title: Environmental factors affecting malaria parasite prevalence in rural Bolifamba, South West Cameroon.
abstract: The impact of some environmental factors on malaria parasite prevalence was investigated in rural Bolifamba, Cameroon. The study population comprised 1454 subjects aged 0 - 65 years. Malaria parasite prevalence was higher in the rainy (50.1 %) than in the dry season (44.2 %) with a significant difference (P = 0.001) in mean parasite density between seasons. Individuals < 15 years old had significantly higher malaria parasite prevalence (55.5 %) than those > 15 years (37.4 %). Malaria parasite prevalence (P = 0.001) and parasite density (P = 0.03) were higher in the individuals of wooden plank houses than those of cement brick houses. Inhabitants of houses surrounded by bushes or garbage heaps and swamps or stagnant water showed higher malaria parasite prevalence and densities compared with those from cleaner surroundings. Anopheles gambiae (63.8 %) and A. funestus (32.8 %) were associated with perennial transmission of malaria. Our data indicates that poor environmental sanitation and housing conditions may be significant risk factors for malaria parasite burden in Bolifamba.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, Department of Life Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, South West Province, Cameroon. WIFON@YAHOO.COM
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nkuo-Akenji
authors.forename: Nelson N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Ntonifor
authors.forename: Maze B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ndukum
authors.forename: Edith L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Abongwa
authors.forename: Armand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nkwescheu
authors.forename: Damain N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Anong
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Songmbe
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Boyo
authors.forename: Kenneth N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Ndamukong
authors.forename: Vincent P K
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Titanji
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000469:parasitology*; D002163:Cameroon; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010961:Plasmodium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011891:Rain; D012499:Sanitation; D012621:Seasons; D055815:Young Adult