PREVALENCE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF LEISHMANIASIS IN AREAS OF MAYO TSANAGA (CAMEROON)

Leishmaniasis is a tropical and subtropical disease caused by leishmania, humans are infected when they share the same environment with a sand fly vector and reservoir host. Leishmaniasis accounts for a large number of hospitalization and mortality in the areas of Mokolo in Cameroon. With the aim of improving the knowledge of leishmaniasis in Cameroon, we carried out a study on the prevalence and epidemiology of leishmaniasis in Mokolo. This was a retrospective and a prospective study. The descriptive and cross-sectional study covered a period from the 10 of August to 30 November. This study was based on participants in between the age range of 10 to 60 years’ old who came for consultation with symptoms. Socio-demographic data were collected were collected using a pretested questionnaire. The collected data was analysed using SPSS software and Microsoft excel 2016. The Chi-square and Fischer tests were used to compare categorical variables. P value ≤0.05 at 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. 130 patients were involved in this study, with majority of patients within the age range of 10 to 20 years of age. 43% of the study population were males while 57% were females. Most of the study population were students from the university, and 59% of the study population was made up of single partners. Christians (49%) participated more than Muslims and pagan. The prevalence of leishmaniasis in Mokolo was 5%. The prevalence was higher in males (8.5%) than in females (1.4%), The frequency of positive leishmaniasis in males was 83% and 12% females. Gender and all the clinical symptoms were statistically associated with the presence of leishmaniasis. This study confirms the presence of leishmaniasis in Mokolo and the population needs to be sensibilized and practice preventive measures.