Vaccination dropout rates among children aged 12-23 months in Democratic Republic of the Congo: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Overall, 1.8 million children fail to receive the 3-dose series for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis each year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Currently, an emergency plan targeting 9 provinces including Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, is launched to reinforce routine immunization. Mont Ngafula II was the only health district that experienced high vaccination dropout rates for nearly five consecutive years. This study aimed to identify factors predicting high immunization dropout rates among children aged 12-23 months in the Mont Ngafula II health district. Methods A cross-sectional household survey was conducted among 418 children in June-July 2019 using a two-stage sampling design. Socio-demographic and perception data were collected through a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The distribution of 2017-2018 immunization coverage and dropout rate was extracted from the local health district authority and mapped. Logistic random effects regression models were used to identify predictors of high vaccination dropout rates. Results Of the 14 health areas in the Mont Ngafula II health district, four reported high vaccine coverage, only one recorded low vaccine coverage, and three reported both low vaccine coverage and high dropout rate. In the final multivariate logistic random effects regression model, the predictors of immunization dropout among children aged 12-23 months were: living in rural areas, unavailability of seats, non-compliance with the order of arrival during vaccination in health facilities, and lack of a reminder system on days before the scheduled vaccination. Conclusions Our results advocate for prioritizing targeted interventions and programs to strengthen interpersonal communication between immunization service providers and users during vaccination in health facilities and to implement an SMS reminder system on days before the scheduled vaccination.

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Vaccination Dropout Rates Among Children Aged 12-23 Months in the Urban-Rural Health District of Mont Ngafula II, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Cross-sectional Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-100112/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Harry-César Kayembe-Ntumba ◽

Felly Vangola ◽

Papy Ansobi ◽

Eric Bokabo ◽

Bien-Aimé Mandja ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Dropout Rate ◽

Dropout Rates ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Reminder System ◽

The Poor ◽

Republic Of The Congo

Abstract Background: Globally, 1.8 million children failed to receive the 3-dose diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) series every year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Currently, an emergency plan targeting 9 provinces, including the capital of Kinshasa, is launched to reinforce routine immunization. The Mont Ngafula II health district (HD) was the only one to report high vaccination dropout rates over almost five consecutive years. This study aimed to assess issues within the local dynamic system of vaccination services and identify associated risk factors among children aged 12-23 months. Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted among 418 children in June-July 2019 using a two-stage sampling design. Socio-demographic and perception data were collected through a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The distribution of 2017-2018 immunization coverage and dropout rate was extracted from local authority of HD and mapped. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify predictors of high vaccination dropout. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: Of 14 health areas included in the Mont Ngafula II HD, four reported high vaccine coverage, only one recorded low vaccine coverage and three registered both low vaccine coverage and high dropout rate. Multivariate logistic regression showed the predictors of immunization dropout as follows: no possession of immunization card (aOR = 2.49; 95% CI = 1.25-4.93; p = 0.010), living in rural areas (aOR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.02-2.32; p = 0.042), unavailability of seating places (aOR = 7.10; 95% CI = 1.39-36.27; p = 0.019), no respect of the order of arrival (aOR = 3.88; 95% CI = 1.48-10.16; p = 0.006) during vaccination in health facilities, and the lack of a reminder system on days before the scheduled vaccination (aOR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.43-3.32; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The poor utilization of immunization services seemed as the main health concern followed by the poor access. Residing in rural areas, no immunization card possession, absence of seating places, no respect of the order of arrival, and the lack of a reminder system were the predictors of vaccination dropout rates. These results advocate for prioritizing targeted interventions and programs that will strengthen interpersonal communication between vaccination service providers and users during vaccination in health facilities as well as implement and extend a reminder system using SMS reminders on days before the scheduled vaccination.

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Analytical Performance of the Exacto Test HIV Self-Test: A Cross-Sectional Field Study in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofaa554 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

Author(s):

Serge Tonen-Wolyec ◽

Jérémie Muwonga Masidi ◽

Luc Ferdinand Kamanga Lukusa ◽

Gaetan Nsiku Dikumbwa ◽

Angèle Sarassoro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Field Study ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Analytical Performance ◽

Viable Option ◽

Excellent Performance ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Performance Sensitivity ◽

Self Testing ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Self Test

Abstract The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has begun implementing HIV self-testing to boost the first “95” of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets by 2025. This study aims to assess the performance and usability of the Exacto Test HIV (Biosynex, Strasbourg, France) self-test in the lab and in the field. The Exacto Test HIV self-test demonstrated high virological performance (sensitivity, 99.6%; specificity, 100%) in the lab and in the field in the hand of untrained users (sensitivity, 100%; specificity, 98.9%). Taken together, the excellent performance and usability characteristics of the Exacto Test HIV (Biosynex) self-test make the kit a viable option for HIV self-testing in the DRC.

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Revisiting Konzo Risk Factors in Three Areas Differently Affected by Spastic Paraparesis in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo Discloses a Prominent Role of the Nutritional Status—A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13082628 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 2628

Author(s):

Marius Baguma ◽

Espoir Bwenge Malembaka ◽

Esto Bahizire ◽

Germain Zabaday Mudumbi ◽

Dieudonné Bahati Shamamba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Nutritional Status ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cyanide Poisoning ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

High Prevalence ◽

Republic Of The Congo

This comparative cross-sectional study aimed to better understand the respective contributions of protein malnutrition and cassava-derived cyanide poisoning in the development of konzo. We compared data on nutritional status and cyanide exposure of school-age adolescent konzo-diseased patients to those of non-konzo subjects of similar age from three areas in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Our results show that konzo patients had a high prevalence of both wasting (54.5%) and stunting (72.7%), as well as of cyanide poisoning (81.8%). Controls from Burhinyi and those from Idjwi showed a similar profile with a low prevalence of wasting (3.3% and 6.5%, respectively) and intermediate prevalence of stunting (26.7% and 23.9%, respectively). They both had a high prevalence of cyanide poisoning (50.0% and 63.0%, respectively), similar to konzo-patients. On the other hand, controls from Bukavu showed the lowest prevalence of both risk factors, namely chronic malnutrition (12.1%) and cyanide poisoning (27.6%). In conclusion, cassava-derived cyanide poisoning does not necessarily coexist with konzo outbreaks. The only factor differentiating konzo patients from healthy individuals exposed to cyanide poisoning appeared to be their worse nutritional status. This further suggests that, besides the known role of cyanide poisoning in the pathogenesis of konzo, malnutrition may be a key factor for the disease occurrence.

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The effect of gender norms on the association between violence and hope among girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Global Mental Health ◽

10.1017/gmh.2016.31 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

L. Stark ◽

K. Asghar ◽

S. Meyer ◽

G. Yu ◽

T. Bakemore ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Violence Exposure ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Physical Violence ◽

Future Orientation ◽

Gender Norms ◽

Exposure To Violence ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Republic Of The Congo

Background.Girls at early stages of adolescence are vulnerable to violence victimization in humanitarian contexts, but few studies examine factors that affect girls’ hope in these settings. We assessed attitudes toward traditional gender norms as an effect modifier of the relationship between violence exposure and future orientation in displaced girls.Methods.Secondary analysis, using multivariable regression of cross-sectional data from girls ages 10–14 in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Key variables of interest were attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPV), Children's Hope Scale (CHS) score, and exposure to physical, emotional, and sexual violence within the last 12 months. Additional covariates included age, educational status, and territory.Results.The interaction of exposure to violence and attitudes toward IPV magnified the association between violence exposure and lower CHS score for physical violence (β = −0.09, p = 0.040) and unwanted sexual touching (β = −0.20, p = 0.003) among girls age 10–14, when adjusting for other covariates. The interaction of exposure to violence and attitudes toward IPV magnified the association between violence exposure and lower CHS score for forced sex (β = −0.22, p = 0.016) among girls age 13–14, when adjusting for covariates. Findings for emotional violence, any form of sexual violence, and coerced sex trended toward lower CHS scores for girls who reported higher acceptance of IPV, but did not reach significance.Conclusions.Findings support the utility of gender norms-transformative programming in increasing resilience of girls who have experienced sexual violence in humanitarian contexts.

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Clinically Visible Congenital Birth Defects, Case of the Kenya Health District in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

OALib ◽

10.4236/oalib.1105440 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 06 (05) ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Nama Mwengu Cecile ◽

Mizelo waKumwimba ◽

Ngoy Shindano Romain ◽

Iungamakonga Dressen ◽

Lunkutu kitambala Hugues ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birth Defects ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Health District ◽

Congenital Birth Defects ◽

Republic Of The Congo

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Prehypertension, Hypertension and Associated Risk Factors among Adults Living in the Port City of Boma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

Acta Scientific Cancer Biology ◽

10.31080/ascb.2020.04.0222 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (5) ◽

pp. 24-32

Author(s):

Blaise Makoso Nimi ◽

François Lepira Bompeka ◽

Aliocha Nkodila ◽

Williams Ilenga ◽

Gédeon Long-Longo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Population Based ◽

Port City ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Associated Risk Factors

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Exclusive Breastfeeding and Clinical Malaria Risk in 6-Month-Old Infants: A Cross-Sectional Study from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.4269/ajtmh.16-0011 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 95 (4) ◽

pp. 827-830 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Nicholas F. Brazeau ◽

Steven R. Meshnick ◽

Bruno Lapika ◽

Dyna Kayembe ◽

Landry Kiketa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Clinical Malaria ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Malaria Risk ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Republic Of The Congo

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Contraceptive use among adolescent and young women in North and South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A cross-sectional population-based survey

PLoS Medicine ◽

10.1371/journal.pmed.1003086 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. e1003086 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sara E. Casey ◽

Meghan C. Gallagher ◽

Jessica Kakesa ◽

Anushka Kalyanpur ◽

Jean-Baptiste Muselemu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Women ◽

Contraceptive Use ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Population Based ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

South Kivu ◽

North And South ◽

Population Based Survey

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Differences in family planning outcomes between military and general populations in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a cross-sectional analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022295 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. e022295 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Pierre Akilimali ◽

Philip Anglewicz ◽

Henri Nzuka Engale ◽

Gilbert Kabanda Kurhenga ◽

Julie Hernandez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Family Planning ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Cluster Sampling ◽

Military Population ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Female Population ◽

Planning Methods ◽

Republic Of The Congo ◽

Two Populations ◽

Family Planning Methods

ObjectivesTo examine family planning outcomes among women living in military camps in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and compare these outcomes with a representative sample of non-military women in Kinshasa.ParticipantsWomen of reproductive ages, 15–49 years. We compare two populations: women living in military camps and the general (non-military) population in Kinshasa.Study designFor sampling, we used a two-stage cluster sampling design, where we first randomly selected enumeration areas (EA), and then randomly selected women within each EA (separately for each of the two populations). We administered a survey on contraceptive use and family planning to all participating women. We use bivariate and multivariate analysis to compare these populations for a range of family planning outcomes.ResultsWe find many statistically significant differences between women in military camps and general female population of Kinshasa. Although they do not have more children, women in military camps are less likely to be using contraception (all methods OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.53; modern methods OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.79; traditional methods OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.71) and less knowledgeable about many family planning methods (less likely to have heard of implants (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.48), injectables (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.44), condoms (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.47), withdrawal (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.17) and rhythm (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.44) methods), while at the same time they are more likely to want to limit their births (OR 5.17, 95% CI 2.52 to 10.62), and less likely to have obtained their preferred family planning method (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.64).ConclusionsWomen in military camps in Kinshasa appear to be an important and underserved population with regard to family planning. Our results suggest that women in military camps have limited access to modern family planning methods.

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