Sociocultural Factors Influencing Malaria Prevention and Treatment Pathways among Pregnant Women in the Foumban Health District, Cameroon
DJAM CHEFOR ALAIN *
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon and Global Health Innovation and Research Initiative (GHIRI), Cameroon.
EARNEST NJIH TABAH
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon and Research Initiative in Tropical and Community Health (RITCH), Yaounde, Cameroon.
NOUMEDEM KENFACK JAURES ARNAUD
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
NGNECHE KAKEU PASCALINE LAURE
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
MANFOUO TANDAH I.T
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
SIGNING TEDDY MARTIAL
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
LELE DEFFO CAROLE
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
BONG WOBENSO JESSICA GRACE
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
GUTHE KAMDEM BRICE
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
GAEL LARISSA KENGNE
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
NGUE VINYLE INES AUDE
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
MOMO ANOUMBO URBAIN ULRICH
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
NJIH BERI NKINI
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
NOUNI NOULA ARMAND J
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
KALIBE PADEU PATEKOURI
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
DOUANDJI SOKENG M
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
NGUETSE ZAMBOU LINTIA SAMIRA
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
DOUNTIO PIATAT XENA
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
TENONFO TESSE FRANKY MAXWELL
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
TEJIODONKENG KENGMO CAROLLE
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
STESSYE NOUATON TANKOU NYLOR
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
MBOTUIAH MBOLUEH HENRY
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
KAMSEU CEDRICK
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
KORIN NEH NFORBI
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
PROWO DONGMO STYVE U
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
GERMAINE NDAH ALOMBAH
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
KENHALE ZEBAZE LUNELLE
Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Pregnant women are disproportionately affected by malaria, with 13.3 million exposed in Africa in 2021. In Cameroon, the prevalence reaches 29%, impacting their social and economic conditions.
Objective: This study analysed the Sociocultural Factors Influencing Malaria Prevention and Treatment Pathways Among Pregnant Women in the Foumban Health District.
Methods: This mixed-type study was conducted in Foumban in the Noun Division. Interviews were conducted using a questionnaire digitised on Kobocollect and administered face-to-face. The chi-square test of independence was used to assess the association between sociocultural characteristics and treatment pathway.
Results: In total, 458 (91.2%) have a good level of knowledge, 43 (8.6%) have an average level of knowledge, and 1 (0.2%) has a low level of knowledge. 263 (52.4%) had pharmacy as their first choice of therapeutic route, and 303 (60.4%) had consultation with a traditional healer as their second choice of therapeutic route. The Christian religion influences 95% of the pharmacy and health training routes, and the Bamoun ethnic group influences 95% of the pharmacy and traditional self-medication routes.
Conclusion: The study indicated that despite good knowledge of malaria, there is an average possession and use of control measures by the population; therefore, malaria transmission persists in the region. The study highlights the need to implement additional control measures to improve malaria control in the region.
Keywords: Sociocultural factors, malaria, prevention, treatment, pregnant women, foumban