OBJECTIVES : To determine the cost savings on households as a result of the use of bednets for malaria prevention in the Minkoameyos community.

METHODS : We carried out a cross-sectional study and we used a two-staged random sampling method to select households for data collection. We used structured questionnaires to interview household heads. Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) were used to test all household members present for the presence of the malaria parasite.

RESULTS : The malaria prevalence was 31.5%. Universal coverage with bednets was recorded in 11% of households. 30.9% of the population had slept under a bednet the night prior to the interview. The average cost for treating a case of uncomplicated malaria was 36.8115 USD. The average costs for treating uncomplicated malaria among those who slept under a bednet the night prior to the interview was 34.300 USD compared to 47.6817 USD among those who did not sleep under a bednet. It shows a potential cost saving of 13.382 USD among households that use bednets for malaria prevention in the Minkomeyos community.

CONCLUSIONS : Despite the free distribution of Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs) by the Cameroon government in 2011, malaria still remains a public health concern. There is still a high prevalence of malaria in rural communities in particular. With the potential of households spending less in seeking treatment for malaria, policymakers should ensure the population sleep under these free mosquito nets rather than distributing them and assuming they sleep under the nets.