• Health Policy and Management
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2014

Background: This study aims to analyze West African pregnancy experienced women's self-rated health and related factors in Democratic Republic (DR) of the Congo, and provide basic data which can be used in developing maternal and child heath projects and health promotion programs to enhance women's self-rated health in the DR Congo. Methods: A survey was conducted among 400 women, 300 of whom were from Kenge and 100 from Boko in Bandundu Province. Three hundred and fifty-two questionnaires were administered on factors expected to affect the self-rated health, categorized into basic information and economic status of respondents, healthcare service, and illness patterns. The hierarchical logistic regression analysis was performed taking each variable into account. Results: The results show that those who have had nutrition education, work in the office, have no health insurance, or have had no illness for the last one year perceive themselves to be in good health. Conclusion: To improve the self-rated health status and promote maternal and child health in DR Congo, the results suggest that the government or relevant agencies should develop programs to educate people regarding health and nutrition, and policies based on the right status of each country. Systems are also required for healthcare at all social levels along with aspects to avoid illness in daily life.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.85-96
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• 2015

Objectives: This study aims to identify the influencing factors of using postnatal care among illiteracy women who live in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Methods: Household survey was done from February 1 to 8, 2013 in the Kwango district of Democratic Republic of Congo, and 400 childbearing women who has under 5 years old children and pregnant women was randomly selected and answered through the interview with a questionnaire. For analysis the data, ${\chi}^2$ test and logistic regression analysis were used. Results: Woman who can read, write and mathematical calculation was 195 (47.4%) of total 411 answers and 161 (39.2%) used postnatal care for their latest pregnancy. Age at first marriage (${\chi}^2=18.481$, p<.001), religions (${\chi}^2=11.165$, p=.011), languages (${\chi}^2=35.586$, p<.001), the experience of children death (${\chi}^2=16.507$, p<.001), antenatal care over 4 times (${\chi}^2=15.315$, p<.001), postnatal care (${\chi}^2=15.558$, p<.001) is significantly different from literacy level. Among illiterate women group, who are protestant (OR=.330), using Lingala (OR=.128), took elementary education (OR=.223) and farmer (OR=.040), used less postnatal care. Conclusions: For increasing usage of postnatal care among illiterate women, new approach method should be considered such as a visual communication method and a community health workers' training program for giving an outreach service to pregnant women care.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.385-396
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• 2018

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the economic efficiency of a nutrition management program for children under 5 years of age in Kenge, Kwango District, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) from 2014 to 2016. Methods: The economic efficiency of a nutrition management program for children under 5 years of age who have recovered from malnutrition status was evaluated using a cost-benefit analysis. The costs were analyzed according to the executed budget incurred during the project period. The benefits were estimated as the monetary value of the saved lives of children under 5 years of age. The economic efficiency of the program was determined by the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR). The BCR was calculated by dividing the total discounted benefit by the total discounted costs. The project is economically efficient when the BCR is greater than 1. Results: The costs of the nutrition management program were calculated as 1,677,609,648 Korean Won (KRW). A total of 2,466 children survived with improved malnutrition status through this program. The benefit for the reduction of mortality for children under 5 years of age was estimated to be 6,814,354,467 KRW, the estimated value of life for 2,466 children. The BCR was 4.06. Conclusions: The nutrition management program for children under 5 years of age in DR Congo was found to be a cost-effective project. Successful and efficient Official Development Assistance (ODA) for a health project requires integrated and comprehensive strategies and specialized international development consulting to improve efficiency. Future nutrition management programs should take into account the national health program to maintain the sustainability of the project.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.32-37
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• 2015

Cobalt is abundant only in some countries including Democratic Republic of the Congo. It would be necessary to secure overseas Co ores and Co extraction technology. Two kinds of matte varying the sulfur content were manufactured by smelting reduction of Co concentrate containing ~8 wt% Co, ~19 wt% Cu, and ~3 wt% Fe. The amount of Co, Cu and Fe was concentrated to 19~21 wt%, 39~41 wt%, and 7~9 wt% respectively in the resulting matte. High-pressure leaching of matte was performed in an autoclave with considering the effect of oxidizing agent, $H_2SO_4$ concentration as a lixiviant, and the amount of sulfur added to the matte. An oxidizing agent (oxygen) is necessary to improve Co leaching efficiency enabling usage of a dilute $H_2SO_4$ leaching agent. An increase in $H_2SO_4$ concentration prevents selective leaching of Co, and the sulfur content in matte has a minor influence on the Co leaching efficiency.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2017

The first Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan in 1976 and then emerged in West Africa in 2014 with a total of 27,741 cases and 11,284 deaths. The fever is caused by the Ebola virus, which belongs to the Filoviridae family and contains a ssRNA genome. The known subtypes of the virus are Bundibugyo ebolavirus, Reston ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus, $Ta\ddot{i}$ Forest ebolavirus, and Zaire ebolavirus. The Ebola outbreak was historically originated majorly from the East and Central African tropical belt. The current outbreaks in West Africa caused numerous deaths and spread fear in global society. In the absence of effective treatment strategies and any vaccine, accurate diagnosis is the most important contributing factor in the management and control of the epidemic disease. WHO (World Health Organization) has announced emergency guidance for the selection and use of Ebola in in vitro diagnostic assays. Numerous companies and research institutions have studied the various diagnosis methods and identified four WHO procurement approved as diagnosis kits: RealStar Ebolavirus Screen RT-PCR kit 1.0 (Altona), Liferiver-Ebola Virus (EBOV) Real time RT-PCR kit, Xpert Ebola Assay, and ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test Kit. The efficiency of novel diagnostic kits such as Rapid Diagnosis Test (RDT) is currently being evaluated.