Infant Mortality in the Walungu Rural Health Zone of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: A Cross-sectional Study 2015-2016.
Cikomola M.A1,2,3, Ndongozi B5, Ngaboyeka A.G2B, Bashonja M.V2, Bodiana M.G2, Bwenge ME1,2, Mwembo .T.A3,4, Bisimwa B.G1,2,3 .
(1 = Catholic University of Bukavu, 2 = Regional School of Public Health of the Catholic University of Bukavu, 3 = Institutional Strengthening for Health Policies based on Evidence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, RIPSEC, 4 = School of Health Public University of Lubumbashi, 5 = Provincial Division of Health of South Kivu).
Introduction
Infant mortality remains a health problem in developing countries. The DRC is one of the countries that has a high rate of infant mortality in Africa estimated at 58 ‰ according to the report of the 2013-2014 Demographic and Health Survey. However, various strategies related to the acceleration of the objectives of the sustainable development have been launched in recent years in the country to improve child survival.
Goal
The purpose of this work was to estimate the infant mortality rate in the rural health zone of Walungu during a period of 2015-2016.
Material and methods :
It is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted in the Walungu Health Zone from July 2016 to March 2017. A structured questionnaire was administered to maternity hospitalized deliveries and eight surrounding health areas to collect information on the condition of the child from the previous pregnancy. The usual descriptive and analytical statistics were done with SPSS 20.
RESULTS:
Out of a total of 2006 deliveries, we observed 1382 births among multiparous women. Of the 1382 births, there were 82 (59.3 ‰) deaths, of which 66 (47.7 ‰) before their first birthday at the median age (interquartile range) of 44 (0-293) days. Neonatal mortality is 26.8%. Factors associated with infant mortality with bi-varied analysis were inter-reproductive space of less than 12 months [OR = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.33-7.15], (p <0.001), number of children in the household [OR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.13-1.43], The proportion of deaths occurring in the community is 47.9%. The causes of death are: Malaria (17.3%), neonatal infections (12.35%), diarrhea and vomiting (9.86%), sepsis 6.17%
CONCLUSION:
the infant mortality rate in Walungu for the 2015-2016 period is slightly lower than the overall country estimate.
KEY WORDS: DRC, Walugu Health Zone, infant mortality, causes of death.
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