Institut de Recherche de Yaoundé (IRY), Organisation de Coordination pour la Lutte contre les Endémies en Afrique Centrale (OCEAC), P.O. Box 288, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 337, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Malar J. 2019 May 9;18(1):167. doi: 10.1186/s12936-019-2799-6.
Malaria prevention in Cameroon mainly relies on the use of ITNs. Although several free distribution campaigns of treated nets have been conducted across the country, bed net usage remains very low. A household survey was conducted to assess knowledge of the population and practices affecting treated net usage in the city of Yaoundé.
A community-based descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in January 2017 in 32 districts of the city of Yaoundé. Parents (household head, spouse or an elder representative) who consented to the study, were interviewed using a structured pre-tested questionnaire. Interviews were conducted in French or English. A questionnaire consisting of 22 questions was administered to know (i) people's knowledge and attitude on preventive measures; and, (ii) attitudes concerning the treatment of malaria and estimated amount spent for malaria prevention and treatment.
A total of 1643 household heads were interviewed. Over 94% of people interviewed associated malaria transmission to mosquito bites. The main methods used against mosquito bites were: treated bed nets (94%; n = 1526) and insecticide spray or coils (32.2%; n = 523). The majority of people interviewed reported using bed nets mainly to prevent from mosquito bites (84.4%, n = 1257), rather than for malaria prevention (47.3%). Knowledge and attitude analysis revealed that people with university or secondary level of education have better knowledge of malaria, prevention and treatment measures compared to those with the primary level (OR = 7.03; P < 0.001). Also, wealthy households were more aware of good practices concerning malaria prevention and treatment compared to poor ones. In the majority of districts of Yaoundé, over 50% of people interviewed per district, had good knowledge of malaria and prevention measures but less than 50% applied good practices concerning malaria treatment and prevention. The amount spent annually by a household for vector control was CFAF 11,589 ± 1133 (US$21.87 ± 2.14) and CFAF 66,403 ± 4012 (US$125.29 ± 7.57) for malaria treatment.
The study indicated that, despite good knowledge of malaria and prevention measures, few people apply good practices. More sensitization needs to be done to improve adherence to good practices concerning malaria prevention and treatment.
在喀麦隆，疟疾预防主要依赖于使用 ITN。尽管该国已经开展了几次免费发放处理过的蚊帐的活动，但仍有许多人没有使用蚊帐。本研究进行了一项基于社区的描述性横断面调查，以评估雅温得市人口的知识和影响处理过的蚊帐使用的做法。
2017 年 1 月在雅温得市的 32 个区进行了这项社区为基础的描述性横断面调查。同意参与研究的父母（户主、配偶或年长的代表）接受了使用经过预测试的结构化问卷进行的访谈。访谈使用法语或英语进行。调查问卷由 22 个问题组成，用于了解（i）人们对预防措施的知识和态度；以及，（ii）对疟疾治疗和疟疾预防治疗费用的态度。
共访谈了 1643 户户主。超过 94%的受访者认为疟疾传播是通过蚊子叮咬。对抗蚊子叮咬的主要方法包括：使用处理过的蚊帐（94%；n=1526）和杀虫剂喷雾或线圈（32.2%；n=523）。大多数受访者报告说主要使用蚊帐来防止蚊子叮咬（84.4%；n=1257），而不是预防疟疾（47.3%）。知识和态度分析表明，与具有小学教育水平的人相比，具有大学或中学教育水平的人对疟疾、预防和治疗措施有更好的了解（OR=7.03；P<0.001）。此外，富裕家庭比贫困家庭更了解疟疾预防和治疗方面的良好做法。在雅温得的大多数区，每区超过 50%的受访者对疟疾和预防措施有很好的了解，但在疟疾治疗和预防方面，不到 50%的人采取了良好的做法。一个家庭每年用于病媒控制的支出为非洲金融共同体法郎 11589 美元±1133（21.87 美元±2.14 美元）和非洲金融共同体法郎 66403 美元±4012（125.29 美元±7.57 美元）用于疟疾治疗。
本研究表明，尽管人们对疟疾和预防措施有很好的了解，但很少有人采取良好的做法。需要进一步开展宣传活动，以提高对疟疾预防和治疗良好做法的遵守率。
