Epidemiology of tuberculosis in Cameroon as mirrored in notification data, 2006–2014
OBJECTIVES: To assess case surveillance data for the 9-year period between January 2006 and December 2014.
DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive analysis of tuberculosis (TB) case finding in Cameroon using routine surveillance data. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, disease category, clinical and laboratory variables, and geographic regions were analysed.
RESULTS: The absolute number of TB cases (all forms) notified increased from 24 878 in 2006 to 26 517 in 2014; however, the population-adjusted annual case notification rate (CNR) of TB (all forms) as well as that of new smear-positive pulmonary TB cases decreased significantly, from 139 to 121 (P < 0.001) and from 77 to 70/100 000 population (P < 0.02), respectively. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection rate reported among all TB cases (39% in 2014) remained stable from 2009. The male-to-female ratio also remained stable, with a slight shift towards older age. There was a CNR gradient from the north to the south that appears to be related to HIV infection rates, population density and access to health services.
CONCLUSIONS: TB CNRs in Cameroon for the 2006–2014 period show a slow but steady decrease, and there are indications that the trend reflects incidence. However, there is evidence to suggest that TB transmission is still ongoing.
Keywords: Cameroon; assessment; surveillance data; tuberculosis
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: National Tuberculosis Programme, Yaounde, Cameroon 2: Faculty of Economics Sciences and Applied Management, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
Publication date: 01 November 2016
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