[Anemia prevalence in pregnant and breast-feeding women in Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Impact of malaria and intestinal helminthiasis].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of anemia and associated factors (malaria and intestinal helminthiasis) in high risk groups of Lubumbashi, Congo, particularly in pregnant and breast-feeding women and children aged 1-2 years.


METHODS
From March to May 2002, 632 pregnant women, 570 breast-feeding women, and 570 infants (1-2 years) were examined in three medical centers in Lubumbashi, Congo. Some of the subjects lived in deprived semi-urban areas (Bongonga and Sendwe), others in urban areas with a satisfactory socio-economic situation (University Clinic).


RESULTS
Overall frequency of anemia was estimated between 50 and 80% in the study populations. The proportion of anemic cases was clearly higher in the Sendwe and Bongonga populations (70-80%) than in the other urban populations (50%) (P<0.01). For the three categories of examined subjects, anemia was found to be most prevalent among pregnant women (P<0.05). Anemia was found to be associated with malaria in 40% of the patients and with intestinal parasitism (ascaris / ankylostoma) in 9%.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering these results, systematic screening and treatment of anemia and associated factors such as malaria and intestinal helminthiasis is needed for the Lubumbashi population.
Kalenga
M-K
MK
Unité Santé de la Reproduction, Faculté de Médecine de Lubumbashi, République Démocratique du Congo. kalengamk@hotmail.com
Nyembo
M-K
MK
Nshimba
M
M
Foidart
J-M
JM
D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007774:Lactation; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population