2 research outputs found
Environmental Factors Affecting Malaria Parasite Prevalence in Rural Bolifamba, South- West Cameroon
The impact of some environmental factors on malaria parasite prevalence
was investigated in rural Bolifamba, Cameroon. The study population
comprised 1454 subjects aged 0 \u2013 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