title: The Effect of Long Lasting Insecticide Bed Net Use on Malaria Prevalence in the Tombel Health District, South West Region-Cameroon.
abstract: Malaria remains a major public health problem in Africa, and its prevalence in Cameroon stands at 29%. Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) were distributed in 2011 to reduce malaria mortality and morbidity; however, assessment of this intervention is scanty. The present study in the Tombel health district (THD) investigated the impact of this distribution on malaria prevalence. A total of 31,657 hospital records from 3 health facilities in 3 health areas for 2010-2013 were examined. Records for 2010 and 2011 provided predistribution baseline data, while those of 2012 and 2013 represented postdistribution data. 8,679 (27.4%) patients were positive for malaria. Children below 5 years had the highest prevalence (40.7%). The number of confirmed cases was highest from June to August (peak rainy season). Malaria prevalence was higher in males (25.3%) than in females (23.2%). Malaria prevalence increased in THD from 26.7% in 2010 to 30.7% in 2011 but dropped to 22.7% in 2012 and then increased in 2013 to 29.5%. There was an overall drop in the total number of confirmed malaria cases in 2012; this decrease was significant in Ebonji (p < 0.001) and Nyasoso (p < 0.015) health areas. The distribution of LLINs led to a short lived reduction in malaria prevalence in THD. LLIN distribution and other control activities should be reinforced to keep malaria prevalence low especially among the 0-5-year group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Eric B
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4531-3580
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Fokam
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Kevin T J
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Dzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ngimuh
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, P.O. Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Enyong