Sociocultural Factors Influencing Malaria Prevention and Treatment Pathways among Pregnant Women in the Foumban Health District, Cameroon

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.