Asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infections and determinants of carriage in a seasonal malaria chemoprevention setting in Northern Cameroon and south Senegal (Kedougou).

Background: Among the several strategies recommended for the fight against malaria, seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and amodiaquine combination (SPAQ) targets children 3 months to 5 years in Sahel regions of Africa to reduce mortality and mortality. Since SMC with SPAQ is administered to symptoms-free children for prevention of malaria, it is anticipated that a proportion of asymptomatic parasitaemic children will also be treated and may result in a drop in both the overall population prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infections, subsequent risk of symptomatic malaria infections and transmission. Age-specific carriage of asymptomatic Plasmodium spp.

Exploring existing malaria services and the feasibility of implementing community engagement approaches amongst conflict-affected communities in Cameroon: a qualitative study.

Background: Cameroon is one of the countries with the highest burden of malaria. Since 2018, there has been an ongoing conflict in the country, which has reduced access to healthcare for populations in affected regions, and little is known about the impact on access to malaria services. The objective of this study was to understand the current situation regarding access to malaria services in Cameroon to inform the design of interventions to remove barriers and encourage the use of available services.

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.

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.

Control, elimination, and eradication efforts for neglected tropical diseases in the World Health Organization African region over the last 30 years: A scoping review.

Objectives: NTDs historically receive less attention than other diseases in the same regions. Recent gap analyses revealed notable shortcomings despite NTD elimination progress. This systematic scoping review was conducted to understand NTD control, elimination, and eradication efforts in the WHO African region over the last 30 years.

Use of Supervision Data to Improve Quality of Care for Malaria in Pregnancy: Experience in Six African Countries.

Malaria in pregnancy (MiP) intervention coverage, especially intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp), lags behind other global malaria indicators. In 2020, across Africa, only 32% of eligible pregnant women received at least three IPTp doses, despite high antenatal care attendance. We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected during Outreach Training and Supportive Supervision visits from 2019 to 2020 to assess quality of care and explore factors contributing to providers' competence in providing IPTp, insecticide-treated nets, malaria case management, and respectful maternity care.

High efficacy of chlorfenapyr-based net Interceptor G2 against pyrethroid-resistant malaria vectors from Cameroon.

Background: The increasing reports of resistance to pyrethroid insecticides associated with reduced efficacy of pyrethroid-only interventions highlight the urgency of introducing new non-pyrethroid-only control tools. Here, we investigated the performance of piperonyl-butoxide (PBO)-pyrethroid [Permanet 3.0 (P3.

The use of video job-aids to improve the quality of seasonal malaria chemoprevention delivery.

Mobile phones are increasingly used in community health programmes, but the use of video job-aids that can be displayed on smart phones has not been widely exploited. We investigated the use of video job-aids to support the delivery of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) in countries in West and Central Africa. The study was prompted by the need for training tools that could be used in a socially distanced manner during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ideational factors associated with consistent use of insecticide-treated nets: a multi-country, multilevel analysis.

Background: Malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Using insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) every night, year-round is critical to maximize protection against malaria. This study describes sociodemographic, psychosocial, and household factors associated with consistent ITN use in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone.

Diagnosis of malaria in pregnancy: accuracy of CareStart™ malaria Pf/PAN against light microscopy among symptomatic pregnant women at the Central Hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Background: The need to start treatment early for pregnant women who present with clinical features of malaria usually conflicts with the need to confirm diagnosis by microscopy (MP) before treatment, due to delays in obtaining results. Parasite sequestration in the placenta is also a problem. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDT), which detect soluble antigens, are a valuable alternative.

Ideational factors associated with net care behaviour: a multi-country analysis.

Background: Malaria is endemic to sub-Saharan African countries. Mass and routine distribution, promotion, and use of ITNs are critical components of malaria prevention programmes. Correct and consistent use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITN) is an effective strategy for malaria prevention.

Fine scale analysis of malaria incidence in under-5: hierarchical Bayesian spatio-temporal modelling of routinely collected malaria data between 2012-2018 in Cameroon.

The current study aims to provide a fine-scale spatiotemporal estimate of malaria incidence among Cameroonian under-5, and to determine its associated environmental factors, to set up preventive interventions that are adapted to each health district of Cameroon. Routine data on symptomatic malaria in children under-5 collected in health facilities, between 2012 and 2018 were used. The trend of malaria cases was assessed by the Mann-Kendall (M-K) test.

Case Definitions of Clinical Malaria in Children from Three Health Districts in the North Region of Cameroon.

Malaria endemicity in Cameroon greatly varies according to ecological environment. In such conditions, parasitaemia, which is associated with fever, may not always suffice to define an episode of clinical malaria. The evaluation of malaria control intervention strategies mostly consists of identifying cases of clinical malaria and is crucial to promote better diagnosis for accurate measurement of the impact of the intervention.

A randomized trial of the efficacy of artesunate and three quinine regimens in the treatment of severe malaria in children at the Ebolowa Regional Hospital, Cameroon.

Background: Severe malaria is a medical emergency with high mortality in children below 5 years of age especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Recently, quinine has been replaced by artesunate as the first-line drug in the treatment of severe malaria in Cameroon. No local data are yet available on the efficacy of artesunate with respect to the different quinine regimens used in this setting.