[Anemia prevalence in pregnant and breast-feeding women in Lubumbashi (Democratic Republic of the Congo). Impact of malaria and intestinal helminthiasis]. / Etude de l'anémie chez les femmes enceintes et les femmes allaitantes de Lubumbashi (République Démocratique du Congo). Impact du paludisme et des helminthiases intestinales.

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. MATERIAL AND 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%. CONCLUSION: Considering these results, systematic screening and treatment of anemia and associated factors such as malaria and intestinal helminthiasis is needed for the Lubumbashi population.

[Anemia associated with malaria and intestinal helminthiasis in Lubumbashi]. / Anémie associée au paludisme et aux helminthiases intestinales à Lubumbashi.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and determine the prevalence of anemia and associated factors (malaria and intestinal helminthiasis) in some high risk groups, especially in pregnant and breast-feeding women and in children aged 1-2 years old from within a deprived semi-urban population of Lubumbashi (Bongonga and Sendwe). These results were compared to those obtained from an urban population having a more satisfying socio-economic situation (University Clinics). The overall frequency of anemia in the subjects studied from the three centres varies from 50-80%. The proportion of anemic cases is clearly higher in the Bongonga and Sendwe populations (70-80%) than in that of the urban group (50%) (P < 0.05). Among all of the subjects examined, pregnant women are found to be the group with the highest proportion of anemic patients (P < 0.05). All things considered, anemia is associated with malaria in 40% of the cases and with intestinal parasitism (Ascaris and/or Ankylostome infestation) in 9%. Faced with such a situation, the strategy to fight against anemia and associated parasitosis demands and requires multi-disciplinary actions centred on health education, collective screening and specific anti-parasite treatment.