The burden of diarrhoeal diseases in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A time-series analysis of the global burden of disease study estimates (1990-2019)

Gloire  O Mbaka; Rute Vieira

doi:10.1186/s12889-022-13385-5

The burden of diarrhoeal diseases in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A time-series analysis of the global burden of disease study estimates (1990-2019)

Gloire O Mbaka^* (Corresponding Author), Rute Vieira

^*Corresponding author for this work

University of Aberdeen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

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Abstract

Background
Diarrhoeal diseases are important causes of disability and mortality being one of the main causes of mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). One of the largest and wealthiest African countries, DRC has been for long subjected to continuous political and economic instability, conflicts and disease outbreaks. This study aimed to address the knowledge gap in understanding how prevalence, mortality and burden of diseases in DRC changed over time and examine the influence of specific factors in these disease-related outcomes.

Methods
A time-series analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 estimates was performed to describe prevalence, years lived with disabilities (YLDs) and mortality due to diarrhoeal diseases, by age-group and sex, between 1990–2019 in DRC. The contribution of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and child malnutrition risk factors to these outcomes was also analysed. Piecewise regression analysis was used to assess trends over time.

Results
The overall age-standardised prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases for both sexes in DRC was 1350.84 (UI:1240.16—1461.62) cases per 100,000 people in 1990. The prevalence increased until 2019, also fuelled by the movement of Rwandan refugees to DRC and First/Second Congo wars between 1996–2003. Age-standardised prevalence and mortality were consistently higher in males, compared to females, decreasing by 42% and 54%, respectively, between 1990 and 2019. Overall prevalence was also usually higher in over 70 years old, except between 1998–2003 when mortality in under five years old was the highest. Unsafe water sources and child wasting among under five years old were the main contributors to YLDs and deaths associated to diarrhoeal diseases in DRC.

Conclusion
Diarrhoeal diseases are important and preventable causes of disability and mortality in DRC. National measures of surveillance and cost-effective interventions targeting the identified risk groups could be effective in reducing its prevalence and associated burden.

Original language	English
Article number	1043
Number of pages	8
Journal	BMC Public Health
Volume	22
Early online date	25 May 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13385-5
Publication status	Published - 25 May 2022

Bibliographical note

This study was not funded. GMO received a scholarship from Chevening to study towards a Masters in Public Health at the University of Aberdeen.

Data Availability Statement

All the data were fully accessible to the corresponding author in the study which had final responsibility to submit for publication.

Supplementary Information
The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.
org/10.1186/s12889-022-13385-5.

Keywords

Diarrhoeal diseases
YLDs
prevalence
WASH
child malnutrition

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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The burden of diarrhoeal diseases in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a time-series analysis of the global burden of disease study estimates (1990–2019)
Mbaka, G. O. (Creator) & Gomes Velosa Vieira, R. (Creator), Figshare, 2022
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6015295.v1, https://springernature.figshare.com/collections/The_burden_of_diarrhoeal_diseases_in_the_Democratic_Republic_of_Congo_a_time-series_analysis_of_the_global_burden_of_disease_study_estimates_1990_2019_/6015295/1
Dataset

Cite this

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title = "The burden of diarrhoeal diseases in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A time-series analysis of the global burden of disease study estimates (1990-2019)",

abstract = "BackgroundDiarrhoeal diseases are important causes of disability and mortality being one of the main causes of mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). One of the largest and wealthiest African countries, DRC has been for long subjected to continuous political and economic instability, conflicts and disease outbreaks. This study aimed to address the knowledge gap in understanding how prevalence, mortality and burden of diseases in DRC changed over time and examine the influence of specific factors in these disease-related outcomes.MethodsA time-series analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 estimates was performed to describe prevalence, years lived with disabilities (YLDs) and mortality due to diarrhoeal diseases, by age-group and sex, between 1990–2019 in DRC. The contribution of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and child malnutrition risk factors to these outcomes was also analysed. Piecewise regression analysis was used to assess trends over time.ResultsThe overall age-standardised prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases for both sexes in DRC was 1350.84 (UI:1240.16—1461.62) cases per 100,000 people in 1990. The prevalence increased until 2019, also fuelled by the movement of Rwandan refugees to DRC and First/Second Congo wars between 1996–2003. Age-standardised prevalence and mortality were consistently higher in males, compared to females, decreasing by 42% and 54%, respectively, between 1990 and 2019. Overall prevalence was also usually higher in over 70 years old, except between 1998–2003 when mortality in under five years old was the highest. Unsafe water sources and child wasting among under five years old were the main contributors to YLDs and deaths associated to diarrhoeal diseases in DRC.ConclusionDiarrhoeal diseases are important and preventable causes of disability and mortality in DRC. National measures of surveillance and cost-effective interventions targeting the identified risk groups could be effective in reducing its prevalence and associated burden.",

keywords = "Diarrhoeal diseases, YLDs, prevalence, WASH, child malnutrition",

author = "{O Mbaka}, Gloire and Rute Vieira",

note = "This study was not funded. GMO received a scholarship from Chevening to study towards a Masters in Public Health at the University of Aberdeen. ",

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doi = "10.1186/s12889-022-13385-5",

language = "English",

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T1 - The burden of diarrhoeal diseases in the Democratic Republic of Congo

T2 - A time-series analysis of the global burden of disease study estimates (1990-2019)

AU - O Mbaka, Gloire

AU - Vieira, Rute

N1 - This study was not funded. GMO received a scholarship from Chevening to study towards a Masters in Public Health at the University of Aberdeen.

PY - 2022/5/25

Y1 - 2022/5/25

N2 - BackgroundDiarrhoeal diseases are important causes of disability and mortality being one of the main causes of mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). One of the largest and wealthiest African countries, DRC has been for long subjected to continuous political and economic instability, conflicts and disease outbreaks. This study aimed to address the knowledge gap in understanding how prevalence, mortality and burden of diseases in DRC changed over time and examine the influence of specific factors in these disease-related outcomes.MethodsA time-series analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 estimates was performed to describe prevalence, years lived with disabilities (YLDs) and mortality due to diarrhoeal diseases, by age-group and sex, between 1990–2019 in DRC. The contribution of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and child malnutrition risk factors to these outcomes was also analysed. Piecewise regression analysis was used to assess trends over time.ResultsThe overall age-standardised prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases for both sexes in DRC was 1350.84 (UI:1240.16—1461.62) cases per 100,000 people in 1990. The prevalence increased until 2019, also fuelled by the movement of Rwandan refugees to DRC and First/Second Congo wars between 1996–2003. Age-standardised prevalence and mortality were consistently higher in males, compared to females, decreasing by 42% and 54%, respectively, between 1990 and 2019. Overall prevalence was also usually higher in over 70 years old, except between 1998–2003 when mortality in under five years old was the highest. Unsafe water sources and child wasting among under five years old were the main contributors to YLDs and deaths associated to diarrhoeal diseases in DRC.ConclusionDiarrhoeal diseases are important and preventable causes of disability and mortality in DRC. National measures of surveillance and cost-effective interventions targeting the identified risk groups could be effective in reducing its prevalence and associated burden.

AB - BackgroundDiarrhoeal diseases are important causes of disability and mortality being one of the main causes of mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). One of the largest and wealthiest African countries, DRC has been for long subjected to continuous political and economic instability, conflicts and disease outbreaks. This study aimed to address the knowledge gap in understanding how prevalence, mortality and burden of diseases in DRC changed over time and examine the influence of specific factors in these disease-related outcomes.MethodsA time-series analysis of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 estimates was performed to describe prevalence, years lived with disabilities (YLDs) and mortality due to diarrhoeal diseases, by age-group and sex, between 1990–2019 in DRC. The contribution of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and child malnutrition risk factors to these outcomes was also analysed. Piecewise regression analysis was used to assess trends over time.ResultsThe overall age-standardised prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases for both sexes in DRC was 1350.84 (UI:1240.16—1461.62) cases per 100,000 people in 1990. The prevalence increased until 2019, also fuelled by the movement of Rwandan refugees to DRC and First/Second Congo wars between 1996–2003. Age-standardised prevalence and mortality were consistently higher in males, compared to females, decreasing by 42% and 54%, respectively, between 1990 and 2019. Overall prevalence was also usually higher in over 70 years old, except between 1998–2003 when mortality in under five years old was the highest. Unsafe water sources and child wasting among under five years old were the main contributors to YLDs and deaths associated to diarrhoeal diseases in DRC.ConclusionDiarrhoeal diseases are important and preventable causes of disability and mortality in DRC. National measures of surveillance and cost-effective interventions targeting the identified risk groups could be effective in reducing its prevalence and associated burden.

KW - Diarrhoeal diseases

KW - YLDs

KW - prevalence

KW - WASH

KW - child malnutrition

U2 - 10.1186/s12889-022-13385-5

DO - 10.1186/s12889-022-13385-5

M3 - Article

C2 - 35614436

SN - 1471-2458

VL - 22

JO - BMC Public Health

JF - BMC Public Health

M1 - 1043

ER -

The burden of diarrhoeal diseases in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A time-series analysis of the global burden of disease study estimates (1990-2019)

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Data Availability Statement

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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Datasets

The burden of diarrhoeal diseases in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a time-series analysis of the global burden of disease study estimates (1990–2019)

Cite this