scholarly journals Iodine and iron status of pregnant women in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1362-1370 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Habimana ◽  
Kabange E Twite ◽  
Pierre Wallemacq ◽  
Philippe De Nayer ◽  
Chantal Daumerie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Iodine Intake ◽  
Postpartum Women ◽  
Urinary Iodine Concentration ◽  
Third Trimester ◽  
Republic Of Congo

AbstractObjectiveAdequate iodine and Fe intakes are imperative during pregnancy to prevent fetal defects, but such data are not available in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We aimed to assess iodine and Fe status in pregnant women from Lubumbashi.DesignCross-sectional study. We measured urinary iodine concentration (UIC) in random urine samples using a modified Sandell–Kolthoff digestion method; the WHO reference medians were used to classify iodine intake as deficient, adequate, more than adequate or excessive. Serum ferritin concentrations were measured by immunoenzymatic assay and considered insufficient when <12 ng/ml.SettingMaternity units from rural, semi-urban and urban areas of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.SubjectsTwo hundred and twenty-five randomly selected pregnant women attending prenatal consultation, seventy-five postpartum women and seventy-five non-pregnant women as controls.ResultsOverall median UIC in pregnant women was 138 (interquartile range: 105–172) μg/l, indicating iodine deficiency, whereas postpartum and non-pregnant women had adequate iodine intake: median UIC = 144 μg/l and 204 μg/l, respectively. Median UIC values were lower in late pregnancy than in early pregnancy: in the first, second and third trimester respectively 255 μg/l, 70 μg/l and 88 μg/l in the rural area; 306 μg/l, 166 μg/l and 68 μg/l in the semi-urban area; and 203 μg/l, 174 μg/l and 99 μg/l in the urban area. Fe was insufficient in 39 % of pregnant women compared with 21 % of non-pregnant and postpartum women. In the third trimester, deficiencies in both iodine and Fe were high: 40 %, 12 % and 18 % in the rural, semi-urban and urban areas, respectively.ConclusionsOur data suggest that pregnant women are at risk of iodine and Fe deficiencies in Lubumbashi. Country policies fighting against iodine and Fe deficiencies during pregnancy should be reinforced.

scholarly journals Malaria parasite species composition of Plasmodium infections among asymptomatic and symptomatic school-age children in rural and urban areas of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabin S. Nundu ◽  
Richard Culleton ◽  
Shirley V. Simpson ◽  
Hiroaki Arima ◽  
Jean-Jacques Muyembe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Malaria Parasite ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Asymptomatic Malaria ◽  
School Age ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Symptomatic Malaria

Abstract Background Malaria remains a major public health concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and school-age children are relatively neglected in malaria prevalence surveys and may constitute a significant reservoir of transmission. This study aimed to understand the burden of malaria infections in school-age children in Kinshasa/DRC. Methods A total of 634 (427 asymptomatic and 207 symptomatic) blood samples collected from school-age children aged 6 to 14 years were analysed by microscopy, RDT and Nested-PCR. Results The overall prevalence of Plasmodium spp. by microscopy, RDT and PCR was 33%, 42% and 62% among asymptomatic children and 59%, 64% and 95% in symptomatic children, respectively. The prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale spp. by PCR was 58%, 20% and 11% among asymptomatic and 93%, 13% and 16% in symptomatic children, respectively. Among P. ovale spp., P. ovale curtisi, P. ovale wallikeri and mixed P. ovale curtisi + P. ovale wallikeri accounted for 75%, 24% and 1% of infections, respectively. All Plasmodium species infections were significantly more prevalent in the rural area compared to the urban area in asymptomatic infections (p < 0.001). Living in a rural as opposed to an urban area was associated with a five-fold greater risk of asymptomatic malaria parasite carriage (p < 0.001). Amongst asymptomatic malaria parasite carriers, 43% and 16% of children harboured mixed Plasmodium with P. falciparum infections in the rural and the urban areas, respectively, whereas in symptomatic malaria infections, it was 22% and 26%, respectively. Few children carried single infections of P. malariae (2.2%) and P. ovale spp. (1.9%). Conclusion School-age children are at significant risk from both asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria infections. Continuous systematic screening and treatment of school-age children in high-transmission settings is needed.

scholarly journals Determinants of Antenatal Care Attendance among Pregnant Women Living in Endemic Malaria Settings: Experience from the Democratic Republic of Congo

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Célestin Ndosimao Nsibu ◽  
Célestin Manianga ◽  
Serge Kapanga ◽  
Esther Mona ◽  
Philippe Pululu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antenatal Care ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Male Partner ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Republic Of Congo

Background. Antenatal care (ANC) attendance helps pregnant women to benefit from preventive and curative services.Methods. Determinants for ANC attendance were identified through a cross-sectional survey in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sociocultural bottlenecks were assessed via focus groups discussion of married men and women.Results. In this survey, 28 of the 500 interviewed pregnant women (5.6%) did not attend ANC services and 82.4% booked over the first trimester. The first visit is positively influenced by the reproductive age (OR: 0.52, 95% CI(0.28–0.95),p<0.04), the educational level (OR: 0.41,95% CI(0.17–0.97),p<0.04), the nearby health center (OR: 0.43, 95% CI(0.2–0.92),p<0.03), and the presence of a male partner (OR: 10.48, 95% CI(2.1–52.23),p<0.001). The barriers to early booking were (i) the cost of service; (ii) the appearance or individual income; (iii) the geographical inaccessibility or distance to health facilities; (iv) social and religious prohibitions; (v) the stigmatization from other women when conceiving in the late ages or young or while still lactating (parity); (vi) the time for waiting for services.Conclusion. The early ANC attendance is delayed among poor women with little education and living alone.

Impact of maternal malaria and under-nutrition on intrauterine growth restriction: a prospective ultrasound study in Democratic Republic of Congo

2008 ◽  
Vol 137 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. H. LANDIS ◽  
V. LOKOMBA ◽  
C. V. ANANTH ◽  
J. ATIBU ◽  
R. W. RYDER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intrauterine Growth Restriction ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Growth Restriction ◽  
Third Trimester ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Intrauterine Growth ◽  
Under Nutrition ◽  
Ultrasound Study ◽  
Binomial Regression

SUMMARYMaternal malaria and under-nutrition are established risk factors for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births; however, whether malaria is associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is unknown. We investigated IUGR risk among 177 HIV-negative pregnant women enrolled in a longitudinal ultrasound study conducted in Democratic Republic of Congo from May 2005 to May 2006. Malaria infection, maternal anthropometrics, and ultrasound estimated fetal weight were measured monthly. All positive malaria cases were treated and intermittent presumptive therapy (IPTp) provided. Log-binomial regression models for IUGR were fitted using generalized estimating equations to account for statistical clustering of repeat IUGR measurements. Twenty-nine percent of fetuses experienced an episode of IUGR with the majority occurring in the third trimester. The risk of IUGR associated with malaria was greatest after three or more cumulative infections (RR 3·3, 95% CI 1·3–8·2) and was two- to eight-fold higher among women with evidence of under-nutrition. Receiving antimalarial treatment in the previous month (for IPTp or treatment) was significantly protective against IUGR (RR 0·5, 95% CI 0·3–0·7). The interaction observed between malaria and under-nutrition suggests that antenatal programmes in malaria endemic areas should incorporate nutritional screening and supplementation in addition to IPTp.

scholarly journals High Prevalence of Thyroid Dysfunction Among Pregnant Women in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Thyroid ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 568-575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Habimana ◽  
Kabange E. Twite ◽  
Chantal Daumerie ◽  
Pierre Wallemacq ◽  
Philippe Donnen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Thyroid Dysfunction ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
High Prevalence

scholarly journals Maternal and Fetal Outcomes Among Pregnant Women With Human Monkeypox Infection in the Democratic Republic of Congo

2017 ◽  
Vol 216 (7) ◽  
pp. 824-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Placide K Mbala ◽  
John W Huggins ◽  
Therese Riu-Rovira ◽  
Steve M Ahuka ◽  
Prime Mulembakani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Fetal Outcomes ◽  
Republic Of Congo

scholarly journals Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV in Pregnant Women in the Community in the Democratic Republic of Congo

2015 ◽  
Vol 05 (02) ◽  
pp. 124-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Maotela Kabinda ◽  
Tony Shindano Akilimali ◽  
Ahuka Serge Miyanga ◽  
Philippe Donnen ◽  
Dramaix-Wilmet Michèle
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Republic Of Congo

scholarly journals Malaria Parasite Species Composition of Plasmodium Infections Among Asymptomatic and Symptomatic School-Age Children in Rural and Urban Areas of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabin S. Nundu ◽  
Richard Culleton ◽  
Shirley V. Simpson ◽  
Hiroaki Arima ◽  
Jean-Jacques Muyembe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Malaria Parasite ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
School Age Children ◽  
Asymptomatic Malaria ◽  
School Age ◽  
Republic Of Congo

Abstract Background. Malaria remains a major public health concern in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and school-age children are relatively neglected in malaria prevalence surveys and may constitute a significant reservoir of transmission. This study aimed to understand the burden of malaria infections in school-age children in Kinshasa/DRC.Methods. 634 (427 asymptomatic and 207 symptomatic) blood samples were collected from a cross-sectional survey of school-age children aged 6 to 14 years both without and with malaria symptoms. Nested-PCR was performed for malaria parasite species typing. Results. The overall prevalence of Plasmodium spp., Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale was 62.3, 58.1, 19.9 and 10.8% among asymptomatic whereas it was 94.4, 93.2, 12.6 and 15.9% in symptomatic children, respectively. All Plasmodium species infections were significantly more prevalent in the rural area compared to the urban area in asymptomatic infections (p<0.001). Living in a rural as opposed to an urban area was associated with a five-fold greater risk of asymptomatic malaria parasite carriage (p<0.001). Amongst asymptomatic malaria parasite carriers, 43% of children in the rural area were co-infected with two or more species with P. falciparum + P. malariae the most common (24%) whereas in the urban setting, fewer children carried co-infections (16%) with P. falciparum + P. malariae again the most common (9%). A fifth of rural-dwelling symptomatic children were co-infected with two or more species with P. falciparum + P. ovale the most common (14%), while a quarter of symptomatic children in the urban area carried multiple species, with co-infections of P. falciparum + P. malariae the most common (11%). Conclusion. School-age children are at significant risk from both asymptomatic and symptomatic malaria parasite infections. Continuous systematic screening and treatment of school-age children in high-transmission settings across the country may reinforce malaria intervention measures.

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