Université Catholique de Bukavu

Forests offer numerous ecosystem services that enhance human livelihoods. However, without proper regulation, human activities can deteriorate forest ecosystems. This study aims to evaluate the land use and cover dynamics in Mumosho municipality, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and assess the diversity and carbon sequestration capacity of its woody species. We conducted a supervised classification of Landsat images from 1994, 2004, 2013, and 2023 and calculated spatial structure indices to analyze anthropization and deforestation in the area. From 1994 to 2013, the Mumosho landscape experienced significant deforestation, with rates of 3.69

Digital marketing is increasingly promoted as a tool for enhancing market access among small agro-processors, yet evidence from fragile urban contexts remains limited and rarely differentiated by product type. This study examines digital marketing usage patterns, adoption constraints, and determinants of success among small agricultural processors in Bukavu, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with a comparative focus on dry processed agro-products (DPAP) and perishable liquid agro-products (PLAP). In this study, 193 agro-processors were surveyed about their digital use patterns. Results indicated that agro-processors across both product categories share similar socio-economic characteristics. However, digital marketing adoption is widespread but largely basic. More than 90% of processors rely on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, while over 80% never or rarely use paid advertising and more than 90% post fewer than ten times per week. Digital marketing moderately improved visibility and market access for both product types, with stronger competitiveness and customer loyalty for dry products. Adoption is constrained by structural and demand-side factors, notably poor internet connectivity (80%), limited digital knowledge (65%-75%), and customers' preference for direct purchases (35%-45%), with no significant differences between product types (p > 0.05). The Logit model identified paid digital advertising (beta = 1.28, p < 0.001), higher unit prices (beta = 1.40, p < 0.001), and posting frequency (beta = 1.01, p = 0.013) as key determinants of digital marketing success, while socio-demographic factors and product type were not significant. Therefore, this study highlights the need for product-sensitive strategies and improved digital infrastructure.

The rift flank west of Lake Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo experiences recurrent flash floods exacerbated by protracted conflict. To inform sustainable disaster risk reduction (DRR) in this fragile context, we investigate the determinants of Flood Risk Perception (FRP) across three flood-prone sub-basins. We employ mixed-methods approach integrating: (1) a morphometric flash flood susceptibility index (MFFSI) derived from Digital Elevation Models, and (2) a hierarchical regression analysis of structured household surveys data (n = 363) across Lukungula, Renga and Mubimbi sub-basins. Morphometric results reveal that although the sub-basins exhibit elongated geometries (Form factor = 0.326–0.333), theoretically associated with attenuated peak flows, extreme relief ratios (up to 100.8 m/km), orographic rainfall and deforestation-driven sediment dynamics override these geometric protections transforming these headwater systems into efficient flash flood generators. The MFFSI ranks physical susceptibility as Renga (0.552) ≈ Mubimbi (0.550) > Lukungula (0.466), an order paradoxically inverses to the observed FRP gradient. MFFSI yielded a significant negative main effect on FRP (β = −0.112, p = 0.018), identifying a morphometric blind spot: where physical susceptibility is high but direct flood experience is limited, the terrain's hazard potential remains cognitively invisible. Interaction effects between MFFSI and experiential factors were non-significant (p > 0.05), confirming that the psychological imprint of direct flood experience acts as a universal driver of FRP regardless of basin configuration. Experiential factors, spatial proximity, sociodemographic characteristics, and adaptive capacity collectively explained 63.2% of FRP variance. Flood damage severity was the strongest predictor (β = 0.290, p < 0.001), followed by structural mitigation (β = 0.214) and flood frequency (β = 0.208). Our findings demonstrated that despite near-universal risk awareness (M = 4.61/5), preparedness remains critically low (M = 2.47/5). A dedicated preparedness regression formally decomposed this paradox: psychological threat appraisal explained only 9.7% of preparedness variance, while socio-structural factors dominated by income (β = 0.389) and IDP status (β = −0.298) added a further 30.1%. This confirms that preparedness is constrained not by ignorance but by a capacity ceiling dictated by structural barriers. We identify community-based early warning and MFFSI-informed anticipatory risk communication as the most immediate interventions for resilient DRR in fragile rift settings.

Mpox-associated ocular disease, including keratitis, is an emerging, vision-threatening complication. Management is challenging because no anti-viral therapy has yet been approved to prevent permanent corneal scaring or blindness. We describe a 43-year-old female Ugandan health worker who acquired a Clade Ib mpox infection following occupational exposure during clinical examination of a patient with confirmed mpox attending a health facility in Kampala, Uganda. She developed severe ulcerative keratitis, with persistent epithelial defects and progressive stromal involvement despite standard-of-care treatment, including topical trifluridine and supportive therapy. Diagnostic confirmation of mpox was made by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from lesion swabs, and Clade Ib was identified. The keratitis remained active and vision-threatening for more than four months after symptom onset. Because of ongoing deterioration and high risk of irreversible vision loss, the treating team initiated topical cidofovir 0.5

Introduction: Studies on fetal macrosomia remain limited in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of fetal macrosomia, identify maternal factors associated with its occurrence, and assess its neonatal outcomes among term newborns in ten health facilities in South Kivu, eastern DRC. Methods A cross-sectional study based on retrospective data was conducted between May and September 2023 among 1,247 mother–newborn pairs recruited from ten health facilities across four health zones in South Kivu. Fetal macrosomia was defined as a birth weight ≥ 4,000 g. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors independently associated with fetal macrosomia. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results The prevalence of fetal macrosomia was 6.98%. In univariate analysis, maternal age, gravidity, and parity were significantly associated with macrosomia. However, after adjustment, only maternal obesity remained independently associated with fetal macrosomia (adjusted OR = 2.34; 95% CI: 1.30–4.22; p = 0.004). Fetal macrosomia was also independently associated with an increased risk of neonatal death before discharge (adjusted OR = 9.15; 95% CI: 3.04–27.53; p = 0.001) and the need for intravenous feeding (adjusted OR = 3.22; 95% CI: 1.45–7.15; p = 0.004). Conclusion While fetal macrosomia prevalence in South Kivu mirrors sub-Saharan trends, its toll on neonatal mortality remains critical, with maternal obesity identified as the sole independent risk factor. Addressing this challenge requires urgent maternal obesity management and enhanced antenatal surveillance to improve regional maternal and neonatal outcomes.