title: [Knowledge of the general population about hypertension and diabetes mellitus in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country in a post-conflict period, high priority cannot be given to non-communicable diseases other than to emergencies. This certainly involves inadequacy in raising awareness for prevention of these diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the level of knowledge of the Congolese general population on hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Responses to a questionnaire from 3% of the general population aged 15 and older in the city of Bukavu and two rural areas: Hombo and Walungu (South Kivu, eastern DRC), recruited after stratification by ward in the city of Bukavu and a group of prone villages were expected. The questions focused on identification, testing, causes, complications and treatment of hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 7770 respondents, screening for hypertension and diabetes mellitus affected only 14.9% and 7.3% of subjects respectively. Knowledge of these two conditions was generally low in the general population, although better in the subgroups of patients and those with higher socioeconomic level (P<0.05). Use of the medias was also associated with better knowledge (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that knowledge about hypertension and diabetes mellitus and their testing in South Kivu is low. It is imperative that the Congolese government includes non-communicable diseases in its priorities of the millennium. Similarly, the WHO should actively contribute to screening for them in low-income countries.
authors.affiliation: Projet diabète sucré, faculté de médecine de l'université catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, Congo. philkatch@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Katchunga
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malanda
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mweze
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: M'Buyamba-Kabangu
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kashongwe
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kabinda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buysschaert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003223:Congo; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D019359:Knowledge; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011153:Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult