Epidemiology of tuberculosis in Cameroon as mirrored in notification data, 2006-2014.

SETTING

The Cameroonian National Tuberculosis Programme.

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.