Data quality, cancer burden, and disparities in oncology care reported in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: a retrospective longitudinal descriptive observational study of data from the National Health Information System from 2017 to 2025.

Authors

  • Pascal Atuba Mamenepi Student in Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Héritier Kalubi Belanga Student in Nursing Sciences, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Jacques Lofandjola Masumbuku Professor, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Félicien Ilunga Ilunga Professor, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Félicien Tshimungu Kandolo Professor, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2616

Keywords:

Data accuracy, Neoplasms, Health services accessibility, Retrospective studies, Kinshasa; DRC

Abstract

Introduction

The availability of high-quality data is an essential condition for quantifying the burden of disease, supporting healthcare decision-making, and rigorously assessing equitable access to oncology care.

Objective: This study aims to analyze data completeness, temporal trends in cancer, and disparities in oncological care reported in Kinshasa.

Methods

A retrospective longitudinal descriptive observational study was conducted. The Kinshasa National Health Information System from 2017 to 2025 served as the data source. Cancer types, chemotherapy, morphine use, and mortality were examined. Data completeness was determined using these indicators as well as by health zone classification. Temporal trends were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (α=0.05).

Results

Data completeness was high for cancers (>70–90%), low for chemotherapy (<50%), and poor for morphine (≤40%), with marked geographical disparities. The number of reported cancer cases increased from 2017 to 2019 (4,633 vs. 7,926) with a drop in 2021 (3,861 cases), then recovered to reach its highest level in 2024 (11,514 cases). Unspecified cancers accounted for more than 75% of cases. Chemotherapy use decreased in 2020 and 2023, but reporting of morphine access increased after 2021 (from 29 to 107 patients in 2025). The case fatality rate peaked in 2021 (4.30%) and decreased between 2024 and 2025 (≈1.5–1.9%). The trends in the analysis were heterogeneous across areas.

Conclusion

The results highlight deficiencies in the quality of health data reporting and disparities in access to the continuum of cancer care in Kinshasa. This underscores the need for improved data archiving services and the classification of different cancer types.

Recommendation

Thus, it is necessary to consolidate the health information system by harmonizing and standardizing cancer coding, systematically digitizing data, optimizing health archiving devices, and implementing measures to reduce inequalities in access to oncological care.

Author Biographies

  • Pascal Atuba Mamenepi, Student in Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

    is a trainer of advanced-level nurses (BAC+5). Since 2020, he has been teaching at the Faculty of Nursing at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques in Kinshasa. He is currently pursuing research in Biostatistics and Health Informatics at the Doctoral School of Health Sciences in Kinshasa. He reviews a few articles in the Asian Journal of Research in Infectious Diseases and BP International.

  • Héritier Kalubi Belanga , Student in Nursing Sciences, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

    is a registered nurse (Bachelor's degree + 3 years). He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Nursing and is a member of the NGO Pallia Familli, which provides palliative care in the homes of patients in need in the city of Kinshasa.

  • Jacques Lofandjola Masumbuku, Professor, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

    holds a PhD in Public Health. He teaches at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques in Kinshasa and the University of the DRC. He is currently the research officer for the National Association for Palliative Care of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Editorial member of the African Annals of Medicine, journal of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa.

  • Félicien Ilunga Ilunga, Professor, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

    (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2517-6294) holds a PhD in Public Health, specializing in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Clinical Research, and Applied Computer Science. He teaches at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques in Kinshasa and other higher education institutions and universities in the DRC. From 2005 to 2014, he was responsible for public health projects and served as the academic coordinator for university programs associated with the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques in Kinshasa and the Free University of Brussels. He was an editorial member of the African Annals of Medicine, a journal of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Kinshasa, in 2018.

  • Félicien Tshimungu Kandolo , Professor, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

    (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-724-6195)  holds a Ph.D. in Public Health. He teaches at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques in Kinshasa and other universities in the DRC. He was Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, where he significantly contributed to the reform of the education system, transitioning to the LMD (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate) system. He was a member of the thesis monitoring and support committee and a member of the thesis examination board at the Erasme Doctoral School, Research Chair in Nursing Sciences, University of Paris 13, Bobigny-Université, Paris, France, from 2015 to 2019.

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Published

2026-06-24

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2026): June 2026 issue

Section

Section of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

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Copyright (c) 2026 Pascal Atuba Mamenepi, Héritier Kalubi Belanga , Jacques Lofandjola Masumbuku, Félicien Ilunga Ilunga, Félicien Tshimungu Kandolo

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How to Cite

Data quality, cancer burden, and disparities in oncology care reported in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: a retrospective longitudinal descriptive observational study of data from the National Health Information System from 2017 to 2025. (2026). Student’s Journal of Health Research Africa, 7(2), 16. https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v7i2.2616