Author(s)

Djike Puepi Fokam Yolande^1*, Kamo Selangai Helene², Noukeu Njinkui Diomede³, Missota Tchahe Mariane Gabrielle⁴, Wandji Yanelle¹, Ganni Wele Wilfried⁴, Tedongfo Nicolas⁵, Verla Vincent Sisyi¹

¹Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatric, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
²Department of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Garoua, Garoua, Cameroon.
³Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon.
⁴Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.
⁵Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.

Background: Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) is a strategy put in place by World Health Organisation (WHO) to fight against malaria in zones of high seasonal malaria transmission since the year 2012. This strategy has been implemented in the Far North and North regions of Cameroon since the year 2016. Despite the implementation of this program the number of cases and deaths from seasonal malaria among the under 5 seems to be rising in Koza health area. Objective: To determine the level of implementation of the SMC Program and its impact on the mortality of children aged 03 to 59 months during the season of high transmission. Methods: This was a community-based cross-sectional and 7-years retrospective study. Data was surveyed for 3 months in 3 health areas of Koza health area. Data were collected and typed in Kobo collect, cleaned in MS Excel and analyzed in SPSS version 25 to come out with descriptive statistics. Results: Among the 172 households, female children were mostly represented 99 (57%) The age group mostly represented was 2 years. The population knowledge on SMC’s overall score was above average. The overall coverage rate (4 cycles) was 84% from interviewed parents and 67.5% from SMC cards. More than 23% of children experienced at least one side effect with the most common being vomiting (72%). The population’s overall impression of the program was good at 85%. The trends SMC coverage showed a sinusoidal fluctuation from 2015 to 2021, 2016 to 2019 and 2020 to 2021. Conclusion: The coverage rate of SMC was high thus the program is well implemented.

Level of Implementation, Children, Parents/Tutors, Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, Koza

Yolande, D. , Helene, K. , Diomede, N. , Gabrielle, M. , Yanelle, W. , Wilfried, G. , Nicolas, T. and Sisyi, V. (2023) Level of Implementation of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention in Children Aged between 3 to 59 Months in Koza, Far North Region of Cameroon. Open Journal of Pediatrics, 13, 707-718. doi: 10.4236/ojped.2023.135079.