Democratic Republic Of Congo Research Articles

Antibiotic use in infants in the 6 weeks after delivery in seven low- and middle-income countries: findings from the A-PLUS trial

ABSTRACT Objectives Antibiotic use is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC); however, few studies have examined the rates of use in a population. The use of antibiotics for liveborn infants in LMIC was examined. Design The study, a planned prospective, observational secondary analysis of the A-PLUS randomised controlled trial of azithromycin, was conducted in Global Network sites in seven countries: Bangladesh, Pakistan, India (two sites), Kenya, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guatemala. The analyses included liveborn infants of women planning a vaginal delivery who were enrolled in the A-PLUS trial. Methods Data were collected on liveborn infants related to non-study antibiotic use in two time-periods: (i) after delivery while in the facility, and (ii) after discharge until 42 days post-partum. Antibiotic use was also examined in preterm and term infants. The most commonly used antibiotics were classified into three groups: penicillins, cephalosporins and aminoglycosides. Antibiotics used in <1% of infants are not presented. Results Of the 29,354 eligible infants in the study, 2224 (7.6%, 95% CI 7.3–7.9) received non-study antibiotics in the facility after delivery, and 3847 (13.1%, 95% CI 12.7–13.5) received non-study antibiotics after facility discharge until Day 42. In the facility, antibiotics were given to newborns more frequently in sites in Asia and less frequently in sites in Africa and Guatemala. Similarly, after facility discharge, infants were more likely to receive antibiotics in the Asian sites and less so in the African sites and Guatemala. In the facilities, antibiotics were used predominately for prophylaxis (70.7%) but after facility discharge antibiotics were given more often for treatment (56.8%). Preterm infants received more non-study antibiotics than term infants. The antibiotics used varied substantially by time-period and site but, in general, penicillins, cephalosporins and aminoglycosides were the antibiotic categories used more frequently. Conclusions Across the Global Network sites, which represent a range of LMIC, nearly 8% of infants received non-study antibiotics more often for prophylaxis, with 13% of infants receiving non-study antibiotics following hospital discharge. With concerns about increasing antimicrobial resistance worldwide, further attention should be given to appropriate antibiotic use.

Associated Factors of Low Birth Weight among Newborns at Hospitals in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo

Background: Low birth weight remains a major public health problem in every country in the world. It is a predictor of early neonatal mortality, morbidity and long-term health. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of low birth weight and to identify the associated factors in a hospital setting in Kisangani. Material and Methods: An unmatched case-control study was used including all live and full-term births was conducted from 1 December 2023 to 31 May 2024 in the maternity wards of Makiso-Kisangani General Referral Hospital, Mangobo General Referral Hospital, Tshopo General Referral Hospital and Alwaleed Health Centre. A sample of 646 newborns was selected: 86 cases (newborns weighing less than 2500 grams) and 560 controls (newborns weighing 2500 grams or more). Factors associated with prehypertension were identified using logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of low birth weight was 13.4%. Factors associated with low birth weight were maternal age less than 18 years, intergenital interval less than 2 years, maternal infection during pregnancy, high blood pressure, level of primary education and urban residential environment. Conclusion: This study shows that low birth weight remains a public health problem in Kisangani. In addition to shedding light on the other contributing variables and the connections between them, prospective national research would enable the development of preventative measures.

Intraoperative Anesthesia-Related Critical Events in Low-Resource Hospitals During Short-Term Surgical Missions in Tanzania and Democratic Republic of the Congo: An Observational Study.

Critical incidents and mortality related to anesthesia are more frequently observed in low- and middle-income countries in comparison to high-income countries. The difficulties linked to anesthesia in rural areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Tanzania have limited documentation. The aim of this study was to comprehensively document anesthesia-related critical events that occurred during surgical missions organized by the nongovernmental organization 2nd Chance in hospitals in DRC and Tanzania. Data were collected during 6 surgical missions in 3 hospitals in the DRC and 1 in Tanzania. All scheduled surgery patients were included. Anesthesia was administered by a local Non-Physician Anesthesia Provider (NPAP), using local resources, under the supervision of an anesthesiologist from the association. The anesthesiologist reported critical events and collected data. Local teams managed critical events initially, with intervention by the anesthesiologist from 2nd Chance on the local team's request, according to preestablished protocol or if the situation was considered dangerous. Critical incidents associated with anesthesia, including bradycardia, hypoxemia, airway management failure, and equipment problems, were documented from induction of anesthesia until discharge from the recovery room. We recruited 201 patients, of whom 192 were evaluated, with 9 patients dropping out due to protocol noncompliance. All patients were American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I (62%; n = 120) or ASA II (38%; n = 72). Among them, 104 individuals (54%) experienced at least 1 critical event, totaling 202 critical events. Hypoxemia emerged as the most common event, affecting 29% of the patients (n = 55) with at least 1 episode. Equipment problems (oxygen supply and/or anesthesia machine failure) occurred in 24% of cases (n = 46), airway management issues in 23% (n = 44), and bradycardia in 6% (n = 12). Hypotension and hypertension were not documented due to the lack of monitoring. The majority of these events (over 60%) required intervention by the anesthesiologist. The occurrence of critical events related to anesthesia appears to be high in this study. Due to numerous limitations, these results cannot be generalized to all hospitals in Tanzania and the DRC. However, this study underscores the challenges faced by anesthesia teams, encompassing inadequate resources, equipment deficiencies, and varying levels of expertise among anesthesia personnel. The research further stresses the significance of addressing these challenges to enhance patient safety.

Between Ballots and Bullets: Political Competition, Uncertainty, and MNE Strategies in Politically Challenging Environments

Multinational enterprises encounter political competition in all of the environments in which they operate, whether it manifests as elections between political parties or war between armed factions – that is, ballots and bullets. Yet, the literature on MNE strategies has yet to fully and systematically incorporate political competition and probe the challenges and opportunities that it poses to firms. In my dissertation research, I delve into three distinct contexts – the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United States, and Russia – to explore political competition and the strategies that MNEs develop to navigate these environments, aiming to build a unified theory to drive new IB scholarship and generate valuable insights for managers.

Clade I mpox virus genomic diversity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2018–2024: Predominance of zoonotic transmission

Recent reports raise concerns on the changing epidemiology of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). High-quality genomes were generated for 337 patients from 14/26 provinces to document whether the increase in number of cases is due to zoonotic spillover events or viral evolution, with enrichment of APOBEC3 mutations linked to human adaptation. Our study highlights two patterns of transmission contributing to the source of human cases. All new sequences from the eastern South Kivu province (n= 17; 4.8%) corresponded to the recently described clade Ib, associated with sexual contact and sustainedhuman-to-human transmission. By contrast, all other genomes are clade Ia, which exhibits high genetic diversity with low numbers of APOBEC3 mutations compared with clade Ib, suggesting multiplezoonotic introductions. The presence of multiple clade I variants in urban areas highlights the need for coordinated international response efforts and more studies on the transmission and the reservoir of mpox.

Negotiating the legitimacy of conservation at mining frontiers: Evidence from Madagascar and the DR Congo

Political ecologists are increasingly interested in the dynamics of power and authority where mining and conservation converge. We contribute to this emerging literature by applying an 'actor-oriented' approach to explore the creation of protected areas in African mining frontiers. Concretely, we look at how 'multiple-use' protected areas have been layered on top of mining frontiers in eastern DRC and northern Madagascar. Both of these mining frontiers include artisanal, semi-industrial, and industrial mining activities and permits. In the DRC case, various state and non-state armed actors are also implicated in mining. Our results show that the legitimacy of conservation at mining frontiers evolves as a process involving indiscrete phases of negotiation, coercion, resistance and cooperation. When authorities and alliances supporting mining interests preclude coercive conservation strategies, conservation authorities need to negotiate their way through different phases of resistance and cooperation. We find that in both cases, local actors living at the extraction and conservation nexus assert their agency and 'forum shop', by switching their allegiances between conservation and mining actors.

Adapting the Social Norms Exploration Tool in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Identify Social Norms for Behavior Change.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), male engagement, social norms, and social networks mitigate family planning behavior. We discuss the adaptation of the Social Norms Exploration Tool (SNET), which identifies relevant social norms and community members upholding these norms, to inform the development of family planning interventions in the DRC. The SNET provides activity tools and templates to guide users through the following steps: (1) plan and prepare, (2) identify reference groups, (3) explore social norms, (4) analyze results, and (5) apply findings.The SNET approach resulted in discussion of social norms, particularly around birth spacing and gender norms framing the man as the decision-maker. However, despite applying a methodology specifically designed to identify social norms, other factors limiting use of contraceptive methods were identified in the process, including lack of education, rumors, and misconceptions. Adaptations were needed to include the full range of reference groups due to narrow phrasing of primary questions, and some of the participatory methods were overly complicated. Feedback from experienced data collectors suggested that the social norms framework is not intuitive, is difficult to apply correctly, and may require that data collectors have a stronger foundation in the relevant concepts to produce valid and actionable results.Although the SNET provides language for discussing normative factors and techniques to identify reference groups and social norms, modifications to the implementation process are recommended when adapting the tool for research.

Evaluating the Implementation of Automated Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Readers in Health Facilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Process, Challenges, and Lessons Learned.

The WHO's Global Technical Strategy for malaria emphasizes the importance of reliable malaria surveillance systems to track disease burden and measure progress. A key indicator, the test positivity rate (TPR), largely depends on healthcare providers' adherence to rapid diagnostic test (RDT) results and their accurate reporting. To minimize healthcare providers' bias, this study explored the feasibility of using artificial intelligence (AI)-driven Deki Reader devices in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The devices were deployed in 144 health facilities across Haut Katanga, Kasai Central, and Sud Kivu provinces from January to December 2022. Healthcare providers performed malaria diagnostic tests using RDTs and reported the results through the routine system. In addition, they used the Deki Reader device, which automatically read, recorded, and transmitted the AI interpretation into a cloud database. The study compared TPRs from both sources to identify discrepancies. The study revealed the feasibility of using these devices but also identified several logistic and technical challenges. These included delays in device procurement due to COVID-19 pandemic and customs issues, emphasizing the need for better planning and coordination in future rollouts. Device malfunctions and the reliance on stable internet connectivity highlighted the importance of robust support systems and contingency plans. This study demonstrated both the benefits and challenges of implementing such digital health technologies in primary health facilities. Key considerations for successful deployment include careful planning, adequate training and supervision, and taking into account local infrastructure, especially internet connectivity.

Close relationships with caregivers as protective factor for the mental health and functioning of war-affected Congolese youth

BackgroundSupportive social connections are a crucial determinant of the mental health and adjustment of youth in conflict-torn regions. Conflict-affected youth face particular risks to their well-being due to high levels of trauma exposure and perpetration of violent acts as members of armed groups and post-conflict discrimination. However, little is known about the possible protective role of close relationships with caregivers in the aftermath of trauma. This study examined whether a higher perceived quality of relationships with caregivers would attenuate the associations between exposure to traumatic experiences and four indicators of adjustment (posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS], emotional problems, behavioural problems, criminal behaviour) in a sample of 268 war-affected youth (61.2% male, Mage = 16.31 years) living in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. More than half of the present sample (56.7%) were former members of armed groups.MethodsData were collected using quantitative structured interviews and analyzed through regression models using the PROCESS macro.ResultsHigher cumulative trauma exposure was significantly related to higher levels of PTSS and emotional problems, while more frequent perpetration of war-related violence was significantly related to higher levels of PTSS, behavioural problems, and criminal behavior. The perceived quality of relationships with caregivers significantly moderated the associations between youth’s cumulative trauma exposure and all four outcomes. At higher perceived quality of relationships with caregivers, the associations between trauma exposure and emotional problems, behavioural problems, and criminal behaviour were no longer significant and the association with PTSS was significantly weakened. Higher perceived quality of relationships with caregivers was also directly significantly related to lower levels of mental health problems and criminal behaviour.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that interventions that focus on strengthening relationships with caregivers are crucial for supporting the mental health and functioning of youth who experienced and perpetrated war-related violence.

Hierarchical Analysis of Miombo Woodland Spatial Dynamics in Lualaba Province (Democratic Republic of the Congo), 1990–2024: Integrating Remote Sensing and Landscape Ecology Techniques

Lualaba Province, located in the southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), consists of five territories with varied dominant land uses: agriculture (Dilolo, Kapanga, and Musumba in the west) and mining (Mutshatsha and Lubudi in the east). The province also includes protected areas with significant governance challenges. The tropical dry forests that cover the unique Miombo woodland of Lualaba are threatened by deforestation, which poses risks to biodiversity and local livelihoods that depend on these forests for agriculture and forestry. To quantify the spatio-temporal dynamics of Lualaba’s landscape, we utilized Landsat images from 1990 to 2024, supported by a Random Forest Classifier. Landscape metrics were calculated at multiple hierarchical levels: province, territory, and protected areas. A key contribution of this work is its identification of pronounced deforestation trends in the unique Miombo woodlands, where the overall woodland cover has declined dramatically from 62.9% to less than 25%. This is coupled with a marked increase in landscape fragmentation, isolation of remaining woodland patches, and a shift toward more heterogeneous land use patterns, as evidenced by the Shannon diversity index. Unlike previous research, our study distinguishes between the dynamics in agricultural territories—which are particularly vulnerable to deforestation—and those in mining areas, where Miombo forest cover remains more intact but is still under threat. This nuanced distinction between land use types offers critical insights into the differential impacts of economic activities on the landscape. Our study also uncovers significant deforestation within protected areas, underscoring the failure of current governance structures to safeguard these critical ecosystems. This comprehensive analysis offers a novel contribution to the literature by linking the spatial patterns of deforestation to both agricultural and mining pressures while simultaneously highlighting the governance challenges that exacerbate landscape transformation. Lualaba’s Miombo woodlands are at a critical juncture, and without urgent, coordinated intervention from local and international stakeholders, the ecological and socio-economic foundations of the region will be irreversibly compromised. Urgent action is needed to implement land conservation policies, promote sustainable agricultural practices, strengthen Miombo woodland regulation enforcement, and actively support protected areas.

The Right to a Healthy Environment in the Democratic Republic of Congo: An Anthropocentric Conception

The Right to a Healthy Environment in the Democratic Republic of Congo: An Anthropocentric Conception

Late modern war and the geos: The ecological ‘beforemaths’ of advanced military technologies

This article develops the idea that late modern war’s relationship with the geos (the ground and the life it sustains) is doubly destructive. While part of this is recognized in a recent focus on slow violence and ecological aftermaths, there is little consideration of the ‘beforemath’, or the sites of extraction that make advanced military technologies possible. Drawing attention to mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the article connects military technologies to arms manufacturers and their use of extracted minerals (e.g. cobalt, tantalum, copper, uranium). Shared patterns of environmental and public health effects across parts of Iraq, Gaza and the DRC indicate the doubly destructive nature of late modern war’s relationship with the geos: toxic materials threaten life after war as the deposits of bombardment and before war as mineral commodities at the beginning of arms supply chains. The article explicates how a perspective from the beforemath radically refigures the ways we think about war and spatiality, temporality, and the range of bodies affected in ways that promise a fuller understanding of the violence distributed by practices of late modern war.

Mother of All Labour: Vulnerability and Immunity in Times of Ebola

Wonkifong Ebola treatment unit was unique at the time of the outbreak that hit the Guinea in 2014. Contrary to other infrastructures run by Western workers, Wonkifong mainly employed personnel from Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cuba. Even so, the unit constituted a racialised landscape where proximity to white agencies granted privileges to certain groups of racialised people while excluding others. In a humanitarian infrastructure aimed at empowering knowledge of epidemics in the Global South, Black children were quarantined without their parents and left mostly unattended. After many months, former patients were hired as nannies to remedy the infrastructure’s blind spot. These women were employed to care for the children thanks to their immunity to the virus. Building on the concept of a ‘politics of life’ and exploring how these women were exploited as ‘medical superbodies’, my article sheds light on how the humanitarian infrastructure produced a gendered labour that mirrors other economies exploiting female Black bodies such as the colony or the plantation. Relying on an ethnography of practices of care and mobility within the unit, this piece underlines how the postcolonial segregation at play during the outbreak operated not strictly in terms of skin colour, but in terms of gender and closeness to white power.

Overview of myrmecological studies and a checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The production of species checklists is fundamental to setting baseline knowledge of biodiversity across the world and they are invaluable for global conservation efforts. The main objective of this study is to provide an up-to-date extensive checklist of the ants of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, based on available literature to serve as a foundation for future research and ant faunistic developments. We gathered the literature available to us, most of it compiled from the Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics (GABI) Project and treated the data to province level when possible. We also offer insight into who, when and where contributions have emerged to the current knowledge of the ants of the DRC and each of its 26 provinces. The current list is restricted to valid species and subspecies, discarding morphospecies and some misidentified taxa. The list comprises eight subfamilies, 64 genera and 736 species, the highest species diversity for a country located within the Afrotropical realm.

Guardians under pressure, a spotlight on hypertension among healthcare workers in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundHypertension is one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease impacting over a billion people worldwide. Work environment factors could adversely affect workers’ cardiovascular health, including contributing to hypertension. Healthcare workers who treat patients are also affected. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, limited studies explored the work environment factors associated with hypertension. This study aimed to examine hypertension prevalence and determine the associated risk factors among healthcare workers in Kinshasa.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Kinshasa’s healthcare facilities from December 2023 to January 2024 among healthcare workers selected by multistage stratified random sampling. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire using a modified WHO STEPwise approach and Karasek questionnaire. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, and fasting blood sugar were measured. The prevalence of hypertension was assessed. All sociodemographic, occupational, and lifestyle variables associated with hypertension were included in multivariable logistic regression analysis at the 5% significance level.ResultsThe study encompassed 614 participants, comprising 55.2% females and 44.8% males. The mean age of participants was 38.8 ± 10.4 years, ranging from 20 to 78 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 22.6% and over half of those with hypertension (56.1%) were unaware of their condition. Of the known hypertensive participants before the study, 60.7% had uncontrolled blood pressure. In the multivariable analysis, identified risk factors for hypertension were age ≥ 40 years (aOR = 2.75, 95% CI: 1.64–4.61), seniority ≥ 10 years (aOR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.54–4.58), multiple job holding (aOR = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.81–5.34), job stress (aOR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.17–2.89), physical inactivity (aOR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.03–2.68), overweight (aOR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.06–2.90) and obesity (aOR = 3.75, 95% CI: 2.10–6.70).ConclusionOur results underline an important prevalence of hypertension among healthcare workers in Kinshasa, despite their medical knowledge of the causes and the risks. A healthy lifestyle among healthcare workers is fundamental for ensuring the efficiency and productivity of the healthcare system. Regulating multiple job holding and implementing a hypertension prevention intervention encompassing their holistic support is crucial for reducing job stress and promoting well-being.

Monkeypox Clade Ib virus introduction into Burundi: first findings, July to mid-August 2024.

We describe cases with monkeypox virus (MPXV) Clade Ib in Burundi from their first detection in July until 20 August 2024. Testing 442 people with vesicular lesions confirmed 170 cases (98 male; 72 female), 82 (48%) being < 15 years old. Differential diagnosis of the first 30 individuals testing MPXV negative revealed chickenpox in 20. Cases occurred in 26 of 49 Burundi health districts, but mostly in Bujumbura Nord (88/170; 67%). Case-derived MPXV genetic sequences from Burundi and South-Kivu (Democratic Republic of the Congo), clustered together in phylogenetic analysis.

Seroprevalence of Arboviruses in Travelers in Morocco: Focus on Dengue and Zika

Dengue and Zika viruses belong to the arbovirus family and are emerging infectious diseases transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. Their proliferation is facilitated by factors such as adaptability, climate change, and globalization. Despite surveillance efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO), global monitoring remains limited. This study aimed to ascertain the seroprevalence of these diseases among travelers returning from endemic regions. A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on 2023 targeted travelers in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. Participants were selected based on specific criteria over a six-month period. Blood samples were assessed in our laboratory using the VirClia® automated chemiluminescence immunoassay to detect Dengue and Zika IgG and IgM antibodies. The analysis involved interpretation of the results using a specific formula. The study included a young, asymptomatic cohort, averaging 30.8 years of age. Travelers were categorized according to age, sex, and country of residence. Dengue virus seroprevalence was 18.6%, predominantly IgG. The prevalence of ZIKV infection was 12.9%. The seroprevalence of these arboviruses varies according to sociodemographic factors. Epidemiological studies play a crucial role in assessing the prevalence of vector-borne diseases and informing public health strategies to mitigate their global impact.

Cross-sectional study exploring the prevalence and clinical manifestations of acute diarrhea among under-five children in primary care hospital in democratic republic of the congo

Background: Acute diarrhea (AD), which is defined as frequent passing of liquid stools compared to normal, is a serious and worrying problem and remains a concern for health care systems because of its high mortality cause in children under 5 years old. Our study aimed to present the prevalence and to describe the clinical manifestation of AD among under-five children. Methods: From June 2022 to May 2023, we conducted a retrospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study including all patients aged 0 to 5 years hospitalized for AD. Results: Out of 512 patients, only 197 (38.5%) children with AD were selected for our study. The average age is 25.5 months, and the sex ratio is 1.11. Some families (75.1%) have clean latrines, and 21.8% use water from the river. Inaccessibility to clean water and intolerance or food poisoning were the causes of acute diarrhea in children. Major signs and symptoms are fever, dehydration and vomiting. Weight loss and malnutrition are the major complications of AD in children. The treatment of AD is provided by oral rehydration solutions and antibiotics. Conclusion: The study highlights the significant prevalence of acute diarrhea among under-five children underscores the importance of preventive measures and government intervention, such as the introduction of rotavirus vaccination. However, conclusions regarding prevalence rates should be interpreted with caution due to the lack of detailed population data.

Activity-based contracting for optimization of the mass distribution of insecticide-treated nets in the Democratic Republic of Congo: pilot implementation in Kwilu province

BackgroundPromoting the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs) is one of the main strategies for reducing malaria-related morbidity. An innovative activity-based contracting (ABC) approach has been implemented in Kwilu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo to optimize ITN mass distribution campaigns, with payments based on contractually defined programmatic outcomes for key campaign activities following independent verification of results.MethodsThis internal evaluation was carried out using a mixed methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative document and content analysis from a series of three workshops: validation workshops for campaign results at provincial level for the 2021 and 2022 campaigns; internal evaluation workshop for the Kwilu campaign as part of the ABC approach organized by “Santé pour tous en milieu rural” (SANRU) with its sub-contractors; and national campaign evaluation workshop organized by the National Malaria Control Program.ResultsThe pilot campaign with the ABC approach in Kwilu has demonstrated better results than campaigns conducted using the standard, non-ABC, approach: better household coverage (99.9% vs. 97.3%) and improved compliance with ITN allocation to households based on the household size (98. 9% vs. 84.7%); lower loss of ITNs (0.3% vs. 0.5%) with immediate penalties for lost ITNs in the province under the ABC approach; shorter campaign lead times (14 vs. 28 weeks from the start of training to the launch of distribution). This last point is crucial, as it is likely to generate efficiencies and contribute to ensuring timely ITN replacement campaigns.ConclusionThe challenges encountered and the lessons learned in the implementation of the pilot ABC approach in Kwilu could guide future distribution campaigns in the DRC and other African countries that would like to engage in distribution campaigns based on performance-based incentive contracts.

Four new Afrotropical Hypotrabala from moist broadleaf forests&amp;nbsp;and the first description of the female of H. obscura&amp;nbsp;(Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae, Lasiocampinae, Selenepherini)

Four new species in the genus Hypotrabala Holland, 1893 are described: 1) Hypotrabala leopoldi sp. n. from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); 2) Hypotrabala benjamini sp. n. from DRC; 3) Hypotrabala carlottae sp. n. from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana; and 4) Hypotrabala bettinae sp. n. from Nigeria. They are somewhat reminiscent of the dark colored Hypotrabala obscura Takano &amp; László, 2024 known from the type series of four males originating from Gabon. The female of H. obscura and its genitalia are described for the first time; the species is recorded for the first time for Cameroon. Adults of both sexes, their genitalia, and map with collecting localities are illustrated.