PriMera Scientific Medicine and Public Health (ISSN: 2833-5627)

Case Report

Volume 6 Issue 6

Factors Associated with Measles During Epidemics in There Tshopo, Democratic Republic of Congo, From 2013 to 2023

Franck d’Assise Mebwa Mohala*, Alliance Tagoto, Emmanuel Tebandite, Michel Saliki, Theophile Yanyongo, Samuel Bosongo and Joris Losimba Likwela

June 04, 2025

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Abstract

Introduction: The objective of this study is to analyze the sociodemographic, environmental, health and political factors linked to measles during epidemics in the Tshopo province from 2013 to 2023.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study based on retrospective data collection was conducted on confirmed measles cases between 2013 and 2023. A comprehensive sample of 3,739 confirmed measles cases from the literature review was used. Data were entered into an Excel sheet and analyzed using STATA®13 software.

Results: Individuals living in rural areas had a 3.07 times higher risk (p < 0.0001) of developing measles and were 28.1% less likely to be diagnosed than those in urban areas. Children under 5 years of age were 32.95 times more likely (p < 0.0001) to contract the disease. Males had a 1.14 times higher risk (p = 0.0001) than females. Vaccination status (Hazard Ratios: 0.7973) and good nutritional status (Hazard Ratios: 0.69) were associated with a significantly decreased risk of measles. The presence of complications was associated with a significantly increased risk of measles (2.6).

Conclusion: This study confirms the elevated risk in young children and highlights complex associations with vaccination status, nutritional status, complications, and residential environment. Survival analyses highlight the protective effect of vaccination against the development of complications and the negative impact of poor nutritional status.

Keywords: measles; associated factors; epidemic; Tshopo

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