Health status Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

1 health status

1.1 life expectancy
1.2 endemic diseases
1.3 hiv/aids
1.4 cholera
1.5 disease outbreaks
1.6 river blindness
1.7 maternal , child healthcare

1.7.1 nutrition

health status
life expectancy

the 2014 cia estimated average life expectancy in dr congo 56.54 years.

endemic diseases

endemic diseases include malaria , yellow fever, many other insect-borne illnesses present well.

hiv/aids

hiv/aids serious health problem in dr congo due incurable nature of disease. end of 2003, unaids estimated 1.1 million people living hiv/aids, overall adult hiv prevalence of 4.2%. life expectancy in dr congo dropped 9% in 1990s result of hiv/aids.

according unaids, several factors fuel spread of hiv in dr congo, including movement of large numbers of refugees , soldiers, scarcity , high cost of safe blood transfusions in rural areas, lack of counseling, few hiv testing sites, high levels of untreated sexually transmitted infections among sex workers , clients, , low availability of condoms outside kinshasa , 1 or 2 provincial capitals.

with eventual end of hostilities , government in transition, population movements associated increased stability , economic revitalization exacerbate spread of hiv, localized in areas directly affected presence of troops , war-displaced populations. consecutive wars have made impossible conduct effective , sustainable hiv/aids prevention activities.

cholera

etiology

cholera acute diarrheal illness caused gram-negative bacteria vibrio cholerae. cholera commonly contracted through ingestion of water or food contaminated bacteria. cholera results in severe watery diarrhea. severe cholera can cause significant fluid , electrolyte loss, , ultimately, can result in losing more 20% of body’s blood or fluid supply or death.

risk factors contracting cholera include living in high risk regions, such democratic republic of congo, living in refugee camps or unplanned settlements inadequate sanitation systems, , drinking unboiled or untreated water. in general, individuals limited access water or living poor or non-existent sanitation systems @ high risk contracting cholera. although coastal areas , bodies of water commonly seen potential sources of v. cholerae, recent data indicates inland bodies of water should further examined important source of cholera.

although incidence , mortality cholera can difficult estimate, several studies demonstrate democratic republic of congo experiences significant burden of disease. due fact drc has lowest rates of access clean drinking water in sub-saharan africa. 46 percent of population had access improved drinking water source in 2012. united nations environment programme report 2011 described drinking water problems within drc stem water infrastructure breakdown in both urban , rural environments. access clean water in urban areas of drc has suffered country has experienced rapid urban population growth. water supply infrastructure has not been able keep population growth, so 1 third of available treatment plants not operational. rural areas in drc have worse access clean water 60% of water systems in rural areas not functional , water access informal or improvised , lacks adequate monitoring , maintenance. importantly, water in rural areas of drc has high incidence of bacteriologic contamination, contributing burden of diseases such cholera. these water infrastructure problems , burden of cholera in drc important indicators of need significant investment , prioritization of access clean water in country.

global burden of disease: cholera endemic in regions of drc, means there have been reported cholera cases in @ least 3 of 5 past years. specifically, cholera endemic, there estimated 3 million cases of diarrheal illness , approximately 100,000 deaths worldwide caused cholerae annually. cholera endemic in 51 countries found in africa , asia. in areas of high endemicity, incidence of v. cholerae infection follows seasonal distribution, peaks before , after rainy seasons. additionally, incidence rate of cholera increases dramatically during floods , other natural disasters experience such outbreaks demonstrates fatality rates in epidemic cholera consistently higher 1 percent, particularly in stages of epidemic , in rural areas mortality of cholera may reach 50 70 percent in untreated patients.

exposure assessment of cholera in drc cholera burden of disease difficult estimate because of lack of resources , inadequate surveillance systems. additionally, few cases laboratory-confirmed, incidence of cholera can under-estimated. in 2015, 19,705 cases of cholera reported in drc.

regions affected highest annual attack rates occurred in 2011 in eastern provinces of democratic republic of congo border great lakes. these provinces orientale, north , south kivu, katanga , kasai oriental. north , south kivu katanga had highest attack rate on 10 cases per 100,000 people, every year between 2000 , 2011. high annual attack rates occurred in eastern provinces because there environmental reservoir v. cholerae in lakes of rift valley. additionally, there seasonal peaks occur during first quarter of year increases attack rate. furthermore, fishermen travel eastern lakes in democratic republic of congo larger cities @ end of dry season gives way seasonal variations in incidence of cholera. cross-border cholera remains difficult track due lack of collaboration , communication between sub-saharan countries.

future prevention of disease:

addressing cholera in democratic republic of congo involves improving access safe water , sanitation, including creating water treatment systems , sewage management systems. approximately 760 million people around world lack critical access clean water prevent them contracting cholera. due political instabilities, may difficult country such democratic republic of congo develop water treatment systems on large scale. therefore, individuals can take necessary steps have clean water. example, filtering water through coarse cloth or boiling water can reduce incidence of cholera in endemic areas.

another preventative measure oral cholera vaccine (ocv). ocv effective method reducing risk of cholera 65-70% 3 5 years after vaccine has been given. however, in children under age of 5 there decrease of efficacy 10% 31%. ocv effective in vulnerable populations not have access safe drinking water. use accepted if cost of vaccine free. however, limited supply of ocv can expensive (approximately $3.70 usd), limiting widespread use.

a final preventive measure assist in prevention, controlling , treating cholera use of national database such idsr//international health regulation. database allow countries communicate , collaborate on outbreaks, treatment, , preventive measures. assist in eliminating or reducing cross-border transmission outbreaks.

disease outbreaks

there have been outbreaks of ebola virus, hemorrhagic fever, polio, cholera, , typhoid. tuberculosis increasingly serious health concern in dr congo.

river blindness

people @ risk of onchocerciasis (river blindness) in parts of dr congo.

maternal , child healthcare

the 2010 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births democratic republic of congo 670. compared 533.6 in 2008 , 550 in 1990. under 5 mortality rate, per 1,000 births 199 , neonatal mortality percentage of under 5 s mortality 26. in democratic republic of congo number of midwives per 1,000 live births 2 , lifetime risk of death pregnant women 1 in 24.

nutrition

the drc nutritional situation still alarming despite global health progress. more half (69%) of population suffers undernutrition prevalence of stunting 43% amomg children under 5 years old, 14% of women in childbearing age; 8% wasting 3% of severe acute malnutrition in children under 5 years old , 23% underweight in children of same age group. stunting prevalence still higher , remains common of undernutrition in country according demographic , health survey 2013-2014 of drc. undernutrition has significant long term impact on cognitive development of children, particularly under 5 years old , of women in childbearing age malnourished. consequently affect human capital , country s economic productivity. undernutrition common indicators recommended include anthropometric measurements, biochemichal indicators , clinical signs of undernutrition. micronutrient deficiencies in drc caused food deprivation , poverty, particularly high incidence of vitamin deficiency 61%; iron deficiency 47% among children under 5 years old, 38% among women in reproductive age , 23% men.

the improvement of nutritional status of population, particularly of children under 5 , women of childbearing age, reduce mortality rate in age group , make progress on health outcome indicators specially achievement of objective 3 of sustainable development, aims ensure healthy life , promote well-being of @ ages. hence on human capital, economic productivity , development.