Abstract

Introduction: Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Cholera has been a major global health issue for centuries. The disease is most common in regions with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water.

Methods: This research was a hospital-based retrospective, cross-sectional, and descriptive study utilizing a mixed method of quantitative and qualitative design, which involved reviewing hospital records and conducting a Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The research was conducted in Buea Health District, where 562 files were selected for the quantitative analysis and 15 participants contributed to the qualitative study. Medical records (patients’ files) of cholera patients treated at Buea Regional Hospital were examined.

A purposive sampling method was employed to identify the communities most impacted by cholera for the qualitative study (FGD). A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit study participants. The study took place from November 2022 to September 2023. Descriptive analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.0. Associations between different variables were determined using bivariate analysis (Chi-square test). The audio recordings were transcribed into themes using ATLAS.ti version 9 for the qualitative study (FGD).

Results: We analyzed 562 patient files from January 2022 to July 2022. Our findings indicated that the majority of cases occurred in the age group of 21-40 years (48.0%), with males (52.3%) being predominantly affected, and the profession most affected was students (35.3%). The most affected communities were Muea (63.0%) and Molyko (16.5%), with the highest number of cases reported at the start of the rainy season, peaking in April (34.1%).

The study observed a steady increase in cholera incidence, reaching peak incidence during epidemiological week 12. From the FGDs, environmental factors such as rainfall and temperature, poor sanitation and hygiene practices, as well as inadequate toilet facilities, may have contributed to the elevated incidence of cholera in the Muea and Molyko communities.

Conclusion: The study found that the incidence trend of cholera rose at the onset of the rainy season. Furthermore, a significant number of cholera cases were recorded in the district, predominantly affecting young adults, students, and males.

Poor sanitation and hygiene practices, along with insufficient access to safe drinking water, were identified as key factors contributing to cholera transmission. The study advocates for improved sanitation and hygiene practices.

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