PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CARE OF PREMATURE INFANTS AT THE CINQUANTENAIRE HOSPITAL IN KISANGANI, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

Introduction: The fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG), which aims to reduce child mortality by two-thirds by 2015, requires improving the quality of obstetric and neonatal care in order to reduce neonatal mortality. This study focuses on the challenges associated with the care of preterm infants at the Cinquantenaire Hospital in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo. It aims to identify the main challenges faced by pediatric nurses in the care of preterm infants and to analyze the practices of pediatric nurses in this area.
Methods: This is a descriptive study based on direct structured interviews. In this study, we recruited 37 pediatric nurses who completed our survey questionnaire from January 1 to March 31, 2026.
Results: The main problems encountered by pediatric nurses in the care of premature infants are the insufficient number of incubators (40.6%), the lack of necessary equipment for caring for premature infants (24.3%), unexpected power outages (21.6%), and the shortage of certain medications deemed essential (13.5%). Furthermore, 43.2% of respondents reported that the parenteral route was indicated for administering 10% glucose solution and the enteral route for administering milk at 48 hours.
Conclusion: The care of premature infants in our healthcare facilities poses significant challenges in terms of equipment and human resources; therefore, it is essential to improve the care of premature infants in order to reduce the neonatal mortality rate.