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Tanue EA, Omam LA, Ayuk GT, Noukeme BM, Metuge A, Nganmou I, Ebob MB, Donovan L, Stratil AS, Counihan H, Nkfusai CN, Hawkings H, Homolova B, Berryman E, Kolawole M, Zoungrana Y, Achu D, Wanji S, Omam EN. A formative cross-sectional study to assess caregiver's health-seeking behaviour and knowledge surrounding malaria, and understand the burden of malaria among children under-five in conflict-affected communities of Cameroon. Malar J 2024; 23:99. [PMID: 38589868 PMCID: PMC11003128 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-024-04902-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria remains a major global health problem often worsened by political instability and armed conflict. The purpose of the study was to explore community knowledge, attitudes and practices on malaria prevention, and to understand the burden of malaria and health-seeking behaviours of caregivers of children under-five in conflict-affected communities of the South West and Littoral Regions of Cameroon. METHODS A cross-sectional survey involving internally displaced persons (IDPS), host population, and their children under-five was conducted across 80 communities. The survey was conducted from May to June 2021. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Malaria prevalence for children under-five was determined using rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) on blood samples. Association between variables and displacement status was measured using chi square test and multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with adequate knowledge on malaria prevention. RESULTS A total of 2386 adults participated in the study and 1543 RDTs were conducted for children under-five. Adequate levels of knowledge and attitudes on malaria prevention was recorded among 1258 (52.9%) of the participants, with very strong evidence to suggest the level to be higher among the host (59.5%) compared to the IDPs (49.5%) and returnees (39.7%) (p < 0.001). Good practices towards malaria prevention was 43.3%, with very strong evidence indicating lower levels among IDPs (42.8%) and returnees (28.5%) compared to the host (49.4%) (p < 0.001). Malaria prevalence for children under-five was 54.0% and adequate health-seeking for suspected episodes of malaria was 53.0%, without any difference among IDPs (51.78%) and returnees (48.7%) compared to host populations (55.4%) (p = 0.154). Multivariate logistic regression model showed that there was quite strong evidence to suggest primary and secondary levels of education have higher odds of having correct knowledge of malaria prevention (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11-2.64, p = 0.015 and AOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.15-2.82, p = 0.010 respectively). There was very strong evidence to suggest that owning a radio or a television was associated with greater odds of having a higher knowledge on malaria prevention (AOR 1.49, 95% CI 1.233-1.81, p = 0.000 and AOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.18-1.84, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION Over half of the population have correct knowledge and attitudes towards malaria prevention but gaps in complete knowledge remained. Some of the caregivers know the correct malaria preventive practices coupled with largely unsatisfactory treatment approaches and reflected by the high prevalence of malaria among their children. In order to effectively treat malaria, innovative strategies should target community participation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvis Asangbeng Tanue
- Reach Out Cameroon, Small Soppo, P.O Box 88, Buea, Cameroon.
- Department of Public Health and Hygiene, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, P.O Box 63, Buea, Cameroon.
| | - Lundi-Anne Omam
- Reach Out Cameroon, Small Soppo, P.O Box 88, Buea, Cameroon
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Glennis T Ayuk
- Reach Out Cameroon, Small Soppo, P.O Box 88, Buea, Cameroon
| | | | - Alain Metuge
- Reach Out Cameroon, Small Soppo, P.O Box 88, Buea, Cameroon
| | | | - Margaret Besem Ebob
- Reach Out Cameroon, Small Soppo, P.O Box 88, Buea, Cameroon
- Malaria Consortium, the Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Rd, London, E2 9DA, UK
| | - Laura Donovan
- Malaria Consortium, the Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Rd, London, E2 9DA, UK
| | - Ann-Sophie Stratil
- Malaria Consortium, the Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Rd, London, E2 9DA, UK
| | - Helen Counihan
- Malaria Consortium, the Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Rd, London, E2 9DA, UK
| | - Claude Ngwayu Nkfusai
- Malaria Consortium, the Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Rd, London, E2 9DA, UK
- Department of Public Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Helen Hawkings
- Malaria Consortium, the Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Rd, London, E2 9DA, UK
| | - Blanka Homolova
- Malaria Consortium, the Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Rd, London, E2 9DA, UK
| | - Elizabeth Berryman
- Malaria Consortium, the Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Rd, London, E2 9DA, UK
| | - Maxwell Kolawole
- Malaria Consortium, the Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Rd, London, E2 9DA, UK
| | - Yakouba Zoungrana
- Malaria Consortium, the Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Rd, London, E2 9DA, UK
| | - Dorothy Achu
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, P.O Box 14386, Yaounde, Cameroon
| | - Samuel Wanji
- Department for Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Buea, P.O Box 12, Buea, Cameroon
- Research Foundation in Tropical Diseases and Environment, Buea, Cameroon
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Omam LA, O’Laughlin K, Tendongfor N, Wudiri Z, Hassan MN, Metuge A, Oluwafemi O, Omam E, Parkes-Ratanshi R. Exploring factors influencing the selection of primary health care delivery models in conflict-affected settings of North West and South West regions of Cameroon and North-East Nigeria: A study protocol. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0284957. [PMID: 37134075 PMCID: PMC10155952 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In conflict-affected settings, access to health care for displaced populations is constrained by barriers including geographical, cultural, communication, logistical, financial and insecurity. A six year humanitarian crises in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon has caused 27% of health facilities to be non-functional. The eleven year crisis in North-East Nigeria, has caused the closure of 26% of health facilities. These closure of health facilities and population displacement led to health care delivery using humanitarian funding by multiple different agencies. However, there is a paucity of evidence on the selection and design of the primary health care delivery models used in humanitarian settings. To ensure efficient use of resources and quality of services, model of care selection should be evidence based and informed by the specific humanitarian context. This research protocol aims to explore how primary health care models are selected by humanitarian organizations. METHODS We will conduct a cross sectional quantitative survey to map the range of primary health care delivery models used by humanitarian organisations in Cameroon and Nigeria. Using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with staff from humanitarian organizations and internally displaced persons, we will explore the factors influencing the selection of primary health care models in these settings and determine the coverage and gaps in services across the different primary health care models. Quantitative data will be analysed in a descriptive manner and qualitative data will be analysed thematically. DISCUSSION Different models of care have been reported to be used by humanitarian organisations in conflict-affected settings, yet evidence on how different models are selected is lacking. A detailed understanding of the rationale for selection, the design and quality considerations of the strategies used to deliver health care will be obtained using a survey, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lundi-Anne Omam
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinical School, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kelli O’Laughlin
- Departments of Emergency Medicine and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Tendongfor
- Department of Community Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Zara Wudiri
- Herwa Community Development Initiative, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Ooju Oluwafemi
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Rosalind Parkes-Ratanshi
- Department of Psychiatry, Clinical School, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Public Health and Hygiene, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
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Metuge A, Omam LA, Jarman E, Njomo EO. Humanitarian led community-based surveillance: case study in Ekondo-titi, Cameroon. Confl Health 2021; 15:17. [PMID: 33771200 PMCID: PMC7995751 DOI: 10.1186/s13031-021-00354-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Community-based surveillance (CBS) has been used successfully in many situations to strengthen existing health systems as well as in humanitarian crises. The Anglophone crisis of Northwest Southwest Cameroon, led to burning of villages, targeting of health personnel and destruction of health facilities which, in combination with distrust for the government services led to a collapse of surveillance for outbreak prone diseases. METHODS We evaluated the ability of the CBS system to identify suspected cases of outbreak prone diseases (OPD) as compared to the facility-based surveillance, evaluated the timeliness of the CBS system in identifying an OPD, reporting of OPD to District Health Service (DHS) and timeliness in outbreak response. The paper also assessed the collaboration with the DHS and contribution of the CBS system with regards to strengthening the overall surveillance of the health district and also determine the interventions undertaken to contain suspected/confirmed outbreaks. RESULTS In total 9 alerts of suspected OPDs were generated by the CBS system as compared to 0 by the DHS, with 8 investigated, 5 responses and 3 confirmed outbreaks. Average time from first symptoms to alert generation by the CBS system was 7.3 days. Average time lag from alert generation from the CBS to the DHS was 0.3 days which was essentially within 24 h. There was extensive and synergistic collaboration with the DHS. DISCUSSION CBS generated a higher number of alerts than traditional outbreak reported used in the region, and had timely investigations and if appropriate, responses. Careful selection of CHWs with strong community engagement led to the success of the project, and the use of the mobile health team in situ allowed for rapid responses to potential outbreaks, as well as for feedback to CHWs and communities. CBS was also well utilized for identification of other events, such as displacement and malnutrition. CONCLUSION In conflict settings, CBS can help in outbreak identification as well as other events, and a mobile health team is crucial to the success of the CBS due to the ability to rapidly response to generated alerts. The mobile health team provided timely investigation of 8 of 9 alerts generated. Collaboration with existing DHS structures is important for systems strengthening in such settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lundi-Anne Omam
- Reach Out N.G.O , .
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK , .
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