Malaria Journal最新文献

{"title":"Co-design of a routine clinical review to improve the safety of high dose radical cure treatment for Plasmodium vivax malaria: findings from Cambodia and Ethiopia.","authors":"Sarah A Cassidy-Seyoum, Muthoni Mwaura, Keoratha Chheng, Muhaba Kejela, Kansite Gellebo Korra, Tsegaberhan Wodaj, Tamiru Shibiru Degaga, Michelle S Hsiang, Lorenz von Seidlein, Rupam Tripura, Bipin Adhikari, Benedikt Ley, Dysoley Lek, Ric N Price, Nora Engel, Kamala Thriemer","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05425-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05425-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Low dose primaquine regimens are widely used to treat Plasmodium vivax malaria, but they have limited efficacy and effectiveness. Short courses with higher daily doses as well as single dose tafenoquine have the potential to improve effectiveness but can increase the risk of adverse events. A clinical review visit on day 3 post-treatment initiation could facilitate adherence and improve safety, but it is unclear how it could be integrated into routine malaria care.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between March and September 2023, focus group discussions (FGDs) with P. vivax malaria patients and healthcare providers were conducted in Cambodia and Ethiopia. In the FGDs participants co-designed a day 3 review suitable for their setting based on material infrastructure 'building blocks' (location, implementer, procedures, and support mechanisms). Nine FGDs were completed in three health facility catchment areas in Cambodia and six FGDs in four facilities in Ethiopia. Data were analysed using an inductive-deductive analytical process allowing the development of themes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants in Cambodia and Ethiopia had different preferences for the material infrastructure of the day 3 review, from which a model for each country was developed. In Cambodia, proximity to patients was prioritized, maintaining the existing referral mechanism in which the initial day 3 review is conducted in the community, focusing on an enhanced symptom assessment. In Ethiopia, continuity of care was prioritized, resulting in the day 3 review occurring at the location of initial diagnosis, with a tiered approach to procedures conducted during the visit. In addition, the dynamics and relationships between people (relational infrastructure), specifically collaboration, were identified as key facilitators for the review's implementation in both study countries. Collaboration across levels of the health system and among healthcare providers was found to be a process influenced and necessitated by the environment (e.g., the infrastructural and epidemiological contexts), contributing to quality of care, continuity of care, safety, and effective treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Identifying how clinical review visits could be adapted to local settings is important and can be achieved through co-creation. Collaboration has the potential to enable quality of care and patient safety. Suitable ways of reinforcing this relational infrastructure are required to optimize case management of patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"171"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12121043/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144173909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Blood feeding patterns of malaria mosquitoes collected using pit shelters and clay pots in the West Gojjam zone of Ethiopia.","authors":"Atakilt Arega, Abebe Animut, Fekadu Massebo","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05408-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05408-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Understanding the feeding behaviours and infection rates of malaria-transmitting Anopheles species is essential for designing effective vector control strategies. Therefore, this study investigated the species composition, blood meal sources, and infection rates of Anopheles mosquitoes in the rural village of Dilamo, West Gojjam, Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Ten households were randomly selected in a malaria-endemic village. Two clay pots were placed under shade outside each house within a radius of 10 m, one in front of the house and the other at the back. Two other clay pots were placed inside the same household. Ten pit shelters were built, one at a distance of 10 m from each house, under shade. Mosquito sampling was done twice a month for four months. Anopheles mosquitoes were identified to species using morphological keys. The species of the Anopheles gambiae complex were molecularly identified. Testing for blood meal sources and circumsporozoite proteins (CSPs) was conducted using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 319 female Anopheles mosquitoes were collected, including the species Anopheles demeilloni, An. gambiae complex, Anopheles garnhami, Anopheles pretoriensis, and Anopheles cinereus. Among these, An. demeilloni was the dominant species, comprising 90.9% of the collection (290/319). The An. gambiae complex represented only 4.4% of the total (14/319). Out of 89 freshly fed Anopheles mosquitoes, 77 (86.5%) were examined for the source of their blood meal. Of these, 74 (96%) tested positive for blood from cattle, humans, or both. The overall human blood meal index was 43% (95% CI 31.1-55.3), while the bovine blood meal index was 6% (95% CI 1.6-13.9). The prevalence of Anopheles mosquitoes feeding on humans and cattle (mixed feeding) was 57% (95% CI 44.8-68.9). None of the Anopheles mosquitoes tested positive for Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax-210 CSPs.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The human blood meal index reflects human exposure to mosquito bites. Future research could investigate whether mosquitoes, along with human behaviours and activities, prefer to bite humans indoors or outdoors.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"169"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12117803/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144173162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multiplex LC-MS/MS assay for simultaneous quantification of artesunate and its active metabolite dihydroartemisinin with pyronaridine, proguanil, cycloguanil, and clindamycin in pharmacokinetic studies.","authors":"Christoph Pfaffendorf, Johannes Mischlinger, Jean Claude Dejon-Agobé, Oumou Maïga-Ascofaré, Ebenezer Ahenkan, Ayôla Akim Adegnika, Michael Ramharter, Sebastian G Wicha","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05387-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05387-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria, especially caused by Plasmodium falciparum, remains a major global health concern, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. To combat rising drug resistance, innovative treatment approaches like triple artemisinin-based combination therapy (TACT) and multi-drug antimalarial combination therapies (MDACTs) are being explored.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study introduces a robust and validated multiplex LC-MS/MS assay for the simultaneous quantification of key antimalarial drugs and their metabolites, including artesunate, dihydroartemisinin, pyronaridine, proguanil, cycloguanil, and clindamycin. Developed in accordance with EMA guidelines, the assay ensures high accuracy, sensitivity, and stability. Serum samples were prepared through a process of protein precipitation with acetonitrile, followed by the evaporation of the supernatant. The resulting residues were then reconstituted in a 50/50 mixture of aqueous 20 mM ammonium formate buffer and methanol for the analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The assay achieves lower limits of quantifications of 1 ng/mL for proguanil, 0.2 ng/mL for cycloguanil, 1 ng/mL for artesunate, 4 ng/mL for dihydroartemisinin, 2 ng/mL for pyronaridine, and 5 ng/mL for clindamycin. The assay was successfully applied in a pharmacokinetic study conducted as part of a clinical trial in Gabon and Ghana, assessing novel drug combinations in both children and adults against a standard of care artemisinin-based combination therapy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The developed assay can support the further clinical development of these TACTs and MDACTs, ultimately contributing to enhanced malaria treatment strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"168"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12107730/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144160026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Natural products as transmission-blocking agents against malaria: a comprehensive review of bioactive compounds and their therapeutic potential.","authors":"Patrick Valere Tsouh Fokou, Mariscal Brice Tchatat Tali, Cedric Derick Jiatsa Mbouna, Lauve Rachel Tchokouaha Yamthe, Javad Sharifi-Rad, Daniela Calina, Radha, Manoj Kumar, Jean Claude Tchouankeu, Fabrice Fekam Boyom","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05395-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05395-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Malaria eradication is hindered by the persistence of transmission stages of Plasmodium falciparum that enable parasite transfer from humans to mosquitoes. Current therapeutic strategies, such as artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) combined with primaquine, are insufficient due to limited efficacy on mature gametocytes and safety concerns in populations with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. This highlights the critical need for innovative, safe, and effective transmission-blocking interventions. This review explores the potential of natural sources, including medicinal plants, marine organisms, and microorganisms-as reservoirs of novel bioactive compounds with anti-malarial properties. A comprehensive literature search identified promising natural products with gametocytocidal and sporontocidal activity, validated through advanced bioassays. The review also evaluates various methodologies, such as colorimetric, microscopy, and flow cytometry assays, for assessing transmission-blocking efficacy. The findings emphasize the potent gametocytocidal effects of certain plant extracts, such as Azadirachta indica and Vernonia amygdalina, and microbial products, including ionophores and proteasome inhibitors. Despite promising in vitro and in vivo data, the transition of these compounds to clinical applications remains limited. Challenges include standardizing assays, addressing resistance to current therapies, and ensuring drug safety for endemic populations. The current review underscores the untapped potential of natural products as transmission-blocking agents and proposes a systematic, stage-specific screening cascade to identify and optimize these compounds. Addressing these gaps could significantly advance global malaria eradication efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"164"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12105229/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144151006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Social determinants of malaria in low- and middle-income countries: a mixed-methods systematic review.","authors":"Edwinah Atusingwize, Kevin Deane, David Musoke","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05407-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05407-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Factors outside the health sector, including social determinants, such as economic status remain important drivers of malaria in these settings. However, social determinants of malaria generally remain unaddressed in preventing the disease, with the limited existing evidence overly descriptive and fragmented.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted to thematically synthesize the current evidence on the social determinants of malaria in LMICs. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched to identify English articles on the social determinants of malaria published between January 2013 and December 2023. Search terms such as social determinant, socio-cultural, and socioeconomic factors were used. Articles that did not meaningfully engage with the social determinants were excluded.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The 39 articles included in the review were mostly cross-sectional and qualitative studies of moderate quality, in general. Findings indicate a range of social determinants of malaria related to the following overarching themes: environmental factors, access to and use of treatment, preventive interventions use, housing, stakeholder influence, livelihoods and economic development, and poverty. The various social determinants influenced malaria in different ways, including limiting access and use of preventive and treatment interventions and increased exposure to mosquitoes. Poverty and gender intersected with other social determinants such as housing and livelihoods.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Different social determinants of malaria are key drivers of malaria in LMICs. The findings emphasize the need for malaria control efforts to consider social determinants at all levels, including funding, implementation, and evaluation.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"165"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12105309/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144151007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal analysis of Anopheles gambiae larval sites and malaria transmission in Djilakh, Central Senegal.","authors":"Assane Ndiaye, Camille Morlighem, Aminata Niang Diène, Moussa Kane, Abdoulaye Diallo, Fassiatou Tairou, Mohamed Abderemane Nourdine, Pape Cheikh Sarr, Lassana Konaté, Ousmane Faye, Oumar Gaye, El Hadji Amadou Niang, Catherine Linard, Ousmane Sy","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05388-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05388-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The progress made against malaria has resulted in a nationwide reduction of the disease burden in Senegal. The observed overall low transmission levels are, however, marked by an important spatial heterogeneity with hotspots subsisting in several parts of the country. This requires the determination of the local and regional factors of the observed disparities for tailored interventions to accelerate malaria elimination everywhere. This study aimed to demonstrate the role of larval breeding sites on malaria epidemiological trends in Djilakh, which is one of the malaria hotspots of the Mbour health district.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was carried out between 2013 and 2017, during the rainy season (June-November) of each year and surveys per year. The malaria incidence consisted of cases confirmed by RDT and climate data, including the rainfall were retrieved from the Mbour weather station. To assess the impact of larval breeding sites on malaria transmission in Djilakh village, logistic regression under the Poisson models were run. The QGIS 2.2.0 free mapping software was used to generate maps.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed that mosquito breeding sites found within and in the vicinity of the study village consisted of natural temporary ponds, characterized by clay and clay-sandy soils. The analysis of meteorological and malaria morbidity indicated that malaria transmission is influenced by precipitation. The correlation between malaria morbidity and functioning breeding sites varied throughout the rainy season, depending on the size and stability of the existing breeding sites. The incidence of malaria cases was significantly higher (82.4%; 103/125; P < 0.011; OR = 27.006) in hamlets closer to the breeding sites (less than 500 m), declining gradually with distance with 17.6% (22/125) of the cases recorded in hamlets located between 500 and 1000 m apart from the larval habitats and, no cases in the most remote hamlets (> 1000 m).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings represent a preliminary step towards a better understanding of how the environmental factors influence the persistence of malaria transmission in the studied hotspot villages in Senegal. The generated results indicate a need for targeted control actions in the studied site.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"167"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12108010/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144150240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does mass chloroquine treatment have any role in the elimination of Plasmodium vivax ?","authors":"Nicholas J White, Somya Mehra, James A Watson","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05399-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05399-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Countries in the Greater Mekong sub-region (GMS) have been encouraged to deploy mass chloroquine treatments given monthly for four months to reduce the burden of vivax malaria. This paper summarizes briefly current knowledge on Plasmodium vivax epidemiology, the biology of vivax relapse and previous experience using dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine mass treatments in the GMS to show why this approach would be extremely cost-ineffective. Around 800 full treatment courses in 200 people would be needed to prevent one symptomatic case. Mass chloroquine treatment will contribute little or nothing to the elimination of vivax malaria in this area.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"166"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12105338/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144151005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of malaria and associated risk factors among febrile under-five refugee children attending Panyadoli Health Centre III, Kiryandongo District, Mid-western Uganda.","authors":"Dorcus Acan, Robert Opiro, Benson Musinguzi, Bosco B Agaba, Simon Peter Alarakol","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05404-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05404-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria presents a big threat to the health of refugees, internally displaced persons, returnees and other such persons affected by humanitarian emergencies, with almost two thirds of these groups of persons living in malaria endemic regions. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and associated risk factors among refugee children < 5 years attending a Health Centre in Panyadoli Refugee Settlement Camp, Kiryandongo District, Uganda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional survey was done between February to April 2022, targeting refugee children < 5 years old seeking healthcare at Panyadoli Health Centre III in Kiryandongo District. Simple random sampling was employed to select 380 participants, who were then tested for the presence of malaria parasites using malaria rapid diagnostic tests and microscopy techniques. Data on risk factors of malaria was collected using a pre-tested and standardized semi-structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses was used to identify the risk factors for malaria infections, at 95% confidence interval and p < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Malaria prevalence among the refugee children < 5 years attending Panyadoli HCIII was 12.6% [95% CI: 8.7-18.0]. The associated risk factors for malaria infection included: non-application of indoor residual spraying over the last 12 months [AOR = 4.323; 95% CI 1.231-7.212], history of malaria in children (AOR = 5.861; 95% CI 1.562-8.433], and not sleeping under insecticide-treated nets (AOR = 3.141; 95% CI 0.865-5.221).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Malaria remains a threat to refugee children < 5 years old at Panyadoli Refugee Settlement Camp. Sustained implementation of IRS should be pursued through expanded geographic coverage and increased application frequency, in conjunction with complementary malaria control measures such as enhanced ITN distribution and IPT for pregnant women, to support long-term malaria reduction.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"162"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12103808/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144142849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of indoor residual spraying on malaria incidence in Ugandan prisons: an interrupted time series analysis.","authors":"Joseph Byaruhanga, James Kisambu, Adoke Yeka, Arthur Bagonza","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05422-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05422-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Indoor residual spraying (IRS) is an effective intervention for reducing mosquito vector density and malaria transmission. Uganda Prison Services (UPS) routinely implements IRS for malaria control in main prison facilities; however, no assessment of its impact had been performed. The study assessed the general malaria incidence trends for 5 years and determined the impact of IRS on malaria incidence in the main prison facilities in Uganda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional study which employed interrupted time series analysis to determine the effect of IRS programme on malaria incidence in prisons located in two different regions of Uganda. The malaria incidence trends of two prison facilities per region (in similar settings) were compared, one being an IRS intervention facility and the other being a comparison facility (did not receive an IRS) over 5 years (2018-2022) in the central and northern regions of Uganda.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 208 monthly malaria reports from all selected facilities (4) were reviewed. The peak malaria incidence rate was recorded from September to December across the years in both regions. The lowest incidence rate was recorded from January to March. The average monthly malaria incidence rate for the study period was much lower among the intervention facilities (7.1 and 13.3 cases per 1000 population per month for the central and northern regions, respectively) than among the comparison facilities (177.0 and 170.6 cases per 1000 population per month for the central and northern regions, respectively). The post-IRS intervention periods had lower malaria incidence rates than the pre-IRS periods across the intervention facilities in both regions. The IRS intervention had a statistically significant effect on reducing the malaria incidence rate in the intervention facility located in the northern region (slope: P = 0.001, CI [21.9, 67.7]).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Indoor residual spraying reduced the malaria incidence rate among the intervention facilities in both regions, but a significant impact was recorded in the northern region, which is a region with higher malaria transmission rates than the central region. In situations of limited resources, IRS implementation should prioritize prisons located in high malaria transmission areas to achieve significant impacts.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"163"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12105299/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144142848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence, awareness, treatment-seeking behaviours and its implications in the control of malaria in Dumbu community, Donga-Mantung Division, North West Region, Cameroon.","authors":"Joan E E Eyong, Calvin B Ebai, Purity Awah, Antoine S Kada","doi":"10.1186/s12936-025-05249-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s12936-025-05249-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Malaria remains a major public health problem in Cameroon where it accounts for high rates of morbidity and mortality. The management of the disease has been made worst in the North West region of Cameroon and in Dumbu in particular by the on-going socio-political crisis since 2016, which has limited the transport of drugs to this community and has also forced the inhabitants of this community to rely on traditional concoctions for treatment with the notion that it is cheap. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria, assess the malaria awareness level, the treatment-seeking behaviours, and its implications on the prevalence of malaria in the Dumbu community.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Questionnaires were administered to consented individuals. Blood samples were collected by finger prick using sterile lancets and blood films prepared on well labelled glass slides. The dry blood films were stained using a 3% Giemsa staining solution for 30 min. Data was collected were later analysed using SPSS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of the 385 persons screened, malaria was recorded in 107 persons (27.8%). Those in the age group 11-25 years old were the most infected with malaria prevalence of 32.3% (41/127) while those in the age group ≥ 50 years recorded the least prevalence [19.3% (11/57)] and the difference was not significant (χ² = 3.716, p = 0.294). Yaoundé quarter recorded the highest prevalence 32.7% (35/107) and males were more infected than females. On awareness level, they have heard of malaria and knew its causal agent to be an infected mosquito, 48.3% considered fever as the sign of the infection. Sixty-nine-point 8 percent (69.8%) of the population rushes to the health centre for treatment while 5.6% prefers herbal treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Malaria is still a health challenge in this area and people infected should be advised to seek treatment, whenever they have malaria from a health facility to ensure that the treatment given is appropriate.</p>","PeriodicalId":18317,"journal":{"name":"Malaria Journal","volume":"24 1","pages":"161"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12100826/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144128049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}