Plasmodium falciparum Infection and Associated Risk Factors in Pregnant Woman Attending Bafang District Hospital, Semi-Rural Area, West Region of Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study
Christian Taheu Ngounouh *
Faculty of Medicine and pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Douala, Higher Institute of Sciences and Techniques Applied to Health, P.O. Box 33422, Yaounde, Cameroon and Distant Production House University, Delaware, United State of America (USA).
Cherry Suzanne Kengne
Faculty of Medicine and pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Douala, Higher Institute of Sciences and Techniques Applied to Health, P.O. Box 33422, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Julienne Louise Ngo Likeng
Faculty of Medicine and pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Douala, Higher Institute of Sciences and Techniques Applied to Health, P.O. Box 33422, Yaounde, Cameroon, Distant Production House University, Delaware, United State of America (USA) and School of Health Sciences of the Catholic University of Central Africa, P.O. Box 1110 Yaounde, Cameroon.
Lucien Koumdji Kouakam
Faculty of Medicine and pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Douala, Higher Institute of Sciences and Techniques Applied to Health, P.O. Box 33422, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Martinobrie Hermione Weladji Cheubou
Faculty of Medicine and pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Douala, Higher Institute of Sciences and Techniques Applied to Health, P.O. Box 33422, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Edouard Francky Nganti Mebenga
Faculty of Medicine and pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Douala, Higher Institute of Sciences and Techniques Applied to Health, P.O. Box 33422, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Huguette Madji
Fondation Virginia Henderson, P.O. Box 4255 Yaounde, Cameroon.
Patrice Zanga Olinga
Distant Production House University, Delaware, United State of America (USA).
Désiré Tchoffo
Distant Production House University, Delaware, United State of America (USA).
Philippe Salomon Nguwoh
National Public Health Laboratory, Yaounde, Cameroon and Distant Production House University, Delaware, United State of America (USA).
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Malaria is a major public health problem in countries with limited resources. This morbid and fatal infection mainly affects vulnerable groups with weak immunity, such as children and pregnant women. In pregnant women, malaria leads to the occurrence of anaemia with the consequences of abortion, low birth weight (LBW) of the child and death of the baby. This study aimed to determine the Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) infection and associated risk factors among pregnant women attending the Bafang district hospital (BDH).
Methods: A hospital based quantitative cross-sectional and descriptive study were conducted from May 30th, to June 24th, 2022 among 156 pregnant women attending the BDH, West Region of Cameroon. All pregnant women consented to participate in the study without any constraint. Blood samples were collected, thick film and stained blood smear examined for Plasmodium trophozoites and gametocytes respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using Epi Info v. 7 software with any p-value<0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: The age of the study participants ranged from 14 to 48 years old (mean age of 27.41 ± 6.67 years). Of the 156 pregnant women tested, 25% (95% CI: 18.42%-32.55%) were infected with P. falciparum, infection was high in pregnant women aged < 30 years old (66.67%), in non-salaried (82.05%), in pregnant women in the second trimester of pregnancy (48.72%) with no difference statistically significant (p-value<0.05). Furthermore, the use of mosquito nets (OR= 3.88, 95% CI: 1.78-8.43, p-value=0.0003), taking intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) (OR= 2, 95, 95% CI: 1.31-6.59, p-value=0.006) and the number of IPT doses (p-value=0.0006) were risk factors statistically associated with P. falciparum infection.
Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of P. falciparum among pregnant women attending BDH. The use of mosquito nets, the taking of IPT were the factors statistically associated with the infection.
Keywords: P. falciparum, infection, risk factors, pregnant women, BDH