Factors Associated with the time to Breast Feeding Cessation among children aged one to four Years in a Rural area in Democratic 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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Prenatal care counseling and delivery method among women with multiple Cesareans: A cross-sectional study from Democratic Republic of Congo

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0238985 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (11) ◽

pp. e0238985

Author(s):

Raha Maroyi ◽

Nyakio Ngeleza ◽

Laura Keyser ◽

Katenga Bosunga ◽

Denis Mukwege

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Prenatal Care ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Delivery Method ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Republic Of Congo ◽

Factors Associated

Prenatal care (PNC) and counseling about delivery method is an important strategy to prevent delivery complications among women with multiple prior Cesarean sections (CS). In low income countries, an elective CS is recommended for this population. This cross-sectional study examined factors associated with counseling about delivery method and its influence on the likelihood of an elective CS delivery. A total of 422 women with ≥2 prior CS who delivered across five hospitals in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were interviewed about PNC and counseling. Descriptive statistics and multivariate regression were completed to ascertain factors associated with counseling. Only 33.6% delivered via planned CS; 60.7% required an emergency CS. One-quarter completed four PNC visits; 64.5% received counseling. Number of PNC visits and number of prior CS were significant predictors of receipt of counseling. Women who received ≥2 PNC visits were 2.2 times more likely to have received counseling (p = 0.000). Among women who received counseling, 38.6% had a planned CS compared with 24.7% in the non-counseled group. Counseling was associated with mode of delivery; emergency CS and vaginal delivery were more frequent among women who did not receive counseling (p = 0.008). These findings highlight the importance of counseling during PNC visits. This study also highlights the poor coverage and quality of counseling in this high-risk population and the need for improvements in PNC. Less than 40% of counseled women followed provider recommendations for a planned delivery via CS. The majority labored at home and later delivered emergently. The significant number of women who trial labor without medical supervision despite their high-risk status sheds light on the influence of patient perceptions about CS and acceptance of medical intervention during birth.

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The perception of parents and teachers about intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in school children in a semi-rural area of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Malaria Journal ◽

10.1186/s12936-016-1670-2 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Junior R. Matangila ◽

Jessica Fraeyman ◽

Marie-Louise Mbula Kambulu ◽

Alain Mpanya ◽

Raquel Inocêncio da Luz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rural Area ◽

School Children ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Intermittent Preventive Treatment ◽

Preventive Treatment ◽

Republic Of Congo

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Factors associated with gender equality among church-going young men in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: a cross-sectional study

International Journal for Equity in Health ◽

10.1186/s12939-017-0707-7 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hendrew Lusey ◽

Miguel San Sebastian ◽

Monica Christianson ◽

Kerstin E. Edin

Keyword(s):

Gender Equality ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Young Men ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Republic Of Congo ◽

Factors Associated

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Awareness of obstetric danger signs among pregnant women in the Democratic Republic of Congo: evidence from a nationwide cross-sectional study

BMC Women s Health ◽

10.1186/s12905-021-01234-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dalau Mukadi Nkamba ◽

Gilbert Wembodinga ◽

Pierre Bernard ◽

John Ditekemena ◽

Annie Robert

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Democratic Republic ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Kappa Statistic ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Republic Of Congo ◽

Obstetric Danger Signs ◽

Mortality And Morbidity ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Danger Signs

Abstract Background Poor awareness of obstetric danger signs is a major contributing factor to delays in seeking obstetric care and hence to high maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide. We conducted the current study to assess the level of agreement on receipt of counseling on obstetric danger signs between direct observations of antenatal care (ANC) consultation and women’s recall in the exit interview. We also identified factors associated with pregnant women’s awareness of obstetric danger signs during pregnancy in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Methods We used data from the 2017–2018 DRC Service Provision Assessment survey. Agreement between the observation and woman’s recall was measured using Cohen’s kappa statistic and percent agreement. Multivariable Zero-Inflated Poisson (ZIP) regression was used to identify factors associated with the number of danger signs during pregnancy the woman knew. Results On average, women were aware of 1.5 ± 1.34 danger signs in pregnancy (range: 0 to 8). Agreement between observation and woman’s recall was 70.7%, with a positive agreement of 16.9% at the country level but ranging from 2.1% in Bandundu to 39.7% in Sud Kivu. Using multivariable ZIP analysis, the number of obstetric danger signs the women mentioned was significantly higher in multigravida women (Adj.IRR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.23–1.55), in women attending a private facility (Adj.IRR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.01–1.31), in women attending a subsequent ANC visit (Adj.IRR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.01–1.21), and in women counseled on danger signs during the ANC visit (Adj.IRR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.05–1.35). There was a regional variation in the awareness of danger signs, with the least mentioned signs in the middle and the most in the eastern provinces. Conclusions Our findings indicated poor agreement between directly observed counseling and women’s reports that counseling on obstetric danger signs occurred during the current ANC visit. We found that province of residence, provision of counseling on obstetric danger signs, facility ownership, gravidity and the number of ANC visits were predictors of the awareness of obstetric danger signs among pregnant women. These factors should be considered when developing strategies aim at improving women’s awareness about obstetric danger signs in the DRC

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