[ Statut nutritionnel des enfants de 6-59 mois dans les sites des déplacés internes au Nord-Kivu à l’Est de la République Démocratique du Congo ]
Volume 44, Issue 4, February 2025, Pages 1104–1110
Jean Marie Muhindo Kamukehere1 and Pascal Nyandwi2
1 Division Provinciale de la Santé du Nord-Kivu, Goma, Nord-Kivu, RD Congo
2 Coordination Provinciale du PRONANUT, Goma, Nord-Kivu, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2025 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Malnutrition is a health problem among children under 5 living in Internally displaced populations camps. These children are at high risk of malnutrition because of inadequate nutrition and poor care practices, which increase their vulnerability to all forms of malnutrition. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of different types of malnutrition in children aged 6-59 months living in Internally Displaced Populations camp in North-Kivu Province, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a descriptive survey of children aged 6-59 months living in Internally Displaced populations sites selected from displaced households using two-stage cluster sampling. Anthropometric measurements and the calculation of anthropometric indices for the sampled children were carried out using the World Health Organization’s 2006 growth standards. The results showed that 7.0% were emaciated, 21.4% underweight and 45.5% stunted. Children aged 24-59 months showed a high prevalence of all types of malnutrition. Males were more affected, and one of the three camps had a high prevalence of chronic malnutrition. Several of the studies cited also showed high prevalences, but this differed according to each environment. Interventions focusing on promotion, prevention and food security will need to be carried out to improve the nutritional status of internally displaced children.
Author Keywords: prevalence, internally displaced population camps, malnutrition, children under five, anthropometric measurements, The Democratic Republic of Congo.
Volume 44, Issue 4, February 2025, Pages 1104–1110
Jean Marie Muhindo Kamukehere1 and Pascal Nyandwi2
1 Division Provinciale de la Santé du Nord-Kivu, Goma, Nord-Kivu, RD Congo
2 Coordination Provinciale du PRONANUT, Goma, Nord-Kivu, RD Congo
Original language: French
Copyright © 2025 ISSR Journals. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Malnutrition is a health problem among children under 5 living in Internally displaced populations camps. These children are at high risk of malnutrition because of inadequate nutrition and poor care practices, which increase their vulnerability to all forms of malnutrition. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of different types of malnutrition in children aged 6-59 months living in Internally Displaced Populations camp in North-Kivu Province, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is a descriptive survey of children aged 6-59 months living in Internally Displaced populations sites selected from displaced households using two-stage cluster sampling. Anthropometric measurements and the calculation of anthropometric indices for the sampled children were carried out using the World Health Organization’s 2006 growth standards. The results showed that 7.0% were emaciated, 21.4% underweight and 45.5% stunted. Children aged 24-59 months showed a high prevalence of all types of malnutrition. Males were more affected, and one of the three camps had a high prevalence of chronic malnutrition. Several of the studies cited also showed high prevalences, but this differed according to each environment. Interventions focusing on promotion, prevention and food security will need to be carried out to improve the nutritional status of internally displaced children.
Author Keywords: prevalence, internally displaced population camps, malnutrition, children under five, anthropometric measurements, The Democratic Republic of Congo.
Abstract: (french)
La malnutrition constitue un problème de santé chez les enfants de moins de 5 ans vivants dans les camps des déplacés. Les personnes déplacés internes sont exposées au risque élevé de malnutrition à la suite d’une alimentation insuffisante et des mauvaises pratiques des soins aggravant la vulnérabilité à toutes les formes de malnutrition. Cette étude avait pour objectif de déterminer la prévalence des différents types de malnutrition chez les enfants de 6-59 mois vivants dans les camps des déplacés internes en Province du Nord-Kivu, en République Démocratique du Congo. Il s’agit d’une enquête transversale descriptive portant sur les enfants de 6-59 mois vivants dans les sites des déplacés internes sélectionnés dans les ménages des déplacés en utilisant un échantillonnage en grappes à deux degrés. Des mesures anthropométriques ainsi que le calcul des indices anthropométriques des enfants échantillonnés ont été réalisées en utilisant les normes de croissance de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé de 2006. Les résultats ont montré que 7,0% étaient émaciés, 21,4% en insuffisance pondérale et 45,5% avec retard de croissance. Les enfants de 24-59 mois ont présenté une prévalence élevée pour tous les types de malnutrition. Le sexe masculin était plus touché et un des trois camps présentait une prévalence élevée de la malnutrition chronique. Plusieurs études citées ont aussi montré des prévalences élevées, mais différentes selon chaque milieu. Des interventions focalisées sur la promotion, la prévention et la sécurité alimentaire devront être menées pour améliorer le statut nutritionnel des enfants déplacés internes.
Author Keywords: prévalence, camps des déplacés, malnutrition, enfants de moins de 5 ans, mesures anthropométriques, République Démocratique du Congo.
How to Cite this Article
Jean Marie Muhindo Kamukehere and Pascal Nyandwi, “Nutritional status of children aged 6-59 months in Internal Displaced Persons sites in North-Kivu Province, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo,” International Journal of Innovation and Applied Studies, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 1104–1110, February 2025.
