Prevalence of Malaria and Its Predisposing Factors among Patients Attending Buea Regional Hospital, South West Region Cameroon

Abstract

Malaria is a parasite disease that is found in the tropics and subtropics and causes significant morbidity and mortality (Danielle and Glenda, 2016).

Every year, 400-600 million cases of malaria are predicted to occur, with up to three million deaths, with the bulk of these cases occurring in African children under the age of five and pregnant women (WHO, 2017).

Malaria’s prevalence and associated predisposing factors have been well documented all throughout the world. An update on the present state of malaria is required, particularly in Cameroon, where the disease has a high prevalence.

The goal of this study was to look at the prevalence of malaria and its risk factors among patients at Regional Hospital Buea. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect demographic information as well as predisposing variables to malaria.

Venous blood was drawn and the presence of malaria parasites was verified using light microscopy. A total of 231 people, ranging in age from 8 to 60, took part in the study.

The average [SD] age was 28.89 [9.18], with a range of 8 to 60 years. The oldest person was 60 years old, and the youngest was eight years old.

The majority of individuals were females (57.1%), lived at a high altitude (68.4%), were afebrile (65.5%), and tested negative for malaria (73.5 per cent).

The study population’s most important predisposing factor was the nature of the environment, with the highest frequency of 85.2 per cent in a clean environment and the lowest prevalence of 14.8 per cent in an unclean environment.

A standardized questionnaire was used to collect demographic information as well as predisposing variables to malaria. Venous blood was taken from the patient.

In the study population, the largest prevalence was in the age group 16-30, with a prevalence of 63.9 per cent, and the lowest prevalence was in the age group 15, with a prevalence of 4.9 per cent.

Females had a higher prevalence of 65.6 per cent than males, who had a prevalence of 34.4 per cent.

These findings point to a low prevalence of malaria parasite infection in the Buea Health District, South West Region of Cameroon, at 26.5 per cent.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

A standardized questionnaire was used to collect demographic information as well as predisposing variables to malaria. Malaria is a parasite disease that is widespread across the tropics and subtropics and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality (Danielle and Glenda, 2016).

Every year, 400-600 million cases of malaria are predicted to occur, with up to three million deaths, with the bulk of these cases occurring in African children under the age of five and pregnant women (WHO, 2017).

As a result of the condition, approximately 80% of deaths occur during the first 24 hours of admission to the hospital (Dzeing-Ella, 2005).

Venous blood was taken from the patient. In Cameroon, the disease is prevalent, causing a high rate of morbidity and mortality, with 70% of the population at risk and no malaria-free zone (Jada et al., 2017).

Malaria prevalence in Buea between 2011 and 2013 was 20.5 per cent, according to Yekakong et al. Malaria is spread by female mosquitoes of the species Anopheles and is caused by a protozoan of the genus Plasmodium.

Human infections are caused by five Plasmodium species: P. falciparum, P. ovale, P. vivax, P. malariae, and P. Knowles, with P. falciparum being the most deadly.

Malaria includes three clinical characteristics, the most important of which is anaemia (Mims, 2004).

These include anaemia, which develops quickly after an acute malaria attack, chronic anaemia, which manifests as generalized signs of ill health without high fever, and haematological abnormalities that are intermediate between acute and chronic anaemia in some people.

Stillbirths and low birth weights are two other outcomes among pregnant mothers (WHO, 2017).

Malaria causes acute febrile illness, chronic debilitation, pregnancy difficulties, and physical damage in children’s growth and learning abilities (Adams et al., 1994). In endemic places, these have a significant detrimental social impact.

Furthermore, the macroeconomic cost is high, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria can stifle annual economic growth by more than a percentage point (Sachs and Malaney, 2002).

According to studies, the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia varies by season, with peaks during the rainy season (Nkuo-Akenji and Deas, 1994). Drug and pesticide resistance are two variables that contribute to high prevalence rates. 

1.2 Statement of the problem

Malaria continues to be a major public health issue in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as a major human killer worldwide, threatening the lives of more than one-third of the world’s population (WHO, 2018).

Despite the efforts made to eradicate malaria, the illness continues to exist. Furthermore, due to antimalarial medication resistance in the parasite, pesticide resistance in mosquitoes, and the presence of some predisposing variables, management techniques are becoming less effective.

As a result, determining the prevalence of malaria and its predisposing factors among patients living in the Buea Health District in Southwest Cameroon is critical. This will go a long way toward establishing a baseline for the prevalence of malaria in Buea.

1.3 Objectives of the study

1.3.1 Main objective

The main objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of malaria and its predisposing factors among patients attending Regional Hospital Buea, Cameroon.

1.3.2 Specific objectives

1. To investigate the prevalence of malaria among patients attending Buea Regional Hospital with respect to age.
2. To determine the prevalence of malaria among patients attending Buea Regional Hospital with respect to gender.
3. To investigate the predisposing factors of malaria among patients attending Buea Regional Hospital.