Keywords
occurrence
waterborne diseases
health zone
Kalenda
How to Cite
Abstract
The occurrence of waterborne diseases constitutes a major public health problem in many regions of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where access to safe drinking water and sanitation infrastructure remains limited. These diseases, such as cholera, acute diarrhea, typhoid fever, and parasitic infections, are closely linked to water quality, hygiene practices, and environmental conditions. This analytical cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 425 households randomly selected using a structured questionnaire across 24 cells (villages) distributed within eight health areas of the Kalenda Health Zone. Data were managed and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2013 and SPSS version 20. The overall prevalence of waterborne diseases was 88.2%. The main conditions identified were diarrheal and dysenteric diseases (53.6%), typhoid fever (43.5%), and viral hepatitis A (2.9%). Multivariate analysis showed that low educational level (adjusted OR = 2.95; 95% CI [1.47–5.93]; p = 0.02), the use of unprotected water sources (adjusted OR = 2.10; 95% CI [1.32–3.62]; p = 0.041), and the absence of drinking water treatment (adjusted OR = 2.59; 95% CI [1.11–6.04]; p = 0.027) significantly increased the risk of waterborne diseases in the Kalenda Health Zone. Water quality therefore remains a major public health challenge in Kalenda, requiring integrated interventions that combine improved access to safe drinking water, health education, and sustainable strengthening of hygiene and sanitation practices.
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