Журнал бактериологии и паразитологии

Абстрактный

Environmental factors and methods of preventing the spread of malaria parasite in rural Bomaka and urban Moliko, southwest Cameroon

Helen Kuokuo Kimbi, Yannick Nana, Irene Ngole Sumbele, Judith K. Anchan-Kimbi, Emmacule Lum, Calvin Tonga, Malaika Nwebo, and Leopold J. Lehman

Malaria remains a major public health problem in Cameroon. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of environmental factors and control measures on malaria parasite prevalence and anaemia in schoolchildren in rural Bomaka and urban Moliko, southwest Cameroon. A total of 303 schoolchildren (174 and 129 from Bomaka and Moliko, respectively) aged 4–15 years were surveyed. Information on demographics, environmental and antimalarial measures was recorded. Malaria was diagnosed using Giemsa-stained blood films. Red blood cell volume (RBC) was determined. The overall prevalence of malaria parasite was 33.0%, and it was significantly higher in children from Bomaka (38.51%) than in children from Moliko (25.58%). Malaria parasite prevalence was significantly higher in males and highest in children aged ≤ 6 years. General location, age and standing water were associated with malaria parasite prevalence. Although malaria parasite prevalence was higher in students with bushes around their homes, who lived in plank houses and who did not use insecticide residual spraying (IRS), the differences were, however, not significant. The overall prevalence of anaemia was 14.0%, with the highest prevalence of anaemia observed among students aged ≤ 6 years. Parasite density was significantly higher in children with anaemia ((1369, CI=504.25-2511.89) than in children without anaemia ((507, CI=313.74-603.32). A combination of environmental and preventive measures (especially in rural areas) and community engagement will reduce malaria transmission