Determinants and Spatial Distribution of Obesity among Women of Childbearing Age in the Democratic Republic of Congo : Analysis Based on Data from the 2013-2014 Demographic and Health Survey

Introduction: Good nutritional security is part of the fundamental rights of individuals to food, to health and constitutes the foundation of their good health and well-being.On the other hand, obesity affects all countries with limited resources, the DRC is not spared.Ensuring good health for women of childbearing age would lead to better pregnancy outcomes and healthy newborns.Our work aims to analyze the determinants andthe spatial distribution of obesity in women aged 15-49 years in the DRC. Methods:We carried out a secondary analysis of data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of the DRC, carried out in 2013-2014.This was a cross-sectional survey, national in scope, with a level of regional representativeness.Our study concerned non-pregnant women aged 15 to 49.The determinants were identified from a multilevel logistic regression.Spatial disparities were identified by two detection approaches, Moran's local index and Kulldorff's statistic. Results:The prevalence of obesity was 4%.Regarding the determinants, the effect of age on women's BMI shows that for each unit increase in age, the tendency to be obese is multiplied by 2.4 (95% CI [192%; 317%], p-value < 0.001).Women with husbands with primary education have a 54% (95% CI [21%; 99%], p value < 0.05) reduced risk of being obese compared to those with husbands with no level of education .Women from rich households have a risk of being obese multiplied by 5.7 (95% CI [247%; 1346%], p value < 0.001) compared to those from very poor households.LMoran's statistic was -0.142 (p = 0.217) showing the absence of spatial correlation for 3 provinces: Lomami, Tshopo, North Kivu.TheKulldorff's statistic shows a non-significant cluster for obesity (p = 0.237, with a radius of 31.82 km). Conclusion:The spatial distribution of malnutritionconfirms that in women of childbearing age, obesity is a clustered phenomenon with a random spatial pattern in the DRC.We have identified the main determinants of obesity that are demographic and socioeconomic.Therefore, the fight against obesity remains multidisciplinary and it is important to multiply targeted preventive actions in the fight against overnutrition in this important segment of women aged 15-49 years of the Congolese population.