Nutritional Status and Morbidity of Children Aged 12 to 59 Months in the Peri-urban Area of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo

This study describes the nutritional status and prevalence of common childhood illnesses of children aged 12 to 59 months in the peri-urban area of Kisangani, DRC.  A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from June 15 to July 15, 2024, involving 850 children and their mothers. A multi-stag...

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Main Authors: Gaston Boande, Raphael Iseayembele, Rachel Olonga, Véronique Mokoto, Franc Esuka, Alliance Tagoto, Eugene Basandja, John Panda, Emmanuel Tebandite, Joris Losimba
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EcoScribe Publishers Company Limited 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Food Innovation, Nutrition, and Environmental Sciences
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Online Access:https://jfines.org/index.php/jfines/article/view/32
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author Gaston Boande
Raphael Iseayembele
Rachel Olonga
Véronique Mokoto
Franc Esuka
Alliance Tagoto
Eugene Basandja
John Panda
Emmanuel Tebandite
Joris Losimba
author_facet Gaston Boande
Raphael Iseayembele
Rachel Olonga
Véronique Mokoto
Franc Esuka
Alliance Tagoto
Eugene Basandja
John Panda
Emmanuel Tebandite
Joris Losimba
author_sort Gaston Boande
collection DOAJ
description This study describes the nutritional status and prevalence of common childhood illnesses of children aged 12 to 59 months in the peri-urban area of Kisangani, DRC.  A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from June 15 to July 15, 2024, involving 850 children and their mothers. A multi-stage cluster sampling method was used to select households. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews, anthropometric measurements (weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference), and recorded in Kobotoolbox. Anthropometric data were converted into indices using WHO AnthroPlus software, with Z-scores for weight-for-height (WHZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and weight-for-age (WAZ) calculated based on the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Standards. Nutritional status was classified using Z-scores, with values below −2 standard deviations indicating wasting (WHZ), stunting (HAZ), or underweight (WAZ). Statistical analyses were conducted using Stata version 13 software. Among the 850 children, 8.1% had wasting, 40.2% stunted growth, and 19.2% were underweight. Mothers under 30 years old accounted for 63.5%, and 58.9% had at least a secondary education. Unsafe drinking water affected 55.9% of households, and 75.8% had unimproved sanitation. The prevalence of measles, ARI, diarrhea, and fever was 23.2%, 26.7%, 19.5%, and 48.1%, respectively. Malnutrition was significantly associated (p<0.05) with male gender, lack of income, unsafe water, unimproved sanitation, measles, diarrhea, and vaccination status. The results emphasize the importance of improving access to clean water, vaccination, and sanitation infrastructure for reducing childhood malnutrition and limiting waterborne and infectious diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-ada0b7dd37684e5d8dbeb8d8785cc2e62025-08-20T03:25:40ZengEcoScribe Publishers Company LimitedJournal of Food Innovation, Nutrition, and Environmental Sciences3078-55372025-05-012210.70851/jfines.2025.2(2).70.8037Nutritional Status and Morbidity of Children Aged 12 to 59 Months in the Peri-urban Area of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of CongoGaston Boande0Raphael Iseayembele1Rachel Olonga2Véronique Mokoto3Franc Esuka4Alliance Tagoto5Eugene Basandja6John Panda7Emmanuel Tebandite8Joris Losimba9Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo,Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo,Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo,Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo,Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo,Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo,Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo,2. Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, DRC, Université libre de Bruxelles ULB , Liège, Belgium,3. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of CongoDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo,This study describes the nutritional status and prevalence of common childhood illnesses of children aged 12 to 59 months in the peri-urban area of Kisangani, DRC.  A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from June 15 to July 15, 2024, involving 850 children and their mothers. A multi-stage cluster sampling method was used to select households. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews, anthropometric measurements (weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference), and recorded in Kobotoolbox. Anthropometric data were converted into indices using WHO AnthroPlus software, with Z-scores for weight-for-height (WHZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and weight-for-age (WAZ) calculated based on the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Standards. Nutritional status was classified using Z-scores, with values below −2 standard deviations indicating wasting (WHZ), stunting (HAZ), or underweight (WAZ). Statistical analyses were conducted using Stata version 13 software. Among the 850 children, 8.1% had wasting, 40.2% stunted growth, and 19.2% were underweight. Mothers under 30 years old accounted for 63.5%, and 58.9% had at least a secondary education. Unsafe drinking water affected 55.9% of households, and 75.8% had unimproved sanitation. The prevalence of measles, ARI, diarrhea, and fever was 23.2%, 26.7%, 19.5%, and 48.1%, respectively. Malnutrition was significantly associated (p<0.05) with male gender, lack of income, unsafe water, unimproved sanitation, measles, diarrhea, and vaccination status. The results emphasize the importance of improving access to clean water, vaccination, and sanitation infrastructure for reducing childhood malnutrition and limiting waterborne and infectious diseases.https://jfines.org/index.php/jfines/article/view/32nutritional statusmorbiditymalnutrition, children under fivekisanganidrc
spellingShingle Gaston Boande
Raphael Iseayembele
Rachel Olonga
Véronique Mokoto
Franc Esuka
Alliance Tagoto
Eugene Basandja
John Panda
Emmanuel Tebandite
Joris Losimba
Nutritional Status and Morbidity of Children Aged 12 to 59 Months in the Peri-urban Area of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo
Journal of Food Innovation, Nutrition, and Environmental Sciences
nutritional status
morbidity
malnutrition
, children under five
kisangani
drc
title Nutritional Status and Morbidity of Children Aged 12 to 59 Months in the Peri-urban Area of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo
title_full Nutritional Status and Morbidity of Children Aged 12 to 59 Months in the Peri-urban Area of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo
title_fullStr Nutritional Status and Morbidity of Children Aged 12 to 59 Months in the Peri-urban Area of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo
title_full_unstemmed Nutritional Status and Morbidity of Children Aged 12 to 59 Months in the Peri-urban Area of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo
title_short Nutritional Status and Morbidity of Children Aged 12 to 59 Months in the Peri-urban Area of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo
title_sort nutritional status and morbidity of children aged 12 to 59 months in the peri urban area of kisangani democratic republic of congo
topic nutritional status
morbidity
malnutrition
, children under five
kisangani
drc
url https://jfines.org/index.php/jfines/article/view/32
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