IMPACTS OF TEMPERATURE VARIABILITY ON SALMONELLA TYPHI INFECTION IN NGOKETUNJIA DIVISIO, CAMEROON (1980-2021).

  ABSTRACT : Climatic elements have significant effects on human health. This study investigated the relationship between temperature variability and the prevalence of salmonella typhi infection in Ngoketunjia Division. This mixed-method research combined quantitative and qualitative techniques to collect and analyze primary data through field observations, interviews, focused group discussions, and secondary data from publications obtained from libraries, government ministries, and NGOs. 325 questionnaires were distributed among the 13 villages that makes the area. Using linear regression analysis to process climate and health records, bacteriological analyses of sampled potable water sources established the association of patterns of temperature variability with the incidence of typhoid fever. Analysis of climatic data revealed a general increase in the temperature record of the region, with 6 outstanding positive and 4 outstanding negative anomalies observed over the study period from 1980 to 2021, marked by the frequent occurrence of several hydro-meteorological extreme events such as droughts, dry spells, and storms. The Student t-test statistical analysis technique verified and validated that an increase in the rate of S. typhi infection was recorded between the years 1980 and 2021. The regression analysis generated a linear model (y=0.034x+28.159; R² = 0.8529) with a P-value 0.002 establishing that temperature variability trend significantly and positively correlated with the trend of occurrence of typhoid fever (the number of salmonella typhi seropositive cases) in Ngoketunjia Division. This rejected the null hypothesis and confirmed the alternative, which stated that “temperature variability influences the prevalence of typhoid fever in the Ngoketunia Division”. It was further established that the perception of households on the association between temperature variability and the prevalence of typhoid infection in Ngoketunjia Division corroborate the above results. By concluding that temperature variability exacerbated the transmission of S. typhi, the research emphasizes the need for public health interventions tailored to mitigate the impacts of temperature variability on disease prevalence in the vulnerable population of Ngoketunjia Division. The research recommends that surveillance and monitoring systems, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), public awareness campaigns, collaboration with environmental agencies, climate adaptation strategies, research and capacity building should be promoted.

KEYWORDS: Temperature Variability, Prevalence, Salmonella Typhi, Infection, Ngoketunjia Division