Various forms of Karuho poisoning are a common traditional mystery and a public health challenge in Goma city, North Kivu in DRC practiced by unscrupulous people. Its signs and symptoms are commonly mistaken by local communities and medical world with those of tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and typhoid fever; with neurological and psychological symptoms. Study investigated sub-acute toxicity of Karuho poison on brain of Wistar albino rats. Laboratory based experimental study was conducted at
OMGKRP is one of various Karuho poison mysteriously used by unscrupulous individuals to kill people during conflict and animals in Goma City, in DRC. The symptoms and signs of most cases are usually confused with many chronic diseases like tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS; with renal, hepatic and cardiac manifestations as well as blood chemistry changes. The study investigated the toxic effect of OMGKRP poison on blood chemistry, serum enzymes and organ toxicity including the kidney, lung, liver and heart of Wistar albino rats. A laboratory-based experimental study was conducted. Fifty animals in 5 groups each with 10 animals were dosed daily for 28 days with 1.0 mg, 5.0 mg, 20.0 mg and 5000.0 mg/Kg body weight of OMGKRP and normal saline as control group. International standard guidelines, OECD 407 and NIH 2011 were followed during the study period. The blood chemistry analysis, relative organ weight and histopathological changes in the kidney, lung, liver and heart were performed. The findings showed that OMGKRP was associated with increased blood chemistry parameters including total proteins, creatinine, urea, K + levels, direct albumin levels, a decrease in Cl − levels and albumin levels. Histopathological findings showed an increased relative weight and tissue damages of the lung, kidney, liver and heart. Therefore, OMGKRP Karuho poison caused toxicity on blood chemistry, serum enzymes as well as histopathological changes in the lung, renal, hepatic and cardiac tissue damages in Wistar albino rats.
Background: Prevailing wars for more than two decades have been associated with the increased burden of mental illnesses (MIs) in North-Kivu province (NKP), in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The community perception of this claim has, however, not been fully documented.
Aims:To assess the knowledge and perception of Goma city residents on MI and their associated factors.
Methods: Cross sectional study, was conducted among 610 selected community residents including key informants of Goma city from April to July 2021. Quantitative data from semi-structured interviews was analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression, while data from FGDs were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis.
Results: Among residents of Goma city, rates of correct recognition of MIs namely schizophrenia, anxiety, depression and neurodevelopment disorders varied: 96.6%, 29.7%, 39.5% and 14.3%, respectively. The major causes of MIs perceived by respondents were spiritual (67.5%) and substance abuse (56.7%). Qualitative data from FGD’s revealed three major themes for poor perception of MI among residents as indigenous names of various MIs, reason of preferring traditional medicine versus conventional medicine (CM) and challenges faced in management of MIs using CM. Furthermore, demographic factors such as education, religion, occupation and age were not statistically significant (p˃0.05) in predicting one’s odds of MI perception among Goma city residents.
Conclusion:The findings revealed that residents of Goma city have poor knowledge and perception about MIs regardless of education, religion, occupation and age.
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