Violence against civilians and access to health care in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo: three cross-sectional surveys
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been afflicted by conflict for over a decade. After months of relative calm, offences restarted in September 2008. We did an epidemiological study to document the imp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2010-11-01
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| Series: | Conflict and Health |
| Online Access: | http://www.conflictandhealth.com/content/4/1/17 |
| _version_ | 1818157813522759680 |
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| author | Encinas Luis Coppens Katrien Polonsky Jonathan Lin Ya-Ching Grellety Emmanuel Alberti Kathryn P Rodrigue Marie-Noëlle Pedalino Biagio Mondonge Vital |
| author_facet | Encinas Luis Coppens Katrien Polonsky Jonathan Lin Ya-Ching Grellety Emmanuel Alberti Kathryn P Rodrigue Marie-Noëlle Pedalino Biagio Mondonge Vital |
| author_sort | Encinas Luis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been afflicted by conflict for over a decade. After months of relative calm, offences restarted in September 2008. We did an epidemiological study to document the impact of violence on the civilian population and orient pre-existing humanitarian aid.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In May 2009, we conducted three cross-sectional surveys among 200 000 resident and displaced people in North Kivu (Kabizo, Masisi, Kitchanga). The recall period covered an eight month period from the beginning of the most recent offensives to the survey date. Heads of households provided information on displacement, death, violence, theft, and access to fields and health care.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Crude mortality rates (per 10 000 per day) were below emergency thresholds: Kabizo 0.2 (95% CI: 0.1-0.4), Masisi 0.5 (0.4-0.6), Kitchanga 0.7 (0.6-0.9). Violence was the reported cause in 39.7% (27/68) and 35.8% (33/92) of deaths in Masisi and Kitchanga, respectively. In Masisi 99.1% (897/905) and Kitchanga 50.4% (509/1020) of households reported at least one member subjected to violence. Displacement was reported by 39.0% of households (419/1075) in Kitchanga and 99.8% (903/905) in Masisi. Theft affected 87.7% (451/514) of households in Masisi and 57.4% (585/1019) in Kitchanga. Access to health care was good: 93.5% (359/384) of the sick in Kabizo, 81.7% (515/630) in Masisi, and 89.8% (651/725) in Kitchanga received care, of whom 83.0% (298/359), 87.5% (451/515), and 88.9% (579/651), respectively, did not pay.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results show the impact of the ongoing war on these civilian populations: one third of deaths were violent in two sites, individuals are frequently subjected to violence, and displacements and theft are common. While humanitarian aid may have had a positive impact on disease mortality and access to care, the population remains exposed to extremely high levels of violence.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:20:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a159b2b8662b4d78893c3eabecaf2b61 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-1505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T15:20:09Z |
| publishDate | 2010-11-01 |
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| series | Conflict and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-a159b2b8662b4d78893c3eabecaf2b612022-12-22T01:00:25ZengBMCConflict and Health1752-15052010-11-01411710.1186/1752-1505-4-17Violence against civilians and access to health care in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo: three cross-sectional surveysEncinas LuisCoppens KatrienPolonsky JonathanLin Ya-ChingGrellety EmmanuelAlberti Kathryn PRodrigue Marie-NoëllePedalino BiagioMondonge Vital<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The province of North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been afflicted by conflict for over a decade. After months of relative calm, offences restarted in September 2008. We did an epidemiological study to document the impact of violence on the civilian population and orient pre-existing humanitarian aid.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In May 2009, we conducted three cross-sectional surveys among 200 000 resident and displaced people in North Kivu (Kabizo, Masisi, Kitchanga). The recall period covered an eight month period from the beginning of the most recent offensives to the survey date. Heads of households provided information on displacement, death, violence, theft, and access to fields and health care.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Crude mortality rates (per 10 000 per day) were below emergency thresholds: Kabizo 0.2 (95% CI: 0.1-0.4), Masisi 0.5 (0.4-0.6), Kitchanga 0.7 (0.6-0.9). Violence was the reported cause in 39.7% (27/68) and 35.8% (33/92) of deaths in Masisi and Kitchanga, respectively. In Masisi 99.1% (897/905) and Kitchanga 50.4% (509/1020) of households reported at least one member subjected to violence. Displacement was reported by 39.0% of households (419/1075) in Kitchanga and 99.8% (903/905) in Masisi. Theft affected 87.7% (451/514) of households in Masisi and 57.4% (585/1019) in Kitchanga. Access to health care was good: 93.5% (359/384) of the sick in Kabizo, 81.7% (515/630) in Masisi, and 89.8% (651/725) in Kitchanga received care, of whom 83.0% (298/359), 87.5% (451/515), and 88.9% (579/651), respectively, did not pay.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results show the impact of the ongoing war on these civilian populations: one third of deaths were violent in two sites, individuals are frequently subjected to violence, and displacements and theft are common. While humanitarian aid may have had a positive impact on disease mortality and access to care, the population remains exposed to extremely high levels of violence.</p>http://www.conflictandhealth.com/content/4/1/17 |
| spellingShingle | Encinas Luis Coppens Katrien Polonsky Jonathan Lin Ya-Ching Grellety Emmanuel Alberti Kathryn P Rodrigue Marie-Noëlle Pedalino Biagio Mondonge Vital Violence against civilians and access to health care in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo: three cross-sectional surveys Conflict and Health |
| title | Violence against civilians and access to health care in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo: three cross-sectional surveys |
| title_full | Violence against civilians and access to health care in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo: three cross-sectional surveys |
| title_fullStr | Violence against civilians and access to health care in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo: three cross-sectional surveys |
| title_full_unstemmed | Violence against civilians and access to health care in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo: three cross-sectional surveys |
| title_short | Violence against civilians and access to health care in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo: three cross-sectional surveys |
| title_sort | violence against civilians and access to health care in north kivu democratic republic of congo three cross sectional surveys |
| url | http://www.conflictandhealth.com/content/4/1/17 |
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