IntroductionThe burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is increasing in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the largest increase occurs in Africa. Obesity, diabetes mellitus and hypertension (ODH) are major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, causing nearly 18 million deaths worldwide. Various risks associated with mining as an occupational activity are implicated in NCDs' occurrence. This study describes the baseline prevalence of ODH and associated risk factors in the workforce of Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM), in southern Democratic Republic of Congo.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 2,749 employees' and contractor's occupational health examination files for 2010. Socio-demographic, occupational, medical, anthropometric and behavioral characteristics were collected and assessed. Disease status regards ODH was based on WHO criteria. A multivariate logistic regression model was used.ResultsOverall prevalence of ODH was 4.5%, 11.7%, and 18.2% respectively. Proportions of pre-ODH individuals were 19.7%, 16.5%, and 47.8% respectively. Prevalence of ODH increased with age, professional grade, nature of work, gender and reported alcohol use. Smoking 10 or more cigarettes per day increased risk of diabetes and hypertension, while decreasing obesity.ConclusionRates of ODH and associated risk factors are higher in the TFM workforce, than in the general DRC population. This is likely reflective of other mining sites in the country and region. It is evident that ODH are associated with various socio-demographic, occupational, anthropometric, biomedical and behavioral risk factors. A NCD prevention program and close monitoring of disease and risk factors trends are needed in this population.

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Background. The nutritional status is the best indicator of the well-being of the child. Inadequate feeding practices are the main factors that affect physical growth and mental development. The aim of this study was to develop a predictive score of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in children under 5 years of age.Methods. It was a case-control study. The case group (n = 263) consisted of children aged 6 to 59 months admitted to hospital for SAM that was defined by az-score weight/height < −3 SD or presence of edema of malnutrition. We performed a univariate and multivariate analysis. Discrimination score was assessed using the ROC curve and the calibration of the score by Hosmer–Lemeshow test.Results. Low birth weight, history of recurrent or chronic diarrhea, daily meal’s number less than 3, age of breastfeeding’s cessation less than 6 months, age of introduction of complementary diets less than 6 months, maternal age below 25 years, parity less than 5, family history of malnutrition, and number of children under 5 over 2 were predictive factors of SAM. Presence of these nine criteria affects a certain number of points; a score <6 points defines children at low risk of SAM, a score between 6 and 8 points defines a moderate risk of SAM, and a score >8 points presents a high risk of SAM. The area under ROC curve of this score was 0.9685, its sensitivity was 93.5%, and its specificity was 93.1%.Conclusion. We propose a simple and efficient prediction model for the risk of occurrence of SAM in children under 5 years of age in developing countries. This predictive model of SAM would be a useful and simple clinical tool to identify people at risk, limit high rates of malnutrition, and reduce disease and child mortality registered in developing countries.

Background. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions, but the majority of epilepsy patients in sub-Saharan countries do not receive appropriate treatment. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in Lubumbashi, very few epidemiological studies on epilepsy have emerged. This study aims to analyze demographic characteristics, semiology of epileptic seizures, and their etiologies in patients followed in hospital. Methods. This is a prospective descriptive study that enrolled 177 epileptic patients who performed a neurological consultation at the Centre Médical du Centre Ville (CMDC) in Lubumbashi (DRC) from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017. Results. The mean age of the patients was 20.0 years (range: 5 months and 86 years). The male sex was predominant (57.1%). The mean age at the seizure onset was 13.1 years, and the mean duration between onset of seizures and consultation was 83.5 months. The family history of epilepsy was present in 27.7%. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures were the most frequent (58.2%), followed by atonic generalized seizures (9.6%) and focal clonic seizures (8.5%). The etiology was found in 68 (38.4%) patients and was dominated by neurocysticercosis (26.5%), meningitis (25%), perinatal pathologies (20.6%), and head injury (20.6%). Conclusion. This study is a useful starting point from which health programs and health professionals can work to improve the diagnosis and quality of epilepsy management in our community.

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.