Screening for hypertension, diabetes, and cervical cancer in the democratic Republic of Congo: insights from a nationally representative survey.

Non-communicable diseases are the leading global cause of death, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite their growing prevalence, non-communicable diseases remain underdiagnosed and undertreated due to limited screening, poor awareness, and health systems focused on infectious diseases. This study uses data from the 2023-2024 Demographic and Health Survey to assess non-communicable diseases screening prevalence among women in the Democratic Republic of Congo and identify key determinants. This cross-sectional study utilized data from the nationally representative DHS-DRC 2023-2024. The analysis focused on a weighted sample of 11,368 women aged 30-49 years. The DHS employed a stratified, multistage sampling design. Data were analyzed using STATA/SE 17.0, applying multilevel logistic regression to account for hierarchical data structure. Model fit was evaluated using deviance, ICC, and PCV, with statistical significance determined at p < 0.05 and AORs reported with 95% confidence intervals. Among 11,368 Congolese women aged 30-49 years, 53.42% were screened for at least one non-communicable disease. Hypertension screening was most common (52.18%), followed by diabetes (14.25%) and cervical cancer (0.69%). Significant disparities in screening uptake were observed across communities, with multilevel modeling confirming substantial between-cluster variation. Key individual-level factors associated with increased screening included older age, higher education, employment, media exposure, wealth status, health insurance coverage, recent healthcare visits, and alcohol consumption. Community-level factors such as high media exposure, lower poverty levels, urban residence, and higher contraceptive utilization also positively influenced screening rates. Although over half of Congolese women aged 30-49 were screened for at least one non-communicable disease, screening rates for diabetes and cervical cancer remain low. Both individual-level factors (age, education, health insurance, facility visits) and community-level determinants (media exposure, poverty, and contraceptive use) significantly influence screening uptake. To enhance non-communicable disease prevention, targeted interventions are needed, such as expanding health insurance, strengthening media outreach, integrating screening into reproductive health services, and investing in education and economic empowerment.