PhD Defence Dieudonné Bwirire Lwabauma

Keywords: Health inequalities, Fragile and post-conflict settings, Vulnerable populations, The Democratic Republic Of the Congo 
 

"Understanding Health Inequalities among Vulnerable Populations in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo"

The main objective of this dissertation is to provide a better understanding of health inequalities among the most vulnerable populations in the fragile and conflict-affected eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It consists of six independent chapters. 

Chapter 1 establishes the theoretical foundation, highlighting key contextual factors that shape health inequalities in fragile and conflict-affected settings. 

Chapter 2 presents a systematic review of the literature on health inequalities in post-conflict settings, revealing a significant lack of knowledge among healthcare workers regarding vulnerable groups, which limits access to healthcare services despite their availability. 

Chapter 3 analyzes maternal healthcare utilization in the Democratic Republic of Congo, demonstrating that inequalities in antenatal and postnatal care have decreased over time, while disparities in deliveries by cesarean sections have increased. 

Chapter 4 examines the optimal health service design and resource constraints for basic healthcare delivery using an asset-based approach. Rather than focusing solely on deficiencies, this method identifies existing resources that can support basic healthcare delivery in fragile and conflict-affected settings. 

Chapter 5 explores the factors influencing healthcare delivery for vulnerable populations in fragile settings, identifying key enabling and constraining factors. 

Finally, Chapter 6 summarizes the key findings and emphasizes the need for adaptable public health interventions in fragile and conflict-affected settings to effectively reduce health inequalities among vulnerable populations. 

Click here for the live stream.