Prevalence of schistosomiasis and associated risk factors among residents of Ndikinimeki district, Central Cameroon Region

Introduction: Schistosomiasis is considered one of the most important NTDs in the world. It remains a public health problem in developing countries, with 251.4 million people at high risk. Knowledge surveys, attitudes and practices, and a parasitological study were conducted from June to October 202...

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Main Authors: Mr Bienvenu Balifeli, Ms Laurelle Djieukap Njieyap, Dr Alvine Christelle Kegne Fokam, Mr Fru Chi Tchampo, Pr Chinyere Ukaga, Dr Herman Parfait Awono Parfait, Pr Jeannette Tombi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:International Journal of Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971224005162
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author Mr Bienvenu Balifeli
Ms Laurelle Djieukap Njieyap
Dr Alvine Christelle Kegne Fokam
Mr Fru Chi Tchampo
Pr Chinyere Ukaga
Dr Herman Parfait Awono Parfait
Pr Jeannette Tombi
author_facet Mr Bienvenu Balifeli
Ms Laurelle Djieukap Njieyap
Dr Alvine Christelle Kegne Fokam
Mr Fru Chi Tchampo
Pr Chinyere Ukaga
Dr Herman Parfait Awono Parfait
Pr Jeannette Tombi
author_sort Mr Bienvenu Balifeli
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Schistosomiasis is considered one of the most important NTDs in the world. It remains a public health problem in developing countries, with 251.4 million people at high risk. Knowledge surveys, attitudes and practices, and a parasitological study were conducted from June to October 2023 among residents of this locality aged 15 years and over to assess the distribution of intestinal parasitic infections and risk factors in the borough of Ndikinimeki, central region of Cameroon. Parasitological analysis was carried out on stool and urine samples using sedimentation techniques and Kato-Katz and Ritchie. Subsequently, data on sociodemographic status, precautions against intestinal parasitic diseases, and behaviours involving increased exposure to risk environments were documented. Results: Of the 410 participants, 61.57% of whom were female and 38.53% of whom were male—and whose ages ranged from 40.20 years on average, 5.36% had either S. haematobium or S. mansoni infection, whereas 3.01% and 2.76% had S. mansoni and S. haematobium infection, respectively. The parasite species and sociodemographic variables influenced the infection rates and risks of the participants. In general, the risk analysis showed that the following factors were strongly associated with the risk of infection with S. haematobium: frequency of population visits to the watercourse (OR=1.71; IC=0.54-5.87, p=0.365), proximity of the houses to the watercourse (OR=1.25; IC=0.36-3.97, p=0.711), and defecation and urination in the watercourses (OR = 3.45; CI = 0.66-63.45, p = 0.239). Except for S. mansoni, there are other factors that are more important than sex (OR=1.34; CI=0.38–4.52, p=0.634), age (OR=1.05; CI=0.24–4.52, p=0.946), and time spent in a stream (OR=2.89; CI=0.47–22.43, p=0.253), which also have an impact on the risk of infection. Depending on the time spent in the stream, the risk of S. mansoni infection was high in people who spent 3 hours more in the stream. Discussion: The lack of drinking water in this locality pushes people to use surface water for their domestic activities. This would contribute to an infestation risk. Time spent in these infested streams would make schistosomiasis infestations possible. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that this locality is a coendemic risk zone for urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis. This calls not only for the mobilization of the government but also for the participation of the populations of this area in the control, prevention, and eradication of the disease. It is therefore important to focus on raising awareness and strengthening the preventive measures already put in place to prevent infestation and stop the transmission of schistosomiasis in this locality.
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spelling doaj-art-c6dbb9221cec46309bc48ef5759623de2025-08-20T02:55:13ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases1201-97122025-03-0115210744110.1016/j.ijid.2024.107441Prevalence of schistosomiasis and associated risk factors among residents of Ndikinimeki district, Central Cameroon RegionMr Bienvenu Balifeli0Ms Laurelle Djieukap Njieyap1Dr Alvine Christelle Kegne Fokam2Mr Fru Chi Tchampo3Pr Chinyere Ukaga4Dr Herman Parfait Awono Parfait5Pr Jeannette Tombi6University Of Yaoundé I/oceac, Yaoundé, CamerounUniversity of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, CamerounUniversity of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, CamerounUniversity of Bamenda, Yaoundé, CamerounImo State University Owerri Nigeria, Owerri, NigeriaOCEAC, Yaoundé, CamerounUniversity of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, CamerounIntroduction: Schistosomiasis is considered one of the most important NTDs in the world. It remains a public health problem in developing countries, with 251.4 million people at high risk. Knowledge surveys, attitudes and practices, and a parasitological study were conducted from June to October 2023 among residents of this locality aged 15 years and over to assess the distribution of intestinal parasitic infections and risk factors in the borough of Ndikinimeki, central region of Cameroon. Parasitological analysis was carried out on stool and urine samples using sedimentation techniques and Kato-Katz and Ritchie. Subsequently, data on sociodemographic status, precautions against intestinal parasitic diseases, and behaviours involving increased exposure to risk environments were documented. Results: Of the 410 participants, 61.57% of whom were female and 38.53% of whom were male—and whose ages ranged from 40.20 years on average, 5.36% had either S. haematobium or S. mansoni infection, whereas 3.01% and 2.76% had S. mansoni and S. haematobium infection, respectively. The parasite species and sociodemographic variables influenced the infection rates and risks of the participants. In general, the risk analysis showed that the following factors were strongly associated with the risk of infection with S. haematobium: frequency of population visits to the watercourse (OR=1.71; IC=0.54-5.87, p=0.365), proximity of the houses to the watercourse (OR=1.25; IC=0.36-3.97, p=0.711), and defecation and urination in the watercourses (OR = 3.45; CI = 0.66-63.45, p = 0.239). Except for S. mansoni, there are other factors that are more important than sex (OR=1.34; CI=0.38–4.52, p=0.634), age (OR=1.05; CI=0.24–4.52, p=0.946), and time spent in a stream (OR=2.89; CI=0.47–22.43, p=0.253), which also have an impact on the risk of infection. Depending on the time spent in the stream, the risk of S. mansoni infection was high in people who spent 3 hours more in the stream. Discussion: The lack of drinking water in this locality pushes people to use surface water for their domestic activities. This would contribute to an infestation risk. Time spent in these infested streams would make schistosomiasis infestations possible. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that this locality is a coendemic risk zone for urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis. This calls not only for the mobilization of the government but also for the participation of the populations of this area in the control, prevention, and eradication of the disease. It is therefore important to focus on raising awareness and strengthening the preventive measures already put in place to prevent infestation and stop the transmission of schistosomiasis in this locality.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971224005162
spellingShingle Mr Bienvenu Balifeli
Ms Laurelle Djieukap Njieyap
Dr Alvine Christelle Kegne Fokam
Mr Fru Chi Tchampo
Pr Chinyere Ukaga
Dr Herman Parfait Awono Parfait
Pr Jeannette Tombi
Prevalence of schistosomiasis and associated risk factors among residents of Ndikinimeki district, Central Cameroon Region
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
title Prevalence of schistosomiasis and associated risk factors among residents of Ndikinimeki district, Central Cameroon Region
title_full Prevalence of schistosomiasis and associated risk factors among residents of Ndikinimeki district, Central Cameroon Region
title_fullStr Prevalence of schistosomiasis and associated risk factors among residents of Ndikinimeki district, Central Cameroon Region
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of schistosomiasis and associated risk factors among residents of Ndikinimeki district, Central Cameroon Region
title_short Prevalence of schistosomiasis and associated risk factors among residents of Ndikinimeki district, Central Cameroon Region
title_sort prevalence of schistosomiasis and associated risk factors among residents of ndikinimeki district central cameroon region
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971224005162
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