Les indicateurs de l'alimentation du nourrisson et du jeune enfant prédicteurs de la malnutrition chez les enfants 6-23 mois dans la zone de santé de Kapolowe, Haut-Katanga, R D Congo / NA

Introduction. L'étude visait évaluer les indicateurs de l'alimentation du nourrisson et du jeune enfant liés à l'état nutritionnel dans la zone de santé de Kapolowe, province du Haut Katanga avant les essais cliniques. Matériel et méthodes. Nous avons conduit une étude descriptive transversale dans la communauté auprès des 568 couples mère-enfant 6-23 mois évalués sur les indicateurs nutritionnels associés à la malnutrition. Résultats. L'allaitement maternel optimal était observé chez 10,7% des couples mère-enfant et l'alimentation complémentaire adéquate bénéficiée par 5,5% des enfants. Presque 25,6% des ménages utilisaient des toilettes améliorées, 98,8% des ménages buvaient l'eau des sources protégées et 12,1% des mères pratiquaient un minimum de lavage de mains. Le premier aliment complémentaire donné à la moitié des enfants (46%) était importé, mais 60,3 % des mères utilisaient le mélange farine de maïs + huile + sucre comme aliment de complément. La prévalence de la malnutrition aiguë, de la malnutrition chronique et de l'insuffisance pondérale était respectivement de 11,9%, 37% et 26,8%. La malnutrition aiguë était associée à l'occupation de la mère, au niveau socio-économique du ménage, à la Religion de la mère, à la consultation prénatale suivie par la mère, au Minimum de Diversité Alimentaire, à l'allaitement maternel non optimal, aux infections récurrentes et au faible poids de naissance. L'insuffisance pondérale était associée au sexe, à l'occupation de la mère, au niveau socio-économique, à la religion de la mère, au minimum de diversité alimentaire, à l'allaitement maternel non optimal, aux infections récurrentes et au faible poids de naissance. La malnutrition chronique était associée au sexe, au niveau socio-économique,

Introduction. The aim of the study was to assess infant and young child feeding indicators related to nutritional status in the Kapolowe health zone, Haut Katanga province prior to the clinical trials. Material and methods. We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in the community among568 mother-child pairs 6-23 months of age assessed on nutritional indicators associated with malnutrition. Results. Optimal breastfeeding was observed in 10.7% of the mother-child pairs and adequate complementary feeding in 5.5%. Almost 25.6% of households used improved toilets, 98.8% of households drank water from protected springs and 12.1% of mothers practiced minimal hand washing,12.1% of mothers practiced minimal handwashing. The first supplementary food given to half of the children (46%) was imported food, but 60.3% of mothers used maize flour + oil + sugar as a complementary food. The prevalence of acute malnutrition, chronic malnutrition and under weight were 11.9%, 37% and26.8% respectively. Acute malnutrition was associated with the mother's occupation, household socio-economic level, mother's religion, prenatal consultation attended by the mother, minimum dietary diversity, non-optimal breastfeeding, recurrent infections, and low birth weigh. Underweight was associated with gender, maternal occupation, socio-economic level, maternal religion, minimum dietary diversity, non-optimal breastfeeding, recurrent infections and low birth weight. Chronic malnutrition was associated with gender, socio-economic level, minimum meal frequency, type of toilet used, non-optimal breastfeeding, recurrent infections, and low birth weight. Conclusion. The prevalence of malnutrition, in all its forms, is still very high and worrying among children aged 6-23 months. The feeding practices are predictors of it.

Vaccination contre la Covid-19: droits des personnes et obligations du Gouvernement Congolais en période d'urgence sanitaire

Cette étude avait pour objectif de mettre en exergue le rapport entre le bénéfice de la couverture vaccinale contre la Covid-19 et les risques individuels et collectifs encourus par la population. A travers le monde, les études ont monté que les campagnes de vaccination ont insufflé une dynamique positive à la lutte contre la pandémie et la courbe de la maladie a fléchi dans les populations vaccinées. Face à ces résultats probants, le législateur congolais doit s'en inspirer pour proposer des instruments juridiques en faveur d'une vaccination obligatoire contre la Covid-19 soumise à tous les citoyens et citoyennes Congolais sans exception. Si tout le monde peut être contaminé, tout le monde peut également faire preuve d'un certain degré de citoyenneté responsable pour réduire les risques de contracter la maladie et ne pas la transmettre à son entourage. La couverture vaccinale contre la Covid-19 est une des mesures de l'incidence de la maladie dans la population et qui ne peut prendre la quasi-totalité de la population qu'en la rendant obligatoire.

Retinoblastoma in Sub-Saharan Africa: Case Studies of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

PURPOSE: In most low-income countries, the diagnosis of retinoblastoma is delayed, resulting in a severe prognosis. The objectives of this study were to describe the access to diagnosis and care of children diagnosed with retinoblastoma and the challenges in two sub-Saharan African countries: the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. Data were collected from the medical records of patients admitted during the period of January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014. Data were entered and analyzed using Epi Info7.1 software and SAS 9.3. RESULTS: One hundred sixteen cases of retinoblastoma were collected, including 60 boys and 56 girls. The median diagnosis age was 3 years for both countries. Ninety-eight patients (84%) had unilateral retinoblastoma. Most of the patients presented with advanced disease (76% had extraocular retinoblastoma). Median time between initial symptoms and diagnosis was 8.5 months (range, 0.4 to 116.7 months). Median time between diagnosis and treatment initiation was 31 days (range, 0 to 751 days). The median cost for the treatment of the disease was estimated at $1,954 per patient. CONCLUSION: Late diagnosis of retinoblastoma, with extraocular disease, occurs frequently in both African countries. It is associated with delay in initiating treatment, and the cost of the treatment remains unaffordable for most of the families. Support groups for parents of affected children and the support of the Franco-African Pediatric Oncology Group remain important in improving early diagnosis and providing treatment in sub-Saharan African countries.

School-based malaria prevalence: informative systematic surveillance measure to assess epidemiological impact of malaria control interventions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

BACKGROUND: In southern Democratic Republic of the Congo, malaria transmission is stable with seasonal fluctuations. Different measurements can be used to monitor disease burden and estimate the performance of control programmes. Repeated school-based malaria prevalence surveys (SMPS) were conducted from 2007 to 2014 to generate up-to-date surveillance data and evaluate the impact of an integrated vector control programme. METHODS: Biannual SMPS used a stratified, randomized and proportional sampling method. Schools were randomly selected from the entire pool of facilities within each Health Area (HA). Subsequently, school-children from 6 to 12 years of age were randomly selected in a proportional manner. Initial point-of-care malaria diagnosis was made using a rapid detection test. A matching stained blood film was later examined by expert microscopy and used in the final analysis. Data was stratified and analysed based on age, survey time and location. RESULTS: The baseline SMPS (pre-control in 2007) prevalence was approximately 77%. From 2009 to 2014, 11,628 school-children were randomly screened. The mean age was 8.7 years with a near equal sex ratio. After exclusion, analysis of 10,493 students showed an overall malaria prevalence ratio of 1.92 in rural compared to urbanized areas. The distribution of Plasmodium falciparum malaria was significantly different between rural and urban HAs and between end of wet season and end of dry season surveys. The combined prevalence of single P. falciparum, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale infections were 29.9, 1.8 and 0.3% of those examined, respectively. Only 1.8% were mixed Plasmodium species infections. From all microscopically detected infections (3545 of 10,493 samples examined), P. falciparum represented 88.5%, followed by P. malariae (5.4%) and P. ovale (0.8%). Cases with multiple species represented 5.3% of patent infections. Malaria prevalence was independent of age and gender. Control programme performance contributed to a significant decrease in mean P. falciparum infection density in urban compared to rural locations. Some rural areas remained highly refractory to control measures (insecticide-treated bed nets, periodic indoor residual spraying). CONCLUSION: The SMPS is a useful longitudinal measurement for estimating population malaria prevalence and demonstrating disease burden and impact of control interventions. SMPS can identify refractory areas of transmission and thus prioritize control strategies accordingly.

Trace elements in children suffering from sickle cell anemia: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Information on serum albumin and trace elements among children suffering from Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) was poorly documented in Africa. The aim of this study was to describe and to compare different values of trace elements with published reports from other parts of the world. METHODS: We carried out a case-control study. Seventy-six steady state children suffering from SCA (Hb-SS). One hundred and fifty-two children were recruited with 76 (cases, Hb-SS) and 76 (control, Hb-AA) to compare the data. RESULTS: The mean age was 10.0 years (SD=5.4) in SCA children and 9.2 years (SD=4.7) in the control group. The mean level of zinc and magnesium were slightly lower in the Hb-SS group than in the Hb-AA group (P<.001). CONCLUSION: The first literature about trace elements in SCA is briefly reported in Central Africa. In our midst, zinc, magnesium, and selenium deficiencies underline the need for their systematic among all children with SCA to identify patients with these deficiencies and provide early management.