Seasonal variation and prevalence of tuberculosis among health seekers in the south western Cameroon

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in Fako health District, to assess the effects of seasonal variation on the incidence of TB in the study area and to use sentinel analysis to predict areas of greatest infection. Design: A prospective cross sectional study based on laboratory investigations. Setting: Fako health District, South Western Carneroon. Results: The prevalence of TB was 23.3%.Tuberculosis was significantly more prevalent in males (12.6%) as compared with females (10.7%) (P = 0.034). TB prevalence was significantly different between age groups, with the highest number of cases recorded in the age group 21-30 (P = 0.002). When the health areas were compared, TB prevalence varied significantly (P = 0.001), with Limbe Town recording the highest number of TB cases. We recorded more TB cases in the wet season compared with the dry season and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.000). There was a significant drop in the prevalence of TB over the study period (P = 0.000). Conclusion: This study is the first to report on the effects of season on the prevalence of TB in Cameroon. These findings will therefore provide additional useful base line data for setting up TB control strategies in Cameroon.

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“…This confirms an earlier study in the South West Region by Ane-Anyangwe et al, (2006) where Tiko (CDC camps and Mutengene) and Limbe (New Town, Unity quarter and CDC-Bota) stood out as the most highly infected areas with high prevalences in various quarters within these localities as well as Buea Town in Buea and Idenau which is a local sea port; while village settings like Mondoni, Bonadikombo and affluent neighbourhoods like Bokwangwo and Bonduma were least affected. In the same light, The Core Group (2013) highlights that TB is no respecter of persons and places as it occurs both amongst the rich and poor, whites and blacks, villages and cities, schools, workplaces, departmental hostels, prisons and communities.…”

“…The study reveals high TB case findings in males compared with females in the study area in affirmation with works by Ane-Anyangwe et al, (2006) and Noeske et al, (2006). Other studies however contrast this point of view.…”

“…Urbanization and malnutrition are major risk factors of TB in the study area. The over 400,000 inhabitant of Maroua today is a propelling factor for the disease as a result of overcrowding and congestion, high level of promiscuity, sub-standard housing development, unemployment, poverty and lack of health infrastructures that characterize the area as is the case in CDC camps in the South West Region where plantation workers reside (Kamuolratanakul et al, 1999in Ane-Anyangwe et al, 2006. Malnutrition results to TB from a bi-directional linkage (Chandra, 1991;Macallan, 1999 all cited in Noeske et al, 2006).…”

“…Murray (1991) in Vassall (2009) posits that this strategy is highly effective and cost-effective in low income settings like Cameroon in general and Maroua in particular. However, another study by Ane-Anyangwe et al, (2006) holds that treatment with DOTS does not provide complete coverage of the entire territory. In the study area, DOTS treatment confronts two major challenges: Firstly, many people in the area are reluctant to go to the hospital making it difficult to determine the real impact of the disease.…”

“…Others include non-conversion of sputum smears in new smear positive Pulmonary Tubercolosis (PTB) patients (Kuban et al, 2009;pefura-Yone et al, 2014;Noeske et al, 2004), PTB in prisons (Noeske et al, 2006;, and prevalence of Bovine TB (BTB) in abbatoirs (Awah-Ndukum et al, 2010;. Also, seasonal variation and prevalence of TB (Ane-Anyangwe et al, 2006), genetic biodiversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis TB complex strains from patients with PTB (Niobe-Eyangoh et al, 2003;Brudey et al, 2006), and parameter estimation based synchronization (Bowong and Kurths, 2010) have also been treated. Other works centre on incidence, time and determinants of treatment defaults (Pefura-Yone et al, 2011), acquired anti-TB drugs resistance and risk factors to its outcome Assam-Assam et al, 2011;Bercion and Kuaban, 1997), duration and associated factors of patient delay during treatment in rural areas (Cambanis et al, 2007), and early results of systematic drug susceptibility testing in PT treatment cases .…”