African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 2736-173X Vol. 12 (1), pp. 001-008, January, 2024. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Community perceptions of sleeping sickness in Bipindi: Insights for effective intervention programs

Guy R Njitchouang¹*, André Domche^1,2, Laurentine Sumo³, Jeanne C Sondi-Dissake^1,2, Cédric G. Lenou-Nanga¹ , Alphonse Acho⁴ and Hugues C. Nana-Djeunga^1,2

¹Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), P. O. Box 5797, Yaounde, Cameroon.

²Parasitology and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, P. O. Box 812, University of Yaounde 1, Yaounde, Cameroon.

³Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Bamenda, P. O. Box 39 Bambili, Cameroon.

⁴Programme National de Lutte contre la Trypanosomiase Humaine Africaine (PNLTHA), Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Accepted 17 October, 2023

Socio-economic and socio-demographic factors have been considered as critical in disease epidemiology and need to be taken into consideration when designing health interventions. It is therefore strongly recommended to investigate population ownership to ensure sustainability of a given intervention. To this end, a household-based cross sectional survey was conducted to assess knowledge and perceptions regarding sleeping sickness and its control among populations of the four epicenter villages (Lambi, Bidjouka, Memel 1, and Ebimimbang) of the Bipindi sleeping sickness focus (South Region, Cameroon). It was found that the population of Bipindi is stable (64.0% of participants having spent on average 22 years in this focus), with high education level (64.8% having reached at least the secondary level). Overall, 92.8% (95% CI: 86.9-96.2) of the participants were aware of sleeping sickness or Human Africa Trypanosomiasis (HAT) and 68.3% (95% CI: 59.6-75.9) have been in contact with people who had suffered from this disease. Males had better knowledge of sleeping sickness clinical signs and mode of transmission than their female counterparts. Knowledge was associated both with gender (males exhibiting better knowledge of clinical signs and mode of transmission than females) and age group (participants aged 30-57 years having heard of HAT more frequently than people of other age groups). These findings suggest that the population of Bipindi exhibit knowledge and perceptions that can be useful for appropriation and sustainability of control interventions.

Key words: Sleeping sickness, knowledge, perception, Bipindi, Cameroon.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 2736-173X Vol. 11 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Devising a cost-effective method to improve the specificity and sensitivity of malaria detection

Larry Williams, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria 3065, Australia.

Abstract

It has always been a challenge to increase the concentration of malaria parasites in blood without compromising on specificity. The conventional thick smear method is a good sensitive tool. But the disadvantage is that a lot of expertise and experience is needed to perform this. A pilot study was undertaken to improvise the quantitative buffy coat (QBC) method so that the advantages of both thick and thin smears could be combined.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 2736-173X Vol. 11 (1), pp. 001-009, January, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Malaria in the Amazon River Basin of Ecuador

Llangarí-Cujilema JL¹, Chiluisa-Guacho CV¹, Taipe-Oña BI¹, Licuy-Grefa FR¹, Silva-Salas SD², Toral FA³ and Velasquéz-Serra GC⁴*

¹Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Salud Pública. INSPI. Dr. Leopoldo Izquieta Pérez. Zonal-Tena. Ecuador

²Ministerio de Salud Pública del Ecuador. Coordinación Zonal 2 Salud. Ecuador

³Ministerio de Salud Pública. Ecuador. Centro de Salud Tipo A Tiputini. Ecuador

⁴Instituto Nacional de Investigación en Salud Pública INSPI. Dr. Leopoldo Izquieta Pérez. Prometeo Senescyt. Ecuador

Accepted 29 October, 2022

Abstract

Malaria is a disease caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. It is the protozoal disease with greatest impact on the world. It affects more than 100 countries and Ecuador is one of the 21 endemic countries in the Americas, mainly in the Amazon. The aim of the study was to identify clinical and epidemiological factors of risk associated with the diagnosis of febrile patients treated at the Health Center Type A-Tiputini. The investigation corresponds to a descriptive study, field and cross-sectional, conducted during the Epidemiological weeks 1-31 on the banks of the Napo River, Canton Aguarico, Orellana Province in Ecuador during year 2015. Several risk factors related to area of study, such as geo-political distribution, and environmental variables, clinical characteristics of present illness and a history of malaria of patients. The diagnosis is made by examining thick film. A total amount of 123 cases of malaria were counted; (n = 117/123) were symptomatic patients came mainly from Aguarico canon and (n = 6/123) asymptomatic natives of the town of San Vicente. Imported cases (8) came from Peru and (1) of Argentina. It was found as important environmental risk factors for malaria: climate (tropical), increased rainfall (> 6000mm) and average relative humidity (> 80%). Cases increased in March at the expense of P. vivax. Most affected age groups were 5-9 years, 21.13% (15/123) for the male gender. Patients corresponded mostly of students and farmers. Failures in the supply of electricity were observed (provided by the hour), specifically at dawn and dusk, enabling the contact-man interaction. Of all cases 32.52% had a history of malaria; 67.48% showed no background. The most common symptoms that most patients developed included fever (81.3) profuse sweating (48.7) headache (44.7) asthenia (16.2) and chills (8.1). All patients were diagnosed with uncomplicated malaria. Cases with uncomplicated malaria were treated with chloroquine and primaquine. The current study allowed to redefine P. vivax endemic areas in the Ecuadorian Amazon, specifically in the communities of Canton Aguarico, factors that interfere with its spread and prevalence.

Keywords: Characteristics, clinical and epidemiological, malaria, anopheles.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 2736-173X Vol. 11 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence of malaria infections among children aged six months to eleven years (6 months-11 years) in a tertiary institution in Benin City, Nigeria

Fidelis Uchendi Okafor¹* and Josephine Ngozi Oko-Ose²

¹Department of nursing science, university of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

²School of post basic nursing studies, university of Benin teaching hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 03 September, 2022

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of malaria infections among children aged six months to eleven years (6months-11years) in a tertiary institution in Benin City of Edo State Nigeria, between January 2004 and December 2009. The study aimed at obtaining prevalence database for instituting intervention programmes. The population of the study was 7651 patients seen in Children Emergency Unit during the period under study. The sample which comprised 2,788(36.4%) patients admitted with malaria infections made up of 1,588 (57%) males and 1200(43%) females selected using structured checklist and cumulative records. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that out of the 7,651children admitted into children emergency during the six year period (2004-2009), 2788 had malaria fever. Children between the ages of ½ and 2 years had the highest prevalence of plasmodium infections (1633, i.e. 58.57%) compared with the other age groups with frequency of (1155, i.e. 41.43%). Plasmodium infections were commoner in the male than in the female subjects. 95 children died of malaria out of the 305 paediatric deaths recorded within the period of study. Mortality is higher amongst the males less than three years and in females more than eleven years. Anaemia is the major complication of malaria causing death and the least is cerebral malaria. Prevalence rates among children varied with age and gender. It is recommended that nurses should observe for signs and symptoms of anaemia and respiratory distress in children with malaria since they are the leading causes of death among children.

Keywords: Prevalence, Malaria and ¹/2-11years old children.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 2736-173X Vol. 11 (1), pp. 001-007, January, 2023. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Artisans and traders’ knowledge, attitude and practices of malaria in selected areas of Lagos, Nigeria

Okwa, O.O*, Soremekun B.M, Adeseko O and Raheem A.M.

Department of zoology, parasitology unit, faculty of science, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria.

Accepted 21 November, 2022

Abstract

A cross sectional survey on the knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) of malaria among 50 artisans (all males) and 50 traders (78% female) was carried out in five selected areas of Lagos, Nigeria. Pretested, structured questionnaires were administered to both groups. The artisans were mainly primarily educated while the traders had mainly secondary education and this impact on the KAP. KAP was insufficient among artisans than traders as only 2(4%) of the artisans knew the cause of malaria. However, 26(52%) of traders of which 2(4%) had tertiary education and 24(48%) with secondary education knew the cause of malaria P<0.05). Weakness (30%) was the most recognized symptom among artisans but loss of appetite (32%) was the most recognized among traders (P<0.05). Twenty (40%) from both groups reported that they had malaria once yearly. Self medication was carried out by half of the population, 25(50%) artisan and 24(48%) traders (P>0.05).Twenty –four (48%) of artisans and 45(90%) of traders use local herbs as home remedies (P>0.05). Thirty -two (64%) of artisans and 35(70%) of traders claimed they had never been admitted for malaria (P<0.05). Insecticide sprays and Clean environment had the greatest say among methods of preventing malaria for artisan 16(32%) and traders (27(54%) respectively (P<0.05). The use of insecticide treated nets (ITNS) was unpopular among the two groups as none of the artisans and only 3(6%) of traders use ITNS (P>0.05).Radio and television were the best methods in which both groups get information on malaria. The study reveals a significant link between low education and low KAP of malaria. The study also highlights a critical need for targeting health messages appropriately towards poorly educated people.

Keywords: KAP, Malaria, Artisans, Traders, ITNS, Lagos.

African Journal of Malaria and Tropical Diseases ISSN 4123-0981 Vol. 10 (9), pp. 001-013, September, 2022. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Phytotherapy and traditional knowledge of tribal communities of Mayurbhanj district, Orissa, India

S. K. Panda¹, S. D. Rout², N. Mishra³ and T. Panda⁴*

¹Department of Biotechnology, North Orissa University, Baripada, Orissa - 757003, India.

²Department of Wildlife and Conservation Biology, North Orissa University, Baripada, Orissa - 757003, India.

³Department of Zoology, Chandbali College, Chandbali, Orissa - 756133, India.

⁴Department of Botany, S. N. College, Rajkanika, Orissa - 754220, India.

Accepted 4 August, 2022

Abstract

The present ethnobotanical exploration documents phytotherapeutical practices in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa, eastern India. It is primarily based on field surveys and taxonomic identification of plants carried out in villages, where dwellers provided information on plant species used as medicine, parts used to prepare the remedies, and the illnesses to which the remedies were prescribed. One hundred and twelve plants from sixty two families were described, which are therapeutically used against different ailments such as cough, diarrhea, chronic dysentery, chronic constipation, jaundice, menstrual problem, piles, snakebite, rheumatism, tuberculosis, diabetes, leprosy, skin diseases etc. The plant parts namely; leaf, bark, seed, root, tuber, fruit and whole plant were used in raw or cooked forms. The most important medicinal plant families were: Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Rutaceae, Solanaceae and Zingiberaceae. These phytotherapeutical resources were used for the cure of 45 illnesses.

Key words: Mayurbhanj, Orissa, phytotherapy, traditional knowledge, tribals.