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Background: The infant mortality rate in the province of South Kivu remains one of the highest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). The aim of this study is to estimate this mortality by identifying the associated factors in the health zones of Walungu and Miti-Murhesa, rural and post-conflict health zones of South Kivu, eastern DR Congo.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in two post-conflict rural health zones, Miti-Murhesa and Walungu, between July 2016 and September 2017. Our study population consisted of women giving birth from two aforementioned areas during the period of study in which a structured questionnaire assessing the survival of the child resulting from the previous pregnancy was administered. Qualitative variables were described as counts and proportions and quantitative variables as means or medians depending on their distribution. To determine the factors associated with child survival, simple and multivariate logistic regression models were constructed. The materiality threshold was set at 5%. Results: The infant mortality rate is 49.7 ‰ in the two study areas overall and specifically 52.6 ‰ in Miti-Murhesa and 46.56 ‰ in Walungu. The factors associated with this mortality were the age of the mother under 20 years old [adjusted odds ratio ( ORa) = 2.3, 95% CI : 1.1-4.5 ; p = 0.022], household size greater than or equal to 7 people [( ORa = 3.7 ; 95% CI : 1.9-7.3 ; p Conclusion: Infant mortality in the post-crisis rural area of South Kivu remains high although it is relatively low compared to the national average (58 ‰). However, efforts still need to be made in order to hope to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Background: Good breastfeeding practice is essential in preventing malnutrition in children. The deuterium method is the best technique for assessing human breast milk output. We investigated whether deuterium doses < 30 g can be used to assess human breast milk using saliva and the new Agilent 4500S for Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the breastmilk output of lactating mothers was evaluated using four different doses of deuterium in the Miti-Murhesa Health Zone (Democratic Republic of Congo). Lactating mothers of infants aged 3-23 months were recruited and assigned to a dosage group. Weight, height, and mid-upper arm circumference were measured and the body mass index calculated as weight/height2. Body composition (fat mass, free fat mass, total body water, and breastmilk output) was assessed using standard deuterium dilution methods. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the means in different groups and the chi² test to compare proportions. Results: Seventy-five lactating mothers were included in the study: 19 received 6 g, 20 received 10 g, 18 received 15 g, and 18 received 20 g deuterium. The mean ± standard deviation infant age was 10.6 ± 5.2, 11.1 ± 4.4, 10.9 ± 4.4, and 11.0 ± 3.9 months, respectively (p=0.076). We found no difference in the age and anthropometric parameters of the lactating mothers in the different groups. The mean ± standard deviation breast milk output rate was 796.6 ± 292.4, 260.8± 23.2, 749.8 ± 244.2, and 733.6 ± 207.1 g/d in the 6 g, 10 g, 15 g, and 20 g groups, respectively (p=0.883). Conclusions: The different doses of deuterium administered to lactating mothers resulted in similar breast milk output values. Thus, it is possible to evaluate human breast milk with deuterium doses

Introduction: Vertical transmission of covid-19 is possible; its risk factors are worth researching. The placental changes found in pregnant women have a definite impact on the foetus.Case presentation: We report a case of a 25-year-old woman, gravida 3, para 2 (2 alive children), with a history of two caesarean deliveries, who was infected by the SARS-Cov-2 during the last term of her pregnancy. She gave birth by caesarean after 34 weeks of gestation to a new-born baby also infected with SARS-Cov-2. The per-operative observations noted several eruptive lesions in the pelvis, bleeding on contact. Microscopic examination of the foetal appendages revealed thrombotic vasculopathy in the placenta and in the umbilical cord vessels.Conclusion: This case is one of the first documented cases of COVID-19 in pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa. We strongly suggest obstetricians to carefully examine the aspect of the peritoneum, viscera and foetal appendages in affected pregnant women.