African Journal of
Medical and Health Sciences

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FEDERAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA
  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Med. Health Sci.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2384-5589
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMHS
  • Start Year: 2017
  • Published Articles: 80

Full Length Research Paper

Factors associated with child’s comorbid diarrhea and pneumonia in rural Democratic Republic of the Congo

Manuel F. Manun’Ebo
  • Manuel F. Manun’Ebo
  • Institut Supérieur de Techniques Médicales (ISTM), Lubumbashi, DR Congo.
  • Google Scholar
Choudelle Nkulu-wa-Ngoie
  • Choudelle Nkulu-wa-Ngoie
  • Institut Supérieur de Techniques Médicales (ISTM), Lubumbashi, DR Congo.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 20 March 2020
  •  Accepted: 24 June 2020
  •  Published: 31 August 2020

Abstract

Diarrhea and pneumonia are leading killers of the world’s youngest children. The toll is highly concentrated in the most disadvantaged children from 15 high-burden countries. The present research reports the factors associated with the comorbidity of the two killer diseases in the context of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), one of the 15 countries suffering the most from the blights. This analysis of data from a cross-sectional household survey found an association between child’s comorbid diarrhea and pneumonia and the indicators of child’s age, unimproved sanitation facilities, unsafe or indiscriminate disposal of children’s feces, malnutrition and parents’ education. It was concluded that improved child’s environment and safe hygiene practice protect against a co-occurrence of the two conditions in rural DRC.

Key words: Diarrhea, pneumonia, comorbidity, sub-Sahara, rural, fecal disposal, sanitation, Congo-Kinshasa.