Bamu Sandral Binue, Mary Chia-Garba* and Nfor Omarine Nlinwe

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, P. O. Box 39, Bambili, Cameroon

*Corresponding Author: Mary Chia-Garba, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, P. O. Box 39, Bambili, Cameroon.

Received: October 16, 2025; Published: December 31, 2025

Abstract

Introduction: Malaria parasitaemia and malnutrition are major factors contributing to high mortality rates, especially among children in sub-Saharan Africa. In regions where malaria is endemic, it plays a significant role in causing anaemia, further exacerbating the health burden. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia, anaemia and malnutrition in children less than 17 years in Awing - Santa health district.

Methodology: This was a hospital-based cross -sectional study. Malaria parasitaemia was confirmed through light microscopy and FIRST RESPONSE rapid diagnostic test was used. Haemoglobin levels were measured with an ACCU Answer ISAW analyzer, while malnutrition was assessed using mid-upper arm circumference measurements. Socio-economic and socio-demographic data of the children were collected using questionnaires. The World Health Organization defines anaemia based on Haemoglobin concentration in the blood, with thresholds that vary by age, sex, and pregnancy status. For children aged 6months to 15 years Haemoglobin levels less than 11.5g/dl is considered anaemic. The World Health Organization uses several indicators to assess malnutrition, Mid-upper Arm Circumference was used to identify severe acute malnutrition, especially in children. A MUAC of less than 11.5cm is often used as a cutoff for severe malnutrition. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 27.

Results: A total of 340 children aged from (9months -17years) were enrolled into the research while 58.2% of them were female and 41.8% were male, 61.2% were of school going age and 94.1% were from Christian homes. Out of the 340 children 19.7% tested positive for malaria, and 10.6% of the malaria cases were moderate parasitaemia. The prevalence of anaemia was 9.4% and was common among males. According to Mid- upper arm circumference classification the prevalence of acute malnutrition was 15.3%, Moderate malnutrition was higher within the age range 10 years and above with the mid-upper arm circumference of 16cm-17.9cm, Severe malnutrition was higher within the age range 10years and above with the mid-upper arm circumference of less than 16cm.

Conclusions: Moderate malaria parasitamia, moderate aneamia and acute severe malnutrition was recorded in the childern. There was a statistically significant relationship (p <0.001) between the occurrence of malaria and anemia in the sample population.Campaigns should be carried out by community health experts in Awing to sensitize parents on proper nutrition of children to prevent the children from infections and aneamia.

 Keywords: Malaria Parasitemia; Malnutrition; Arm Circumference Measurements; Aneamia

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Citation

Citation: Mary Chia-Garba., et al. “Malaria Parasitaemia, Anaemia and Malnutrition in Children Under 17 Years in Awing-Santa Health District North West Region of Cameroon”.Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 10.1 (2026): 80-85.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Mary Chia-Garba., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.