Prevalence Rate of Intestinal Parasites/Malaria Co-Infections and their Associated Risk Factors in Melong and Denzo, Littoral Region- Cameroon)
Ebanga Echi Joan Eyong *
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, North West Region, Cameroon.
Makebe Sylvie
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, North West Region, Cameroon.
Gangue Tiburce
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, North West Region, Cameroon.
Yana Wenceslas
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, North West Region, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence rate of intestinal parasites/malaria co-infections and their associated risk factors in Melong and Denzo, Littoral region- Cameroon
Materials and Methods: Study period was from November 2019-March 2020. Blood samples were collected after informed consent by finger pricking. Stool samples were examined using normal saline and the Kato-Katz technique for the presence and intensity of IPs. Thick blood films were prepared, Giemsa-stained and examined under x100 for the presence of parasites and estimate GMPD. A structured questionnaire was filled out to obtain information on different factors which might predispose participants to become infected. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23 at P<0.05.
Results: The overall prevalence of IP was 28.3% (113/400). Entamoeba histolytica was the most prevalent IP 22.0% (88/400) and it was significantly more in Melong (27.7%, 76/274) than in Denzo (9.5%, 12/126), (P=0.001). The overall prevalence of malaria was 66.5% (266/400). The prevalence of malaria was higher in Denzo (79.3%, 100/126) than in Melong (60.5, 166/274), P=0.001. Children ≤5 years recorded the highest (75.4%, 83/110) prevalence of malaria, and the difference between age groups was significant, p=0.016. The overall prevalence of co-infections was 16.3% (65/400). Low access to bed nets, presence of bushes and water bodies, poor drinking water source and lack of personal and community hygiene are the associated risk factors leading to co-infection of malaria and intestinal parasites.
Conclusion: Intestinal parasites/malaria co-infections are still a cause of morbidity and mortality in Cameroon; interventions targeting groups at risk will help reduce the burden of these diseases in Melong and Denzo localities.
Keywords: Intestinal parasites, malaria, co-infections, melong, denzo, littoral region, Cameroon.