Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the
prevalence of malaria parasite burden among patients
attending the University of Buea Health Centre.
Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted
from March 2011 to March 2012 involving 322 adults
attending the University Health Centre for various reasons.
Only those who approved and signed consent form
participated in the study. Malaria parasites were examined in
Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films under 100x
objectives and were counted against 200 leukocytes in thick
films to obtain the parasite density.
Results: Among the 322 participants, 286 (88.8%) were
positive for malaria. There was no significant difference in the
prevalence of infection between participants from the
university community and those reporting from neighbouring
villages (X2
=2.42, P>0.05). There was no difference in
prevalence by gender, but there was a statistically significant
difference in the prevalence by age of participants (X2
=19.253
P<0.05), and this prevalence was highest (45.7%) in patients
aged between 21 and 30 years. Patients with a scanty parasite
load (1 – 400 parasites per μL of blood) represented 46% of
participants. Parasite loads of 401 – 7000, 7001-14000 and
>14000 trophozoites per μL of blood were observed in 77
(26.9%), 29 (10.1%) and 46 (16.1%) participants respectively.
Conclusion: The results of this study have portrayed malaria
as an important cause of morbidity among staff, students and
the surrounding communities, challenging multidisciplinary
efforts which have been implemented by the Cameroonian
Ministry of Health to curb down malaria in the country. It is
apparent that an in depth situational analysis is necessary to
understand the dynamics of malaria and implement more
stringent and elaborated measures to control the disease in
and out of the university community.