Search

Background: The management of medical emergencies is poorly organized in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition, the mortality of patients attending the medical emergency unit of Kinshasa University Hospital is relatively high, with death of patients occurring rather early. To date, factors associated with this mortality have been poorly elucidated. This study aimed to identify predictive factors of all-cause mortality in patients admitted to the medical emergency unit of the Kinshasa University Hospital., Methods: Analytical prospective study of all patients admitted from 15th January to 15th February 2011 in the emergency unit of the internal medicine department of Kinshasa University Hospital (427 patients). Among these patients, 13 were dead at arrival and were excluded from this study. The 414 patients included were followed until discharge from the hospital. Demographic, clinical, biological, diagnostic, therapeutical and evolutive data were collected. Four multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors associated with mortality., Results: Patients' median age was 40 years (interquartile range, 28-58 years), 54.5% were male, and 15.9% had a life-threatening pathological condition on admission. The overall mortality was 12.3%. According to multivariate analyses, transfer from other health care structures (OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.7-7.1), Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 14 on admission (OR: 11.1; 95% CI: 4.7-26.3), high creatinine level (OR: 4.2; 95% CI: 1.8-9.7), presence of cardiovascular (OR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.5-5.7), renal (OR: 7.4; 95% CI: 3.2-17.3), hematologic and/or respiratory (OR: 6.1; 95% CI: 1.7-21.4) diseases, presence of sepsis and/or meningitis and encephalitis (OR: 5.2; 95% CI: 1.6-17.0) were significantly associated with a high risk of death. However, the Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 14 on admission and renal disease were the only predictive factors of mortality remaining after including demographic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutical variables in the logistic regression model., Conclusion: Our study showed that transfer from another health care structure, low Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission, high creatinine level, cardiovascular, renal, hematologic and/or respiratory diseases, sepsis and/or meningitis and encephalitis were associated with an increased risk of death in Kinshasa University Hospital patients admitted in the medical emergency unit., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: The present study was initiated in order to determine the rate, the causes and the risk factors for perinatal mortality in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo., Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study were collected by interviewing participating women and by analysis of medical files. Women who gave birth in 2010 and were residents of Lubumbashi during the same year were included.Women were included irrespective of the pregnancy outcome and perinatal survival was determined for newborns aged at least seven days.Women were recruited from households selected by cluster sampling for healthcare zones. Perinatal mortality was defined as stillbirths and early neonatal deaths per 1000 births. Risk factors were sought using the odds ratio method adjusted by logistic regression using a 5% threshold., Results: Among 11,536 surveyed women, there were 11,633 births including 177 stillbirths and 133 early neonatal deaths. Perinatal mortality was 27% (95%IC = 23.7–29.6%). The causes of this mortality were respiratory distress (58.2%), neonatal infection (pneumonia and neonatal meningitis, 13.5%), complications of prematurity (9.0%), neonatal tetanus (1.6%), congenital malformations (0.6%). The cause of perinatal death was unknown for 17.1%. Risk factors for perinatal mortality were: unmarried mother; home delivery; complicated delivery; dystocia; caesareansection; multiple pregnancy; low birth weight; prematurity., Conclusion: Action should be taken to improve availability, use and quality of Emergency obstetrical and neonatal care. Women should be better informed concerning the danger signs of pregnancy and childbirth.

Background: Despite a reduction in the magnitude of endemic malaria reported in recent years, malaria and protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) still remain major causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa among children under five. The relationship between malaria and malnutrition remains a topic of controversy. We aimed to investigate malaria infection according to nutritional status in a community-based survey., Methods: A cohort of 790 children aged 6 to 59 months and residing in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo was followed-up from April 2009 to March 2010 with monthly visits. Data on nutritional status, morbidity between visits, use of insecticide-treated nets and malaria parasitemia were collected at each visit. The Z scores height for age, weight for age and weight for height were computed using the reference population defined by the WHO in 2006. Thresholds for Z scores were defined at -3 and -2. A binary logistic model of the generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to quantify the association between PEM indicators and malaria parasitemia. Odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were computed., Results: After adjustment for season, children with severe stunting (height for age Z score<-3) were at lower risk of malaria parasitemia greater or equal to 5000 trophozoits/μL of blood as compared to those in with a better nutritional status (height for age Z score≥-2) (OR=0.48, 95% CI: 0.25-0.91)., Conclusion: Severely stunted children are at a lower risk of high-level malaria parasitemia., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: The aim of this study is to establish factors explaining perinatal death rates in the city of Lubumbashi., Methods: We have carried out a case controlled study in the maternity ward of Jason Sendwe hospital. Perinatal death cases have been compared to those of surviving newborn children among parturient women in the course of 2008. Sociodemographic characteristics, maternal morbidity, children's typical features, have been studied as independent variables. Their effect on perinatal mortality has been assessed using an adjusted odds ratio value at a 5% confidence interval and a logistic regression model., Results: In total, we considered 2279 births (mother and child pairs) for our study. Among these were 415 perinatal mortality cases and 1864 control cases. After adjustment for several parameters, household chores (AOR=1.8; 95% IC=1.2-2.9), multiple pregnancies (AOR=1.9; 95% IC=1.2-2.9), malaria (AOR=1.4; 95% IC=1.1-1.8), primiparity (AOR=1.7; 95% IC=1.3-2.4), stillbirth (AOR=5.2; 95% IC=2.5-11.0) and prematurity (AOR=2.9; 95% IC=1.5-5.5) in previous pregnancies, onset of antepartum ferver (AOR=3.0; 95% IC=1.2-7.3) and antepartum hemorrhage (AOR=6.8; 95% IC=3.1-15.0), lack of fetal motions near delivering time, dystocias (AOR=2.0; 95% IC=1.3-3.0), low birthweight (AOR=15.7; 95% IC=11.2-22.0), very low birthweight (AOR=49.0; 95% IC=28.6-85.1) and foetal macrosomia (AOR=3.5; 95% IC=1.8-7.0) were the main factors explaining perinatal mortality., Conclusion: Perinatal mortality in Lubumbashi remains associated with several avoidable factors. Basic and emergency obstetrical-neonatal care (B-EMONC) should be improved. Significant efforts should be made in this direction. Perinatal audits should be established for a good heath care quality follow-up. Obstetrical care should be offered as a continuum in order to facilitate communication between the different caregivers., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: The prevalence of HIV-serodiscordant couples is increasing. In these couples, one member is infected with HIV and the other one is not, so HIV testing for both members of the couple remains one of the significant challenges in the prevention of sexual transmission of HIV within the couple. The aim of this study was to analyze couples' attitudes toward HIV testing after prenatal HIV testing offered to pregnant women and analyze the males' behavior with regard to their own HIV testing., Methods: One hundred and forty-three pregnant women and their partners were interviewed in the Lubumbashi health district in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The usual descriptive statistics were applied., Results: Seventy-one percent of the couples declared that they accepted the HIV testing proposed to the woman and approximately 64% of the couples said they had discussed the HIV testing proposed in prenatal healthcare clinics. However, this dialogue seemed to have a poor impact on the HIV testing of the male partner: no male partner was tested in spite of the high proportion of men encouraged to do so. Nearly 30% and 50% of the couples disagreed on systematic condom use and the need for the husband's permission to undergo HIV testing, respectively. Twenty-nine percent of the couples did not wish to have the male sexual partner present at the prenatal consultation., Conclusion: The majority of men considered that their wife's HIV testing gives them information about their own HIV status and this makes HIV testing difficult for both members of the couple. Better management of the couple in HIV screening and prevention programs therefore seems necessary., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: In Rwanda, the community-based growth-monitoring program is implemented via volunteer community nutrition workers. These volunteers are recruited from within their communities, and receive basic training prior to providing services. Utilizing local volunteers improves access to basic nutrition services, and allows the local health jurisdictions to use qualified health care staff more efficiently. In addition to concerns raised in regards to the accountability of unpaid workers, some question the relevance of the data that is collected. We carried out a nutritional survey in the catchment area of Ruli District Hospital to evaluate the reliability of the community nutrition workers' measurements of anthropometric standards collected within the growth-monitoring framework., Methods: A nutritional survey was recently organized in the catchment area of the hospital in December 2006. The prevalence rates of malnutrition from the survey were compared with those from the existing community-based growth-monitoring program. Z-test was used to compare the prevalence rate of underweight from the survey with the prevalence rate determined by data collected from community nutrition workers. The concordance of children classified with moderate and severe underweight in each data set was determined by the coefficient Kappa of Cohen., Results: Our findings show that the recent survey reported an overall underweight prevalence rate of 27.2%. Community data calculated a prevalence rate of 28.8% for the same population. The difference is not statistically significant (P=0.294). Of 724 children evaluated, the survey and the community were in agreement in regards to 454 children classified in the category of good nutritional status, 143 children classified in moderate underweight and 11 children classified in the severe underweight category. The Kappa of Cohen coefficient of 0.636 indicates strong concordance between data sets., Conclusion: Anthropometric measurements provided by the community are reliable. Information gathered from the community can be used for epidemiologic monitoring of malnutrition. To ensure continued reliability, health centers must provide sufficient and permanent training to community nutrition workers. In addition, continued access to essential materials used for measuring nutritional status and maintenance of these materials will be crucial to the program's ongoing success., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: HIV-1 testing and counselling are essential activities that must be integrated into mother-to-child HIV transmission prevention programs (PMTCT) in order to identify women who can benefit from the treatment, immediately or later and from interventions that can prevent HIV in their infants. The aim of this study was to describe how women's attitudes influence acceptance of HIV-1 testing in the context of antenatal care., Methods: Four hundred and thirty-nine women attending antenatal care clinics offering HIV-1 testing in the health district of Lubumbashi in Democratic Republic of Congo were included in the study. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaire. Women were asked to give their consent for a home visit and interview of their partners; 143 agreed to participate. Statistical analyses were carried out using Chi-square test and logistic regression., Results: The proportion of pregnant women who declared that they would accept HIV testing was 76.5%. Non-married women (p=0.046), women who had never carried out a former HIV test (p<0.001), who had mentioned that they would wish to share the results of the test with their partner or would wish to be accompanied at least once by their partner at the antenatal clinic (p<0.001), those whose partner agreed to participate in the study (p=0.010) and those who knew at least one mode of HIV transmission (p=0.025) were more likely to accept the HIV testing., Conclusion: Improving counselling and a policy of HIV counselling and testing integrating a couple components could help to overcome obstacles to the integration of the women within PMTCT programs and help improve acceptance of HIV testing., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: In order to improve the management of a community based nutrition program in the catchment area of Ruli District Hospital in Rwanda, we carried out a nutrition survey to determine the risk factors for childhood malnutrition in the area. Identifying the groups of children at risk of malnutrition and their risk factors allows the community nutrition workers to target the children who require close monitoring, and assists in the development of key messages for educational nutrition training., Methods: The prevalence of the three forms of malnutrition was estimated by using the Z-scores height for age, weight for age and weight for height with NCHS/OMS/2000 reference. Logistic regression was performed to identify the risk factors for malnutrition., Results: Our findings show that children from 12-35 months of age are at greatest risk of malnutrition. Risk factors for wasting include: low monthly income of the household, concurrent illness of the child and a household that does not practice breeding. Risk factors for underweight include: child being greater than 12 months of age, mother of the child being pregnant and history of malnutrition in the household. Finally, risk factors for stunting include the absence of a mosquito net in the household, an insufficient number of working adults in the household, the child being greater than 12 months of age and a household managed by a man alone or by an orphan., Conclusion: Community based growth monitoring must focus its attention on the children from nine to 35 months of age. Children less than nine months of age are generally followed by the health centers through the immunization program, and the older children are generally followed in the child minder schools that need to be promoted in all the cells. Community messages must focus on the identified risk factors of malnutrition, and a positive deviance approach must be introduced in the entire zone.

Background: To evaluate the impact of spiruline on nutritional rehabilitation., Data Sources: Systematic search in medical and scientific databases (Medline, Cochrane, Embase) and other specific databases (PhD theses, reports...)., Methods: We selected studies in which spiruline was used as supplementation in malnourished patients, irrespective of the form and dose of spiruline and in controlled trials or not. Two persons made the selection separately. Nutritional status was estimated by anthropometric and biological measures., Results: Thirty-one references were identified and seven studies were retained for this review; three randomized controlled and four non-controlled trials. Spiruline had a positive impact on weight in all studies. In non-controlled trials, the other parameters: arm circumference, height, albumin, prealbumin, protein and hemoglobin improved after spiruline supplementation. For these studies, methodology was the main drawback. None of the studies retained for analysis were double-blinded clinical trials and all involved small samples. Four of them did not have a control group for comparison., Conclusion: The impact of spiruline was positive for most of the considered variables. However, the studies taken into account in this review are of poor-methodological quality. A randomized, a large-sized double-blind controlled clinical trial with a longer follow-up should be conducted to improve current knowledge on the potential impact of spiruline on nutritional rehabilitation.