and weight of 205 children (97 boys and 108 girls) ages 1-18 years were measured and their BMI (Body Mass Index) was calculated. A structured questionnaire was used for eating habits and dietary data collection. A usual intake of nutrients was collected and some food samples from the orphanages were collected for three days and analyzed in the laboratory to determine children’s usual intakes of nutrients. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. The results revealed that 15.7% of girls and 18.6% of boys were underweight, 3.7% of girls and 4.1% of boys were stunted and 16.5% of boys and 23.1% of girls were overweight/obese. The most eaten foods were cereals and the least were dairy products. Vegetables, fruits and milk consumption rates were low. The average intake of energy, protein and total fats was inadequate for orphanage children aged 14 to 18 years. The average intake of vitamin A, calcium and iron was inadequate in all orphanages compared to the RDA (Recommended Dietary Intake) values. Efforts should be directed towards educating the orphanage caregivers on meal planning and preparation to increase micronutrient intake in the orphanages’ diets and improve the health of the children. Food or financial aid should also be granted to these institutional care homes to enable them to improve on the overall nutritional content of foods.

Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Some Market Garden Crops in Santa, North West Cameroon

The increased use of pesticides in crop production, especially in Santa, has left consumers with great fear and uncertainty regarding the fate of residues after consumption in the human body. This study was aimed at performing a multi-residue analysis of crop samples to detect and quantify pesticide residues present, and thus determine their level of contamination. Twelve (12) crop samples (4 samples each of Solanum tuberosum (Irish potato), Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), Capsicum annum (sweet pepper) and Apium graveolens (celery)), were randomly collected from four villages in Santa. The samples were analyzed using the QuEChERS Buffered AOAC 2007.01 method. The results showed the presence of pesticide residues in 58.3% of the samples. Cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos insecticides were detected, though cypermethrin was found in traces. After quantification, the concentration of chlorpyrifos was determined to be far above the CODEX Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) in 28.6% of the samples. Samples with this high concentration of chlorpyrifos were: tomato from Pinyin and Baligham (2.0 and 1.8 μg/g respectively), whereas the Codex MRLs for tomato is 1.0 μg/g. This study raised concerns on the contamination of some garden crops by pesticide residues and calls for the assessment of the health situation of consumers and the analysis of pesticide residues in drinking water resources in this area.

Geology, Palaeodeposition and the Involvement of Rhyolite Melts in the Petrogenesis of the Tabenken Coal Seam in the North West Region of Cameroon

The discovery of patches of a coal deposit and other associated sedimentary and volcanic rocks in Tabenken North West Cameroon has raised the question of the geology and palaeoenvironment of that area. This Region, which is predominantly characterized by a granitoid basement of Precambrian age is in most parts overlain by Cenozoic basalts, hawaite, mugearite, trachyte and rhyolites. Volcanic outpours modified the geomorphology of the area into a series of hills and valleys. We investigated the geological setting in view of reconstituting the palaeodepositional environment of the Tabenken Coal Seam. Field studies show that the coal occurs in form of inclusions within sandstones, high grade coal bed, massive beds exposed by landslides and in alkali rhyolites. The results of Ultimate analyses of the coal indicate bituminous coal with 58% Carbon, sulfur content as low as 0.12% and ash content of 17%. The occurrence of a well stratified dark volcanic ash bed in the area is interpreted to be an interactive product of the explosive volcanic activity and weathering. Field examination of the area suggests that it was a micro-continental sedimentary palaeo-basin which was later infilled with Cenozoic volcanic outpours which probably modified the chemistry of the coal to meta-anthracites. The actual ages of the coal as well as the associated sedimentary units have not been established, meanwhile, the volcanism started some 31 ma ago.

Literal and metaphorical usages of Babanki EAT and DRINK verbs

In Babanki, a Grassfields Bantu language of North-West Cameroon, two of the numerous consumption verbs, namely the generic verbs ʒɨ́ ‘eat’ and ɲʉ́ ‘drink’, constitute a major source of metaphorical extensions outside the domain of ingestion. Setting out from a characterisation of the basic meanings of these two lexical items as they emerge from their paradigmatic relations within the semantic field of alimentation processes, this paper explores the figurative usages of the two verbs and their underlying semantic motivations. Semantic extensions that radiate from eat can be subsumed under two closely related structural metaphors, i.e. APPROPRIATION OF RESOURCES IS EATING and WINNING IS EATING. The first metaphor construes the acquisition and exploitation of non-food items such as material possession as eating, while the second metaphor casts the acquisition of immaterial advantage in the mould of eating. Both metaphors have further entailments, i.e. the derivation of pleasure from consumption of resources, the depletion of resources via consumption and the deprivation of a third party from access to these resources. Semantic extensions that radiate from drink can be accounted for in two structural metaphors, i.e. INHALATION IS DRINKING and ABSORPTION IS DRINKING. Remarkably, some metaphorical extensions of consumption verbs attested in other African languages, such as extensions of EAT for sexual intercourse and for killing, and the extensions of DRINK for undergoing trouble and enduring painful experiences are absent in Babanki.

The Environmental and Socio Economic Signatures of Landcover and Landuse Dynamics in the Ndu Tea Estate, North West Cameroon

Land is a fundamental factor of production and thus the source of all forms of material wealth. For a sustainable utilization of the land resources, it is essential to know its natural characteristics, extent, location and limitations of various land uses as improper land use is the cause of different forms of environmental degradation. This paper sets out to quantitatively analyze the spatio- temporal dynamics of landcover and landuse patterns in Ndu Sub-Division with emphasis on land for tea cultivation in a bid to provide useful information to stakeholders on the environmental and socio economic signatures. The methodology consisted of three phases; the first phase handled data acquisition, vectorization and satellite image processing. This was followed by field work, aimed at verification of ground truth, collection of GPS waypoints, GPS tracks and attribute data. The third phase consisted of post field activities, comprising of restitution and validation of data, map production and analysis. The findings show that between 1988 to 2018, Ndu Sub Division experienced a drop in farmlands and savanna vegetation by 1.9% (from 60882.7 to 58616.6ha) while forests, built-up areas, tea parcels and small holder schemes witnessed an increased by 1.1% (18109.7 to 18500.9ha), 39.7% (13184.4 to 3051.5ha), 5.2% (619.85 to 688.27ha) and 100% (0 to 73.2ha) respectively. Such dynamics have been accompanied by both positive and negative imprints. On the positive side, the Ndu Tea Estate is a catalyst in rural livelihood transformation and development. The participation of the local populations in the activities of the estate has led to income improvement and poverty alleviation. However, land tenure disputes, labour abuse characterized by low wages, poor living conditions for unskilled workers and job insecurity are glaring. On the environmental side, bush fires, environmental pollution through chemical spraying, fertilizers and deforestation are common.

Physico-chemical and bacteriological characterisation of surface water in Bamenda (North West Cameroon)

The Mezam River and its tributaries constitute a prominent water source for domestic use and vegetable irrigation in Bamenda Town (North West Cameroon). The river flows through the city and is thus vulnerable to impairment by substances from point and non-point sources. This current research aims to assess the degree of pollution of the Mezam River water to ascertain its suitability for various uses. A total of 24 water samples were collected from six segments of the Mezam River basin in the dry and rainy seasons during the years 2015 and 2016 in view of physico-chemical and bacteriological analyses. In situ measurement of physical parameters was taken in the field. The data were analysed by multivariate statistical techniques (principal component analysis and factor analysis). The results revealed that the river water is slightly acidic (pH = 5.45–6.47) and ion concentration is low (41.67–237.00 µS/cm). The water type is Ca-SO4 and Ca-Mg-(Cl + NO3) in the dry season and Ca-Mg-SO4 in the rainy season. High NO3− values (50 mg/l) are recorded at Nkimefueh. The Mezam River water is heavily polluted with indicator bacteria (0–500 CFU/100 ml) whose concentrations steadily increase from the reference point (YB) through sampling points in the city centre, suggesting the influence of human-induced activities. The population is urged to adopt a responsible behaviour towards waste disposal and refrain from disposing waste in water courses in order to safeguard the aquatic environment and also protect the health of the population.

Agricultural risk assessment to enhance the food systems of the Mbororo minority community in the Northwest region of Cameroon

Increasing population pressure, coupled with the effects of climate change manifested by longer dry seasons, wildfires, and conflicts, threatens the food systems of minority communities. In the case of the Mbororo minority community of Northwest Region of Cameroon, these threats are exacerbated by already existing problems of marginalisation. This study assesses agricultural risks in the global context of food distribution and gross domestic product that also poses a specific threat to the food system of the Mbororo people. The study aims to (1) assess the types of agricultural risk encountered by the Mbororo community, (2) examine the likelihood and severity of these risks, and (3) appraise local risk management strategies adopted to minimise the negative impacts of these risks on the food system. The study makes use of a mixed method approach for data collection. Findings have revealed animal diseases (83 %), absence of infrastructures (83.6 %), price variation (76.6 %), and drought (75.8 %) as the most encountered risks in the case study area. Especially, drought, political insecurity, pest and rodent, farmer-grazer conflict, and crop and animal diseases emerged as the highest intensity or priority risks with the need for urgent management strategies intervention. Agricultural risk assessment is frequently used to assess and prioritize risks but has hardly been used in the case of minority groups such as the Mbororo community of Northwest Cameroon.

Azai Dosi Kfaang (Modern or Families of Newness): Kom Families from Village to Coast and Further Diasporic Spaces

This paper focuses on “families of newness”, which amongst the Kom of Northwest Cameroon are known as azai dosi kfaang. It argues that because of geographical and social mobility experiences, families have not remained static, and consequently, the further they go from the village the more modernized they become. In recent times, African societies as well as family histories have been concerned with connecting with those who have been left behind. As a result, the blueprint that marks out the African family today is found in its mobility both within and out of the continent. At the same time, what glues the family together is the newer forms of technologies encapsulated in Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), which include amongst many others the cell phone, internet, WhatsApp, and Twitter. Letters pre-dated these new technologies and were significantly used by migrant families to stay “in touch”. Families began in the village, and as newer technologies were introduced—motor cars, a postal service and motorable roads—they moved or thought about places further away. With later technological developments, such as air travel and the mobile phone, families found themselves in distant diasporic spaces. This paper therefore hopes to make a contribution that relates family history and the history of migration to technology and social change. It also has the great value of discussing an area that gets too little attention in historiography. Fundamentally, the paper attempts to compare and contrast the use of technology, the news that could be shared (welfare, births, or obituaries), the length between contacts, the ability to make visits in person, the tensions that cropped up between family members abroad and those back at home in two periods, the 1930s–1940s and the 1990s to the present. What did these periods have in common? What was different and why? For the purpose of clarity, I will start the paper with a short introduction about the area, the issues of family formation, and kfaang. The second part of the paper will focus on the discussion of the “newness” of those who migrated to more modern places and the role of technology. The third part compares/contrasts the connections of families in the two periods (1930s–1940s and 1990s-present) in order to flesh out the argument.

Genetic Relationship between the Different Ethno-Linguistic Groups of Mezam and Momo Divisions of the North West Region of Cameroon

Aim: Although the many ethnolinguistic groups of the Mezam and Momo Divisions of the North West Region of Cameroon are historically known to be related, no genetic study has hider to be conducted to verify the claim. This study was therefore aimed at determining the genetic relationship between the different ethno linguistic groups of Mezam and Momo divisions of north west Cameroon using 6 Y-STR loci.
 Materials and methods: Venous blood samples were collected from, at least 30 consented participants from each of 11 ethnolinguistic groups previously identified in the study area. Genomic DNA was isolated and six Y- Chromosome Short Tandem Repeats (Y-STRs): DYS388, DYS389I DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, and DYS393, were genotyped using standard techniques and the phylogenetic relationship between these groups established.
 Results: Four loci (DYS3891, DYS390, DYS391, and DYS392) had an allele frequency of 1 in all 11 groups and a total of 4 haplotypes were obtained. Haplotype 11-13-21-11-9-10 corresponding to DYS388-DYS389I-DYS390-DYS392-DYS393-DYS391 was the most predominant in all populations.
 Conclusion: It is concluded that, all 11 populations included in this study have a common genetic origin, the Bakaka population of Cameroon which correlates with their Bantoid linguistic relatedness.

Incidence and prevalence of epilepsy and associated factors in a health district in North-West Cameroon: A population survey

This population-based cross-sectional survey with a follow-up case-control study assessed the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors for epilepsy in a rural health district in the North-West Region of Cameroon. Community-based epilepsy screening targeted all inhabitants, six years and older, in all 16 health areas in the Batibo Health District. During door-to-door visits, trained fieldworkers used a validated questionnaire to interview consenting household heads to screen for epilepsy in eligible residents. Trained physicians subsequently assessed people with suspected seizures. After clinical assessment, they confirmed or refuted the diagnosis and estimated the date of epilepsy onset. A trained nurse interviewed people with epilepsy and randomly selected healthy individuals, obtaining relevant demographic details and information on exposure to risk factors for epilepsy. Out of 36,282 residents screened, 524 had active epilepsy. The age-standardized prevalence of active epilepsy was 33.9/1,000 (95% CI: 31.0–37.1/1,000). We estimated the one-year age-standardized epilepsy incidence at 171/100,000 (95%CI: 114.0–254.6). Active epilepsy prevalence varied widely between health areas, ranging between 12 and 75 per 1,000. The peak age-specific prevalence was in the 25–34 age group. In adults, multivariate analysis showed that having a relative with epilepsy was positively associated with epilepsy. Epilepsy characteristics in this population, geographical heterogeneity, and the age-specific prevalence pattern suggest that endemic neurocysticercosis and onchocerciasis may be implicated. Further investigations are warranted to establish the full range of risk factors for epilepsy in this population.

Social Solidarity Economy and Village-centric Development in North-West Cameroon

Amidst shrinking budgets for community development in most of sub-Saharan Africa, the social solidarity economy is touted as a model in local development. This article situates solidarity initiatives and capability-focused outcomes that deliver enhanced livelihoods, social security and community development. The conceptual framing of social theory, social capital and social economy informs this case study with focus on the Ndong Awing Cultural and Development Association, North-West region, Cameroon. The analysis of semi-structured interviews and secondary sources suggests that solidarity networks such as njangis, cooperatives, quarter development unions and diaspora networks promote village-centric development. These overlapping networks generate scarce financial and human resources–essential packages for livelihoods and welfare. Emerging state policy is yet to calibrate these mechanisms of ground-up, mutual development drives. Galvanising these solidarity assets require meaningful co-productionand revamped state−community relations. This article offers a paradigm shift in how village groups mobilise income, capital and financing of village projects, nurtured through human development and agency.

Evaluation of quality of life and associated factors among HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy in North West region of Cameroon

Background: There is evidence that Quality of Life (QoL) of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) has a significant role in ART retention, treatment adherence, and survival. As a result, QoL is becoming increasingly important for policy- makers, program implementers, and researchers. However, factors associated with QoL, in a culturally diverse country like Cameroon are unknown.
 Objective: We aimed to assess the QoL of PLHIV on ART and assess the extent to which physical, psychosocial, environ- mental, and spiritual factors drive QoL.
 Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 394 PLHIV aged >21 in North-West Cameroon from April to July 2019. Data were collected using WHO-QOL BREF questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed.
 Results: Majority (34.5%) of participants were in the age range of 41-50, with 73% females. The average QoL of the re- spondents was “good” with mean score of 3.57 on 5 and 71.4% agreed to have satisfactory QoL. Bivariate regression anal- yses revealed that all six proposed predictors were significantly associated with QoL. Psychological factors made the greatest impact (β = 0.213; p<0.003), followed by physical factors (β = 0.19; p<0.001).
 Conclusion: PLHIV fairly agreed to have good QoL. The QoL was driven by mainly psychological and physical factors and not level of independence. However, the mean score perceptions for the investigated domains were low. Mental health ser- vices should consider these predictors when designing strategies to improve the QoL of PLHIV. While this study provides useful insights, other possible drivers of QoL among PLHIV should be investigated.
 Keywords: Quality of life and associated factors; HIV patients; antiretroviral therapy; Cameroon.

Epilepsy in a health district in North-West Cameroon: Clinical characteristics and treatment gap

IntroductionEpilepsy is a common yet misunderstood condition in Cameroon, including in the Batibo Health district. MethodsThis cross-sectional study describes epilepsy clinical characteristics, the treatment gap, and associated factors in a rural district in Cameroon. After screening for epilepsy using a door-to-door survey, physicians confirmed suspected cases of epilepsy. Detailed information on the medical, seizure, and treatment history was collected from everyone with epilepsy, followed by a general and neurological examination. ResultsWe diagnosed 546 people with active epilepsy (at least one seizure in the previous 12 months). The mean age of people with active epilepsy was 25.2 years (SD: 11.1). The mean age at first seizure was 12.5 years (SD: 8.2). Convulsive seizures (uncertain whether generalized or focal) were the most common seizure types (60%), while 41% had focal-onset seizures. About 60% of people had seizures at least monthly. One-quarter of participants had had at least one episode of status epilepticus. Anti-seizure medication (ASM) was taken by 85%, but most were receiving inappropriate treatment or were non-adherent, hence the high treatment gap (80%). Almost a third had had seizure-related injuries. Epilepsy was responsible for low school attendance; 74% of school dropouts were because of epilepsy. ConclusionThe high proportion of focal-onset seizures suggests acquired causes (such as neurocysticercosis and onchocerciasis, both endemic in this area). The high epilepsy treatment gap and the high rates of status epilepticus and epilepsy-related injuries underscore the high burden of epilepsy in this rural Cameroonian health district.

Evaluation of quality of life and associated factors among HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy in North West region of Cameroon

There is evidence that Quality of Life (QoL) of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) has a significant role in ART retention, treatment adherence, and survival. As a result, QoL is becoming increasingly important for policymakers, program implementers, and researchers. However, factors associated with QoL, in a culturally diverse country like Cameroon are unknown. We aimed to assess the QoL of PLHIV on ART and assess the extent to which physical, psychosocial, environmental, and spiritual factors drive QoL. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 394 PLHIV aged >21 in North-West Cameroon from April to July 2019. Data were collected using WHO-QOL BREF questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed. Majority (34.5%) of participants were in the age range of 41-50, with 73% females. The average QoL of the respondents was "good" with mean score of 3.57 on 5 and 71.4% agreed to have satisfactory QoL. Bivariate regression analyses revealed that all six proposed predictors were significantly associated with QoL. Psychological factors made the greatest impact (β = 0.213; p<0.003), followed by physical factors (β = 0.19; p<0.001). PLHIV fairly agreed to have good QoL. The QoL was driven by mainly psychological and physical factors and not level of independence. However, the mean score perceptions for the investigated domains were low. Mental health services should consider these predictors when designing strategies to improve the QoL of PLHIV. While this study provides useful insights, other possible drivers of QoL among PLHIV should be investigated.

Determination of Total Phenolic and Total Flavonoid Contents and Assessment of Antioxidant Properties of Cameroon Propolis: Case of Boyo (North-West Cameroon)

Determination of Total Phenolic and Total Flavonoid Contents and Assessment of Antioxidant Properties of Cameroon Propolis: Case of Boyo (North-West Cameroon)

Examining Farmers’ Resilience to Climate Change and Policy Ramifications in North-West Cameroon

Over half of the world’s population depends on smallholder farms for their daily food needs. However, high levels of vulnerability and low levels of resilience to the adverse effects of climatic variations and changes constitute major threats to smallholder farms and farmers. It is within this context that this paper assessed the levels of resilience of smallholder farmers as well as the factors affecting smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change in north western Cameroon. A mixed research approach was adopted during data collection, and data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. It was found that climate extremes were the order of the day, and farmers perceived income level, practice of agroforestry and land accessibility as the main determinants of resilience. The main resilience option practiced by most smallholder farmers was agroforestry. Chi-square and t-test statistics showed the existence of a statistically significant difference (p&lt;0.05) between smallholder farmers resilience to climate change and different environmental, institutional and socio-economic variables. Logistic regression coefficients showed the existence of a statistically significant cause-effect relationship (p&lt;0.05) between farmers’ resilience to climate change and different environmental, institutional and socio-economic variables such as income level, land accessibility, credit accessibility, information accessibility and number of farms. From the foregoing, income level, land accessibility, credit accessibility, information accessibility and number of farms play a significant role towards enhancing smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change. Policy makers therefore need to factor in these variables when crafting policies geared towards improving smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change.

The Nekai Festival and Traditional Governance in Babungo, North West Cameroon

The Nekai Festival and Traditional Governance in Babungo, North West Cameroon

Epidemiology of Surgical Site Infection Following Abdominal Surgeries at a Reference Hospital in North-West Cameroon.

Background:Though abdominal surgery is a risk factor for surgical site infection (SSI), limited data exist in this environment on the burden and risk factors of SSI following abdominal surgeries in our setting.Aim:The aim of this article is to study the prevalence, risk factors, and outcome of SSI following abdominal surgeries at the Mbingo Baptist Hospital, Bamenda, North-West Region, Cameroon.Materials and Methods:This was a hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study. We reviewed records of all patients who underwent an abdominal surgery at the Mbingo Baptist Hospital from January 2020 to December 2020. We excluded patients under the age of 18 and patients who died in the early post-op without developing an SSI. For each participant, we collected socio-demographic data, clinical features, and factors related to the surgery and its outcome.Results:A total of 304 (25.7% males) participants with a mean age of 40.8 years (SD ±15 years) were enrolled. In all, 37/304 participants developed SSI giving an overall prevalence of 12.2%. The incidence was higher in males and in emergency procedures. The spectrum of infection ranged from superficial (19%) to organ space (64%) through deep SSI (14%). Human immunodeficiency virus, operatory time >4 h, contaminated/dirty procedures, and gastrointestinal perforation repair were independently associated with SSI. Length of hospital stay (days) was significantly higher in patients who developed SSI (18.0 vs. 4.0). An overall mortality of 2% with case fatality of 19% was recorded.Conclusion:SSI remains a common complication of abdominal surgeries. Prompt recognition and control of potentially modifiable risk factors may improve the burden and outcomes in this high-risk population.

Gastro-intestinal parasitism and control practices in dairy cattle in North-west Cameroon (Central Africa).

The main objective of this study was to assess the gastrointestinal parasitism in relation with the worm control practices (WCP) in dairy cattle in areas of major importance for dairy/milk production of Cameroon. Fresh fecal samples were randomly collected from 402 cattle from August to October 2016 in North West Cameroon, and analyze using the McMaster technique. Data on WCP were collected using a questionnaire. A total of 11 parasites species were identified: Trichostrongylus sp. (5.97%); Oesophagostomum sp. (5.47%); Haemonchus sp. (2.48%); Bonostomum sp. (1.74); Cooperia sp. (1.49%). Toxocara sp (0.24%); Ostertagia sp. (0.50%); Nematodirus sp. (0.74%); Trichuris sp. (0.50%); Moniezia sp. (0.50%); Eimeria sp. (0.50%). The mean individual parasite load for helminthes and protozoa ranged from 100 to 400 eggs per gram of feces (epg) and 333-400 oocysts per gram of feces (opg), respectively. Most farmers (95.12%) used conventional drugs (Albendazole, Doramectin, Fenbendazole, Ivermectin.) to deworm animals as compared with traditional phytotherapy (e.g., Carica papaya leaves) (4.88%). The mean epg/opg in animals treated with conventional drugs was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in those receiving traditional treatment. Animals treated less than four times a year with conventional drugs had the highest (p < 0.05) mean epg/opg compared with animals treated four to six times a year. This study suggests that treating at least four times a year with conventional drugs, and at least two times a year with traditional approaches could help reducing GIP burden in dairy cattle in North West Cameroon. Since the majority of farmers use conventional drugs, it is imperative for them to appropriately use these conventional drugs for a better control of GIP on their farms.

Intestinal helminths as predictors of some malaria clinical outcomes and IL-1β levels in outpatients attending two public hospitals in Bamenda, North West Cameroon.

This study aimed at determining the impact of intestinal helminths on malaria parasitaemia, anaemia and pyrexia considering the levels of IL-1β among outpatients in Bamenda. A cohort of 358 consented participants aged three (3) years and above, both males and females on malaria consultation were recruited in the study. At enrolment, patients’ axillary body temperatures were measured and recorded. Venous blood was collected for haemoglobin concentration and malaria parasitaemia determination. Blood plasma was used to measure human IL-1β levels using Human ELISA Kit. The Kato-Katz technique was used to process stool samples. Five species of intestinal helminths Ascaris lumbricoides (6.4%), Enterobius vermicularis (5.0%), Taenia species (4.2%), Trichuris trichiura (1.1%) and hookworms (0.8%) were identified. The overall prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum and intestinal helminths was 30.4% (109/358) and 17.6% (63/358) respectively. The prevalence of intestinal helminths in malaria patients was 17.4% (19/109). Higher Geometric mean parasite density (GMPD ±SD) (malaria parasitaemia) was significantly observed in patients co-infected with Enterobius vermicularis (5548 ± 2829/μL, p = 0.041) and with Taenia species (6799 ± 4584/μL, p = 0.020) than in Plasmodium falciparum infected patients alone (651 ± 6076/ μL). Higher parasitaemia of (1393 ± 3031/μL) and (3464 ± 2828/μL) were recorded in patients co-infected with Ascaris lumbricoides and with hookworms respectively but the differences were not significant (p > 0.05). Anaemia and pyrexia prevalence was 27.1% (97/358) and 33.5% (120/358) respectively. Malaria patients co-infected with Enterobius vermicularis and Ascaris lumbricoides had increased risk of anaemia (OR = 13.712, p = 0.002 and OR = 16.969, p = 0.014) respectively and pyrexia (OR = 18.07, p = 0.001 and OR = 22.560, p = 0.007) respectively than their counterparts. Increased levels of IL-1β were significantly observed in anaemic (148.884 ± 36.073 pg/mL, t = 7.411, p = 0.000) and pyretic (127.737 ± 50.322 pg/mL, t = 5.028, p = 0.000) patients than in non-anaemic (64.335 ± 38.995pg/mL) and apyretic patients (58.479 ± 36.194pg/mL). Malaria patients co-infected with each species of intestinal helminths recorded higher IL-1β levels (IL-1β > 121.68 ± 58.86 pg/mL) and the overall mean (139.63 ± 38.33pg/mL) was higher compared with levels in malaria (121.68 ± 58.86 pg/mL) and helminth (61.78 ± 31.69pg/mL) infected patients alone. Intestinal helminths exacerbated the clinical outcomes of malaria in the patients and increased levels of IL-1β were observed in co-infected patients with anaemia, pyrexia and higher parasitaemia.