Background: Malaria remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in Cameroon. Children under 5 years old and pregnant women are most burdened. A few studies have been carried out on the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of patients towards malaria in this country. Objective: We aimed at evaluating the level of knowledge, attitudes and practice towards malaria in Western Cameroon. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional survey, using a semi-opened questionnaire in two Cameroonian’s hospitals in April 2018. We analyzed our collected data with Chi square test through SAS software (version 9.4). P-values lower than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Result: Of 691 participants, 55.14% (381/691) defined malaria as a parasitic disease, 100% mentioned the mosquito as the transmission vector and 89.15% (616/691) mentioned blood stream as transmission route. The most preventive method used by the participants was mosquito nets. The use of malaria treatment was associated with the level of income and the fact of consultation of a health care practitioner the month preceding the survey. About 72.4% (501/691) of respondents took antimalarial treatment without consultation or medical prescription. Among patients who spent less than 8000XAF (12Euro) for treatment during their last episode of malaria, 70.1% (101/144) used a plant-based treatment. Conclusion: Participants had good knowledge and attitudes towards malaria. However, practices were not the best. These results highlight the problem of self-medication, which might lead to some resistance against antimalarial treatment in the future.
| Published in | Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 7, Issue 2) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.cajph.20210702.11 |
| Page(s) | 47-52 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices, Self-medication, Malaria, West-Cameroon
| [1] | World malaria report 2020: 20 years of global progress and challenges. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. |
| [2] | Organisation Mondiale de la Santé. Paludisme. 2020. Available from: https://www.who.int/fr/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria. |
| [3] | Christian J, Barrère M. Situation Du Paludisme Et Stratégies De Lutte Contre Le Paludisme Au Cameroun. Paludisme. 2002; 165–78. |
| [4] | Programme National de Lutte contre le paludisme C. Surveillance du paludisme en 2018. 2018. |
| [5] | Ministère de la Santé du Cameroun : lancement officiel de la distribution gratuite de plus de 2,3 millions de moustiquaires dans la région du Centre | MINSANTE. 2016. Available from: http://www.minsante.cm/site/?q=en/node/550. |
| [6] | Haq S SR, S H, RC D. Studies on Knowledge, Attitude and Practices in Malaria Endemic Tribal Areas of Bihar and Jharkhand, India. J Trop Dis. 2013 Jul 17; 01 (03): 1–6. Available from: http://www.esciencecentral.org/journals/studies-on-knowledge-attitude-and-practices-in-malaria-endemic-tribal-areas-of-bihar-and-jharkhand-india-2329-891X.1000110.php?aid=17047. |
| [7] | Moyou-Somo R, Essomba P, Songue E, Tchoubou NN, Ntambo A, Hiol HN, et al. A public private partnership to fight against malaria along the Chad-Cameroon pipeline corridor: I. Baseline data on socio-anthropological aspects, knowledge, attitudes and practices of the population concerning malaria. BMC Public Health. 2013. |
| [8] | Nsagha DS, Njunda AL, Kamga HLF, Nsagha SM, Assob JCN, Wiysonge CS, et al. Knowledge and practices relating to malaria in a semi-urban area of Cameroon: Choices and sources of antimalarials, self-treatment and resistance. Pan Afr Med J. 2011. |
| [9] | Ndo C, Menze-Djantio B, Antonio-Nkondjio C. Awareness, attitudes and prevention of malaria in the cities of Douala and Yaoundé (Cameroon). Parasites and Vectors. 2011. |
| [10] | Nkuo Akenji TK, Ntonifor NN, Ching JK, Kimbi HK, Ndamukong KN, Anong DN, et al. Evaluating a malaria intervention strategy using knowledge, practices and coverage surveys in rural Bolifamba, southwest Cameroon. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2005. |
| [11] | Shey N D, Clement AN J, N M, Wung B A, Ivo K K. Community Health Workers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Malaria Control and Prevention in Bamenda, Cameroon: A Community Based Study. J Heal Med Informatics. 2017; 08 (05). Available from: https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/community-health-workers8217-knowledge-attitudes-and-practices-regarding-malaria-control-and-prevention-in-bamenda-cameroon-a-comm-2157-7420-1000294-96347.html. |
| [12] | Kojom L, Lehman L. Knowledge and Beliefs towards Malaria and Associated Factors among Residents of the Town of Douala, Cameroon. Arch Curr Res Int. 2018; 14 (3): 1–17. Available from: http://www.sciencedomain.org/abstract/25735. |
| [13] | Lwanga SK. Determination De La Taille D ’ Un Echantillon Sanometriques. Oms. 1991; 90. |
| [14] | Institut National de la Statistique du Cameroun. Quatrieme enquete Camerounaise auprès des ménages (ECAM4). Yaounde. 2015; 1–63. |
| [15] | PNLP C. Rapport Annuel 2017 du PNLP. YAOUNDE; 2017. p. 65. |
| [16] | Ministère de la santé publique. Décision fixant le prix de la combinaison artesunate-amodiaquine destinés aux jeunes de plus de cinq ans et adultes au Cameroun. 2011. |
| [17] | Ministère de la santé publique. Décision poertant tarification de la prise en charge du paludisme au Cameroun. 2014. |
| [18] | Alebie G, Urga B, Worku A. Systematic review on traditional medicinal plants used for the treatment of malaria in Ethiopia : trends and perspectives. Malar J. 2017; 1–13. |
| [19] | Willcox ML, Bodeker G. Traditional herbal medicines for malaria Clinical review. 2004. |
| [20] | Pouhè Nkoma P. Itinéraires thérapeutiques des malades au Cameroun: les déterminants du recours à l’automédication. 2011; 1–91. Available from: https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01339418/%0Ahttps://halshs.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01339418v1%0Ahttps://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01339418/document. |
| [21] | Chiribagula VB, Mboni HM, Amuri SB, Kamulete GS, Byanga JK, Duez P, et al. Prévalence et caractéristiques de l’automédication chez les étudiants de 18 à 35 ans résidant au campus de la Kasapa de l’Université de Lubumbashi. Pan Afr Med J. 2015. |
APA Style
Eric Defo Tamgno, Armand Tiotsia Tsapi, Martin Fossi, Ghyslaine Bruna Djeunang Dongho, Dorothy Kah Fosah Achu, et al. (2021). Malaria in West Cameroon: An Assessment of the Populations’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices. Central African Journal of Public Health, 7(2), 47-52. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210702.11
ACS Style
Eric Defo Tamgno; Armand Tiotsia Tsapi; Martin Fossi; Ghyslaine Bruna Djeunang Dongho; Dorothy Kah Fosah Achu, et al. Malaria in West Cameroon: An Assessment of the Populations’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2021, 7(2), 47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20210702.11
AMA Style
Eric Defo Tamgno, Armand Tiotsia Tsapi, Martin Fossi, Ghyslaine Bruna Djeunang Dongho, Dorothy Kah Fosah Achu, et al. Malaria in West Cameroon: An Assessment of the Populations’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices. Cent Afr J Public Health. 2021;7(2):47-52. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20210702.11
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.cajph.20210702.11,
author = {Eric Defo Tamgno and Armand Tiotsia Tsapi and Martin Fossi and Ghyslaine Bruna Djeunang Dongho and Dorothy Kah Fosah Achu and Germaine Ekoyol Ekobe and Gianluca Russo and Olivier Ethgen and Martin Sanou Sobze},
title = {Malaria in West Cameroon: An Assessment of the Populations’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices},
journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
volume = {7},
number = {2},
pages = {47-52},
doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20210702.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210702.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20210702.11},
abstract = {Background: Malaria remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in Cameroon. Children under 5 years old and pregnant women are most burdened. A few studies have been carried out on the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of patients towards malaria in this country. Objective: We aimed at evaluating the level of knowledge, attitudes and practice towards malaria in Western Cameroon. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional survey, using a semi-opened questionnaire in two Cameroonian’s hospitals in April 2018. We analyzed our collected data with Chi square test through SAS software (version 9.4). P-values lower than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Result: Of 691 participants, 55.14% (381/691) defined malaria as a parasitic disease, 100% mentioned the mosquito as the transmission vector and 89.15% (616/691) mentioned blood stream as transmission route. The most preventive method used by the participants was mosquito nets. The use of malaria treatment was associated with the level of income and the fact of consultation of a health care practitioner the month preceding the survey. About 72.4% (501/691) of respondents took antimalarial treatment without consultation or medical prescription. Among patients who spent less than 8000XAF (12Euro) for treatment during their last episode of malaria, 70.1% (101/144) used a plant-based treatment. Conclusion: Participants had good knowledge and attitudes towards malaria. However, practices were not the best. These results highlight the problem of self-medication, which might lead to some resistance against antimalarial treatment in the future.},
year = {2021}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Malaria in West Cameroon: An Assessment of the Populations’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices AU - Eric Defo Tamgno AU - Armand Tiotsia Tsapi AU - Martin Fossi AU - Ghyslaine Bruna Djeunang Dongho AU - Dorothy Kah Fosah Achu AU - Germaine Ekoyol Ekobe AU - Gianluca Russo AU - Olivier Ethgen AU - Martin Sanou Sobze Y1 - 2021/03/12 PY - 2021 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210702.11 DO - 10.11648/j.cajph.20210702.11 T2 - Central African Journal of Public Health JF - Central African Journal of Public Health JO - Central African Journal of Public Health SP - 47 EP - 52 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2575-5781 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20210702.11 AB - Background: Malaria remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in Cameroon. Children under 5 years old and pregnant women are most burdened. A few studies have been carried out on the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of patients towards malaria in this country. Objective: We aimed at evaluating the level of knowledge, attitudes and practice towards malaria in Western Cameroon. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional survey, using a semi-opened questionnaire in two Cameroonian’s hospitals in April 2018. We analyzed our collected data with Chi square test through SAS software (version 9.4). P-values lower than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Result: Of 691 participants, 55.14% (381/691) defined malaria as a parasitic disease, 100% mentioned the mosquito as the transmission vector and 89.15% (616/691) mentioned blood stream as transmission route. The most preventive method used by the participants was mosquito nets. The use of malaria treatment was associated with the level of income and the fact of consultation of a health care practitioner the month preceding the survey. About 72.4% (501/691) of respondents took antimalarial treatment without consultation or medical prescription. Among patients who spent less than 8000XAF (12Euro) for treatment during their last episode of malaria, 70.1% (101/144) used a plant-based treatment. Conclusion: Participants had good knowledge and attitudes towards malaria. However, practices were not the best. These results highlight the problem of self-medication, which might lead to some resistance against antimalarial treatment in the future. VL - 7 IS - 2 ER -
Information
Email: