Search

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is identified as a risk-factor for insufficient polioseroconversion in the context of a vaccine-derived polio virus (VDPV) outbreak prone region. To assess the prevalence of malnutrition and its link to poliovirus insufficient immunity, a cross-sectional household survey was conducted in the regions of Haut- Lomami and Tanganyika, DRC. METHODS: In March 2018, we included 968 healthy children aged 6 to 59 months from eight out of 27 districts. Selection of study locations within these districts was done using a stratified random sampling method, where villages were chosen based on habitat characteristics identified from satellite images. Consent was obtained verbally in the preferred language of the participant (French or Swahili) by interviewers who received specific training for this task. Furthermore, participants contributed a dried blood spot sample, collected via finger prick. To assess malnutrition, we measured height and weight, applying WHO criteria to determine rates of underweight, wasting, and stunting. The assessment of immunity to poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 through the detection of neutralizing antibodies was carried out at the CDC in Atlanta, USA. RESULTS: Of the study population, we found 24.7% underweight, 54.8% stunted, and 15.4% wasted. With IC95%, underweight (OR=1.50; [1.11-2.03]), and the non-administration of vitamin A (OR=1.96; [1.52-2.54]) were significantly associated with seronegativity to polioserotype 1. Underweight (OR=1.64; [1.20-2.24]) and the non-administration of vitamin A (OR=1.55; [1.20-2.01]) were significantly associated with seronegativity to polioserotype 2. Underweight (OR=1.50; [1.11-2.03]), and the non-administration of vitamin A (OR=1.80. [1.38-2.35]) were significantly associated with seronegativity to polioserotype 3. Underweight (OR=1.68; IC95% [1.10-2.57]) and the non-administration of vitamin A (OR=1.82; IC95% [1.30-2.55]) were significantly associated with seronegativity to all polioserotypes. CONCLUSION: This study reveals a significant association between underweight and polioseronegativity in children. In order to reduce vaccine failures in high-risk areas, an integrated approach by vaccination and nutrition programs should be adopted.

Seven samples were selected from various facies of geological formations intersected by the drill holes for petrographic analysis, supplemented by diffractometry. The goal was to identify the mineralogical composition of Banded Iron Formations (BIFs), the associated parageneses, and elements deleterious to the metallurgical processing of iron ore. Field tests, based on geophysical maps, were conducted to identify high-prospectivity sites characterized by low magnetic susceptibility and hematite richness, followed by sampling and drilling to confirm mineralization. Selected samples from characteristic facies in contact with iron ores underwent petrographic analysis using optical and scanning electron microscopy, supported by diffractometric analyses to ensure accurate mineralogical identification. The study revealed the presence of hematitic BIF, predominantly composed of weakly aggregated euhedral and subhedral martite grains, with evidence of some leaching. Magnetite, identified as the protore mineral, has been oxidized by fluid influence into martite (hematite), with a low presence of secondary supergene minerals. Variscite, kaolinite, and gibbsite were the main secondary minerals identified in both petrographic and diffractometric analyses, and are considered sources of phosphorus, aluminum, and silica—elements recognized as harmful in the metallurgical processing of iron and its alloys. These secondary minerals were precipitated within interstitial cavities leached between martite and hematite aggregates, forming a botryoidal texture. The BIFs of the Zatua Hills are primarily composed of hematitic iron ores associated with goethite, microplaty hematite, and secondary supergene minerals, likely formed through fluid circulation along fracture zones, shearing, and folding. Geochemical studies are recommended to complete the analysis, aiming to determine the content of these iron oxides, secondary minerals, and the degree of hydration through loss on ignition.

Guillaume N Mwamba,1,2 Michel Kabamba Nzaji,1,2 Nicole A Hoff,3 Patrick K Mukadi,4 Kamy Kaminye Musene,5 Sue K Gerber,6 Megan Halbrook,3 Cyrus Sinai,3 Trevon Fuller,3 Oscar Luboya Numbi,7 Emile Okitolonda Wemakoy,8 Jean Jacques Muyembe Tamfum,4 Dalau Nkamba Mukadi,8 Mala Ali Mapatano,8,9,* Anne W Rimoin,3,* Paul-Samson Lusamba Dikassa8,* 1Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kamina, Kamina, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 2Expanded Program on Immunization, Ministry of Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 3Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA; 4National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB), Ministry of Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 5UCLA-DRC Health Research and Training Program, UCLA-DRC, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 6Polio Eradication program, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA; 7Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, 1825, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 8Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 9Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Nicole A Hoff, Field Director for UCLA-DRC Research Program and Researcher at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 5345 Av De la Démocratie (Ex Av. Des huileries), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tel +1 (240) 409-0578, Email nhoff84@ucla.edu Guillaume N Mwamba, Expanded Program on Immunization, 32 Av De la Justice, Kinshasa-Gombe, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tel +243817975023, Email guillaumengoiemwamba@gmail.comBackground: Malnutrition is identified as a risk-factor for insufficient polioseroconversion in the context of a vaccine-derived polio virus (VDPV) outbreak prone region. To assess the prevalence of malnutrition and its link to poliovirus insufficient immunity, a cross-sectional household survey was conducted in the regions of Haut- Lomami and Tanganyika, DRC.Methods: In March 2018, we included 968 healthy children aged 6 to 59 months from eight out of 27 districts. Selection of study locations within these districts was done using a stratified random sampling method, where villages were chosen based on habitat characteristics identified from satellite images. Consent was obtained verbally in the preferred language of the participant (French or Swahili) by interviewers who received specific training for this task. Furthermore, participants contributed a dried blood spot sample, collected via finger prick. To assess malnutrition, we measured height and weight, applying WHO criteria to determine rates of underweight, wasting, and stunting. The assessment of immunity to poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 through the detection of neutralizing antibodies was carried out at the CDC in Atlanta, USA.Results: Of the study population, we found 24.7% underweight, 54.8% stunted, and 15.4% wasted. With IC95%, underweight (OR=1.50; [1.11– 2.03]), and the non-administration of vitamin A (OR=1.96; [1.52– 2.54]) were significantly associated with seronegativity to polioserotype 1. Underweight (OR=1.64; [1.20– 2.24]) and the non-administration of vitamin A (OR=1.55; [1.20– 2.01]) were significantly associated with seronegativity to polioserotype 2. Underweight (OR=1.50; [1.11– 2.03]), and the non-administration of vitamin A (OR=1.80. [1.38– 2.35]) were significantly associated with seronegativity to polioserotype 3. Underweight (OR=1.68; IC95% [1.10– 2.57]) and the non-administration of vitamin A (OR=1.82; IC95% [1.30– 2.55]) were significantly associated with seronegativity to all polioserotypes.Conclusion: This study reveals a significant association between underweight and polioseronegativity in children. In order to reduce vaccine failures in high-risk areas, an integrated approach by vaccination and nutrition programs should be adopted.Keywords: children, underweight, polioserotype, malnutrition, seronegativity, DRC

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is identified as a risk factor for insufficient polio seroconversion in the context of a vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) outbreak-prone region. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), underweight decreased from 31% (in 2001) to 26% (in 2018). Since 2004, VDPV serotype 2 outbreaks (cVDPV2) have been documented and were geographically limited around the Haut-Lomami and Tanganyika Provinces. METHODS: To develop and validate a predictive model for poliomyelitis vaccine response in malnourished infants, a cross-sectional household study was carried out in the Haut-Lomami and Tanganyika provinces. Healthy children aged 6 to 59 months (n=968) were enrolled from eight health zones (HZ) out of 27, in March 2018. We performed a bivariate and multivariate logistics analysis. Final models were selected using a stepwise Wald method, and variables were selected based on the criterion p < 0.05. The association between nutritional variables, explaining polio seronegativity for the three serotypes, was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve). RESULTS: Factors significantly associated with seronegativity to the three polio serotypes were underweight, non-administration of vitamin A, and the age group of 12 to 59 months. The sensitivity was 10.5%, and its specificity was 96.4% while the positive predictive values (PPV) and negative (PNV) were 62.7% and 65.3%, respectively. We found a convergence of the curves of the initial sample and two split samples. Based on the comparison of the overlapping confidence intervals of the ROC curve, we concluded that our prediction model is valid. CONCLUSION: This study proposed the first tool which variables are easy to collect by any health worker in charge of vaccination or in charge of nutrition. It will bring on top, the collaboration between the Immunization and the Nutritional programs in DRC integration policy, and its replicability in other low- and middle-income countries with endemic poliovirus.

Guillaume Ngoie Mwamba,1,2 Michel Kabamba,1,2 Nicole A Hoff,3 Patrick K Mukadi,4 Kamy Kaminye Musene,5 Sue K Gerber,6 Megan Halbrook,3 Cyrus Sinai,3 Trevon Fuller,3 Arie Voorman,6 Paul Makan Mawaw,7 Oscar Luboya Numbi,7 Emile Okitolonda Wemakoy,8 Patricia N Mechael,9 Jean Jacques Muyembe Tamfum,4 Mala Ali Mapatano,10,&ast; Anne W Rimoin,3,&ast; Paul-Samson Lusamba Dikassa8,&ast; 1Department of Public Health, University of Kamina, Kamina, Haut-Lomami, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 2Expanded Programme on Immunization, Ministry of Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 3Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA; 4National Institute of Biomedical Research (INRB), Ministry of Health, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 5Health Research and Training Program, UCLA-DRC, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 6Polio eradication program, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA; 7Faculty of Medicine, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga, 1825, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 8Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 9Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; 10Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Michel Kabamba, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kamina, Kamina, Haut-Lomami, 279, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tel +243978467432, Email michelnzaji@yahoo.frBackground: Malnutrition is identified as a risk factor for insufficient polio seroconversion in the context of a vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) outbreak-prone region. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), underweight decreased from 31% (in 2001) to 26% (in 2018). Since 2004, VDPV serotype 2 outbreaks (cVDPV2) have been documented and were geographically limited around the Haut-Lomami and Tanganyika Provinces.Methods: To develop and validate a predictive model for poliomyelitis vaccine response in malnourished infants, a cross-sectional household study was carried out in the Haut-Lomami and Tanganyika provinces. Healthy children aged 6 to 59 months (n=968) were enrolled from eight health zones (HZ) out of 27, in March 2018. We performed a bivariate and multivariate logistics analysis. Final models were selected using a stepwise Wald method, and variables were selected based on the criterion p < 0.05. The association between nutritional variables, explaining polio seronegativity for the three serotypes, was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve).Results: Factors significantly associated with seronegativity to the three polio serotypes were underweight, non-administration of vitamin A, and the age group of 12 to 59 months. The sensitivity was 10.5%, and its specificity was 96.4% while the positive predictive values (PPV) and negative (PNV) were 62.7% and 65.3%, respectively. We found a convergence of the curves of the initial sample and two split samples. Based on the comparison of the overlapping confidence intervals of the ROC curve, we concluded that our prediction model is valid.Conclusion: This study proposed the first tool which variables are easy to collect by any health worker in charge of vaccination or in charge of nutrition. It will bring on top, the collaboration between the Immunization and the Nutritional programs in DRC integration policy, and its replicability in other low- and middle-income countries with endemic poliovirus.Keywords: prediction model, validation, child health, child nutrition, underweight, serotypes, polio serotype, seronegativity, poliomyelitis-neutralizing antibodies, malnutrition, DRC

Antiretroviral treatment (ART) has revolutionized the management of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), enabling long-term viral load (VL) suppression in patients. Despite the proven effectiveness of ART, a significant proportion of patients with HIV receiving ART fail to achieve viral load suppression (VLS). This study aimed to identify factors associated with low VLS in the Tanganyika province. An unmatched case–control study was conducted from January 2022 to June 2023, including 22 care facilities with viral load data. Data were collected from patient records. For each reviewed record, the patient was invited for an interview upon providing informed consent. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. In a multivariable binary logistic regression model, variables with a p-value < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval for the adjusted odds ratio were considered significantly associated with unsuppressed VL. A total of 462 individuals, including 156 cases and 306 controls, were included in the study. The mean age (standard deviation) of participants was 42.12 (±11.6) years. The following covariates were significantly associated with unsuppressed VL: poor HIV status disclosure to a confidant [adjusted OR = 2.10, 95% CI (1.33–3.31), p = 0.001], poor ART adherence [adjusted OR = 2.01, 95% CI (1.25–3.23), p = 0.004], ART interruption [adjusted OR = 3.43, 95% CI (2.00–5.88), p < 0.001], no participation in support groups [adjusted OR = 2.16, 95% CI (1.25–3.71), p = 0.005], baseline WHO clinical stage 3 and 4 [adjusted OR = 2.24, 95% CI (1.32–3.79), p = 0.003], opportunistic infections (OIs) [adjusted OR = 2.30, 95% CI (1.27–4.16), p = 0.006], and non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) [adjusted OR = 2.30, 95% CI (1.10–4.79), p = 0.026]. Given the clear association between several factors and unsuppressed VL, prevention should involve the implementation of innovative strategies targeting at-risk patient groups. Strengthening the monitoring of these factors among active patients at each appointment is recommended to achieve this goal.

The article is devoted to the study of political identity in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The author pays particular attention to the modern interpretation of the concept of ‘Congolité’ – Congolese identity, which is in many ways identical to the idea of national citizenship. The concept of ‘Congolité’ itself is considered in the article as a set of legal norms, as an instrument of electoral struggle and as a symbolic construct. The concept has acquired a new meaning in the context of the 2021 draft law, and its return to domestic politics is significant for understanding the mood of Congolese society. The author also tries to identify the main lines of the identity debate and concludes that one of its constants is the problem of the political-legal status of the Rwandafon minority (Banyarwanda / Banyamulenge), and another is regional-linguistic fragmentation, which is reinforced by economic-demographic specificity. Both of these factors have a significant impact on internal voting patterns. The discourse of autochthonous ‘purity’ is seen as exacerbating this fragmentation and as generating conflict in Congo’s relations with states in the region, particularly Rwanda.

Abstract Introduction The coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic is one of the most terrifying disasters of the twenty-first century. The non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented to control the spread of the disease had numerous positive consequences. However, there were also unintended consequences—positively or negatively related to the nature of the interventions, the target, the level and duration of implementation. This article describes the unintended economic, Psychosocial and environmental consequences of NPIs in four African countries. Methods We conducted a mixed-methods study in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda. A comprehensive conceptual framework, supported by a clear theory of change was adopted to encompass both systemic and non-systemic interventions. The data collection approaches included: (i) review of literature; (ii) analysis of secondary data for selected indicators; and (ii) key informant interviews with policy makers, civil society, local leaders, and law enforcement staff. The results were synthesized around thematic areas. Results Over the first six to nine months of the pandemic, NPIs especially lockdowns, travel restrictions, curfews, school closures, and prohibition of mass gathering resulted into both positive and negative unintended consequences cutting across economic, psychological, and environmental platforms. DRC, Nigeria, and Uganda observed reduced crime rates and road traffic accidents, while Uganda also reported reduced air pollution. In addition, hygiene practices have improved through health promotion measures that have been promoted for the response to the pandemic. All countries experienced economic slowdown, job losses heavily impacting women and poor households, increased sexual and gender-based violence, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages, increased poor mental health conditions, increased waste generation with poor disposal, among others. Conclusion Despite achieving pandemic control, the stringent NPIs had several negative and few positive unintended consequences. Governments need to balance the negative and positive consequences of NPIs by anticipating and instituting measures that will support and protect vulnerable groups especially the poor, the elderly, women, and children. Noticeable efforts, including measures to avoid forced into marriage, increasing inequities, economic support to urban poor; those living with disabilities, migrant workers, and refugees, had been conducted to mitigate the negative effects of the NIPs.

Abstract: More studies are being conducted in the didactics of translation to find out what it can consist of and how it can be achieved. This paper evaluates the translation training programme of the DRC in order to point out the conceptualisation of the translation processes, in particular the controlled ones of comprehension and re-expression. It is basically a library research. The results tend to indicate that more weight is given to re-expression than to comprehension. Given that production is dependent on comprehension, I suggest that attention of equal par should be given to both these phases of translation. Keywords : translation processes, didactics of translation, translation programme evaluation, conceptualisation

The Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to balance a commitment to education in general, and girls' education more specifically, and additional challenges brought about through cyclical conflict. The Valorisation de la Scholarisation de la Fille project aimed to improve literacy and numeracy by providing scholarships, tutoring, and comprehensive professional development for teachers. Using a randomized control design (RCT), we tracked both the achievement and attendance outcomes of these girls over a period of three years. Several factors positively influenced student growth in reading and mathematics, including the proportion of female teachers in the school, girls' perceptions of the school environment, receipt of a scholarship, and tutoring (math only). Household survey data suggest that the project minimized/reduced an already existing gap between enrollment in school for control and intervention communities; and school data suggest increased enrollment for girls in upper primary school. The findings suggest that programs designed to provide increased access to education may be the most successful in improving outcomes for students.

ABSTRACTThe UN’s Zero Tolerance Policy, which bans all relationships between UN staff and locals, portrays all relationships as exploitative, fails to account for nuances in these relationships and does not acknowledge the agency of local women or communities. This study uses community-based qualitative data from eastern DRC that shares narratives on a wide variety of consensual relationships between peacekeepers and local women. Our paper uses a data-driven approach, including a post-colonial feminist lens, and ideas of structural agency to provide an expanded definition of agency that invites readers to re-examine their views of women in conflict settings. Finally, we provide clear recommendations for the UN and other international non-governmental agencies on policies related to sexual exploitation and abuse.

Abstract Background As a global public health problem, anemia affects more than 400 million women of reproductive age worldwide, mostly in Africa and India. In the DRC, the prevalence of anemia has decreased slightly from 52.9% in 2007, to 46.4% in 2012 and 42.4% in 2019. However, there is considerable regional variation in its distribution. The aim of this study is to determine the factors contributing to anemia in women of reproductive age and to explore its spatial distribution in the DRC. Methods Based on the Bayesian Multilevel Spatial Ordinal Logistic Regression Model, we used the 2013 Democratic Republic of Congo Demographic and Health Survey (DHS-DRC II) data to investigate individual and environmental characteristics contributing to the development of anemia in women of reproductive age and the mapping of anemia in terms of residual spatial effects. Results Age, pregnancy status, body mass index, education level, current breastfeeding, current marital status, contraceptive and insecticide-treated net use, source of drinking water supply and toilet/latrine use including the province of residence were the factors contributing to anemia in women of reproductive age in DRC. With Global Moran's I = -0.00279, p-value ≥ 0.05, the spatial distribution of anemia in women of reproductive age in DRC results from random spatial processes. Thus, the observed spatial pattern is completely random. Conclusion The Bayesian Multilevel Spatial Ordinal Logistic Regression statistical model is able to adjust for risk and spatial factors of anemia in women of reproductive age in DRC highlighting the combined role of individual and environmental factors in the development of anemia in DRC.

ABSTRACTExamining the experience of a male survivor of rape through the salutogenic model and ecological theory, this case study explores how he moved towards the direction of health after an atrocious experience of sexual violence perpetrated by members of an armed group. The study illustrates how he was able to deploy agency by undertaking a number of health-promoting actions to recover from the physical, mental, and social effects of conflict-related sexual violence. Initiatives in the process of improving one’s health include self-care practice, searching for specialised care when self-care seems inefficient, relocation to new a setting post-rape, starting a business, testing one’s reproductive capacities, marrying, taking care of the way he dressed, learning a new language, developing public speaking skills, owning a piece of land, having regular medical check-ups and ascending to power and decision-making bodies. His narrative shows how these initiatives are mirrored by both opportunities and setbacks. While more traditional survey-based studies focus on identifying which practices might be helpful in a healing context, this study sheds light on how an individual healing process might be complex and nuanced and is an important starting point towards our efforts to theorise resilience for male survivors.

Background The Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been affected by armed conflict for several years. Despite the growing interest in the impact of these conflicts on health service utilisation, few studies have addressed the coping mechanisms of the health system. The purpose of this study is to describe the traumatic events and coping mechanisms used by the health zones (HZs) in conflict settings to maintain good performance.Methods This multiple case study took place from July to October 2022 in four HZs in the South Kivu province of DRC. HZs were classified into “cases” according to their conflict profile: accessible and stable (Case 1), accessible but remote (Case 2), unstable (Case 3), and intermediate (Case 4). Eight performance indicators and the amount of funding provided to the HZs by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were recorded. A graph was created to compare their evolution from 2013 to 2018. A thematic analysis of qualitative data from individual interviews with selected health workers was conducted.Results Both battle-related events (war and its effects) and non-battle-related events (epidemics, disasters, and strikes) were recorded according to the case conflict-profile. Although the cases (3 and 4) most affected by armed conflicts occasionally performed better than the stable ones (1 and 2), their operational action plan was poorly carried out. The coping mechanisms developed in cases 3 and 4 were the deployment of military nurses in preventive and supervisory activities, the solicitations of subsidies from NGOs, the relocation of healthcare facilities and the implementation of negotiation strategies with the belligerents.Conclusion Armed conflict results in traumatic events that disrupt the execution of the operational action plan of HZs. The HZs’ management team expertise, its strong leadership, and substantial financial support would enable this system to develop reliable and sustainable adaptive mechanisms.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has experienced violents conflits since the mid of 1990s. From 1996 to date, the country is grappling with more than 250 armed groups located in its eastern part. The same dynamics becomes is nascent in the western part. The war that occurred from 1998 to 2003 has been described as the deadliest conflict after the World Word II. To date, the activism of armed groups increased the number of victims whose majority is constituted by women and children in the provinces of North-Kivu, South-Kivu and Ituri. The transitional justice process entrenched in 2003 with the creation of the truth and reconciliation commission to deal with the war legacy has not yielded expected results. The TRC was abruptly removed form the 2006 constitution as an institution to support democracy. In this jeopardy, women and children are still importantly affected: displacement, rapes and other human rights violations alike. How does one address issues of women victims within a society dominated by the patriarchy?

Christian Kakisingi,1 Claude Mwamba,1 Michel Kasongo Muteba,2 Eric Kasamba,3 Michel Kabamba,4 Aristophane Tanon,5 Hippolyte Situakibanza6 1Internal Medicine Department, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 2Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University ofWitwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa; 3Department of Basics Sciences. University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 4Public Health Department, University of Kamina, Kamina, Democratic Republic of the Congo; 5Specialities and Medicine Department, University of Félix Houphouët-Boigny of Abidjan Cocody, Abidjan, Ivory Coast; 6Internal Medicine Department, Tropical Diseases, Infectious and Parasitic Department, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the CongoCorrespondence: Christian Kakisingi, Email chriskakis@yahoo.frBackground: Tuberculosis and diabetes mellitus are major public health challenges worldwide. The two scourges have bidirectional relationship with high morbidity and mortality.Objective: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and identify related factors in patients with tuberculosis.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 11 tuberculosis screening and treatment centers in Lubumbashi (DRC) from September to December 2022. Adult patient with a positive smear for tuberculosis were systematically screened for diabetes mellitus. Demographic characteristics, history and symptomatology were the variables of interest. Data was entered using Microsoft Excel software. STATA 16 software was used for analysis.Results: A total of 255 tuberculosis patients were recruited and the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among these patients was 11.4% (ie, 29 out of 255). After uni and multivariate logistic regression, a BMI ≤ 18.5 Kg/m2, lack of employment, polyuria and intense thirst were the factors associated with diabetes mellitus in tuberculosis patients.Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in smear positive tuberculosis patients in the present study was higher than the one observed in Central Africa.Keywords: tuberculosis, diabetes mellitus, comorbidity, prevalence, associated factors

This study addresses sediment dynamics within the fluvial system of the middle Kasai Basin, specifically between Ilebo town (pk605) and the confluence with the Loange River (pk525). The primary aim is to characterize the granulometric and mineralogical evolution of sand bars in the Kasai River, which pose navigational challenges in this section of the basin. The study seeks to answer the following question: How do the granulometric and mineralogical characteristics of sands transported by the middle course of the Kasai River evolve? The research employs laboratory granulometric techniques. Twenty sand samples were collected from sand bars along the middle and navigable course of the Kasai River during the flood recession period, ranging from upstream to downstream. Sieving was conducted using an AFNOR-type sieve column, followed by sedimentometric analyses and the calculation of various Folk & Ward textural parameters using the Excel program Gradistat. Additionally, six samples underwent automated mineralogical analysis using a QEMSCAN FEG Quanta 650. Granulometric analysis revealed that the sands from the middle course of the Kasai River are unimodal, with fine to medium grains in the granulometric fraction ranging from 186.2 µm to 426.8 µm. Most of these sands are moderately to well graded, with grains showing granulometric symmetry and, less commonly, fine asymmetry. Their kurtosis is largely mesokurtic, with occasional leptokurtic and platykurtic characteristics, indicating multiple depositional environments. The study demonstrates that the evolution of these granulometric parameters is uneven along the middle course of the Kasai River, though overall, the parameters exhibit limited variation. This suggests minimal and regular sediment inputs, consistent with the relative regularity of granulometric variations in environments characterized by free sedimentation. Automated mineralogical analysis identified a diverse mineralogical assemblage, dominated by quartz, followed by calcite, iron oxides, orthoclase, plagioclase, and kaolinite. Additionally, a group of minerals that do not exceed the 0.55% threshold—such as illite, apatite, ilmenite, muscovite, chlorite, biotite, montmorillonite, rutile, pyrophyllite, siderite, zircon, and dolomite—was identified. Consequently, the mineralogical evolution is not uniform throughout the middle course of the Kasai River, showing a sawtooth variation. This study clarifies the evolution of the granulometric parameters of Kasai River sands, which are influenced by the river's hydrodynamic regime. It also elucidates the mineralogical evolution, linked to the petrographic nature of source areas, which are distributed based on their mechanical resistance to abrasion, chemical alteration, and the morphology of the riverbed. The findings from this research contribute significantly to the field of sedimentology and integrated river management

Introduction Mycotoxins are harmful contaminants for human and animal health; their presence also impacts crop production and economies worldwide. They are frequently present in various African staple foods. Purpose In this study, a multi-mycotoxin analysis approach was implemented to reveal mycotoxin contamination of important staple foods in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Methods A multi-mycotoxin analysis approach based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) with electrospray interface operated in positive mode (ESI+) and quadrupole mass analyzer was used. Twenty-five mycotoxins were investigated in 18 samples of staple foods collected in different markets in Kinshasa city, including maize flour (n=8), cassava flour (n=5), and peanut paste (n=5). Results Twenty mycotoxins were present in these samples at quantifiable levels. The maize flour samples were the most contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) (87.5%), total aflatoxin (AFT) (100%), fumonisin B1 (FB1) (87.5%), deoxynivalenol (DON) (75%), and nivalenol (NIV) (75%). Emerging mycotoxins such as beauvericin (BEA), enniatin B (ENN B), alternariol (AOH), and alternariol mono-methyl ether (AME) were more frequent in maize flour. The study found that 25% of maize flour and 20% of peanut paste samples exceeded the European Commission’s regulatory limits for aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and total aflatoxins (AFT). Additionally, ochratoxin A (OTA) was detected in one maize sample at a concentration above the regulatory limit. This could expose consumers to their genotoxic, teratogenic, and immunosuppressive effects. As for OTA, there are fears of its harmful effects, including nephrotoxicity and mutagenicity. The aflatoxin/fumonisin (AF/F) combination was more frequently observed (50% of all samples) than AF/DON, DON/F, and AF/OTA combinations. Conclusion Data from this exploratory study highlight a possible health risk for the population of Kinshasa through the consumption of maize flour, as well as the need for continuous monitoring of mycotoxins in this staple food that is increasingly being consumed across the Democratic Republic of the Congo.