Knowledge about Asymptomatic Malaria and Acceptability of Using Artemisia afra Tea among Health Care Workers (HCWs) in Yaoundé, Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abenwie Suh Nchang (), Lahngong Methodius Shinyuy, Sandra Fankem Noukimi, Sylvia Njong, Sylvie Bambara, Edgar M. Kalimba, Joseph Kamga, Stephen Mbigha Ghogomu, Michel Frederich, Jean Lesort Louck Talom, Jacob Souopgui and Annie Robert
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Abenwie Suh Nchang: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (EPID), Institute de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Public Health School, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
Lahngong Methodius Shinyuy: Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmacy, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Liege, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Sandra Fankem Noukimi: Embriology and Biotechnology Laboratory, IBMM-ULB, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
Sylvia Njong: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (EPID), Institute de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Public Health School, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
Sylvie Bambara: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (EPID), Institute de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Public Health School, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium
Edgar M. Kalimba: King Faisal Hospital, Kigali 2534, Rwanda
Joseph Kamga: Biotechnology Unit, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Stephen Mbigha Ghogomu: Biotechnology Unit, University of Buea, Buea P.O. Box 63, Cameroon
Michel Frederich: Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmacy, Center of Interdisciplinary Research on Medicine (CIRM), University of Liege, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Jean Lesort Louck Talom: Aumônerie—Hôpital du Jura bernois SA, 2740 Moutier, Switzerland
Jacob Souopgui: Embriology and Biotechnology Laboratory, IBMM-ULB, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
Annie Robert: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (EPID), Institute de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Public Health School, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), 1200 Brussels, Belgium

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 13, 1-23

Abstract: Malaria is the most widespread endemic disease in Cameroon, and asymptomatic Plasmodium (gametocyte) carriers (APCs) constitute more than 95% of infectious human reservoirs in malaria endemic settings. This study assesses the knowledge of asymptomatic malaria (ASM) among health care workers (HCWs) in health facilities (HFs) in the Centre Region of Cameroon and the acceptability of using Artemisia afra tea to treat APCs. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 100 HCWs, in four randomly selected HFs in the Centre Region, in the period of 1–20 April 2022, using semi-structured self-administered questionnaires. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with knowledge. More than seven in eight (88%) respondents were aware of the existence of ASM, 83% defined ASM correctly, 75% knew how it was diagnosed, 70% prescribe ACTs for APCs, and 51.1% were informed about ASM transmission. The professional category of HCWs was significantly associated with their knowledge of the existence and transmission of ASM, and longevity of service was associated with knowledge of transmission ( p < 0.05). Two-thirds (67%) of respondents knew about Artemisia afra tea, 53.7% believed that it was effective in treating ASM, and 79% were willing to prescribe it if authorized. There was a fair level of knowledge of ASM among HCWs in the study settings.

Keywords: health care workers; asymptomatic Plasmodium carriers; knowledge; Artemisia afra tea; treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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