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A Mini Ethnography on Congo Population

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This document is a mini ethnography focusing on the population, cultural practices, health challenges, and social stressors within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with a particular emphasis on the impact of Malaria. Population and Culture Ethnicity and Language: The Congo has a highly varying population with over 250 indigenous and minority groups. These groups include the Kasaians, Batwa, and Hunde. The country boasts over 700 languages and dialects, with French and Lingala as the primary languages, and others including Swahili and Kikongo. Belief Systems: Traditional values and norms heavily influence the belief systems. The population identifies strongly as a community rather than adopting individualistic perspectives. Health Crisis: Malaria The DRC faces a severe public health crisis characterized by extremely low healthcare coverage. Incidence and Prevalence: The malaria incidence rate is approximately 300 per 1,000, resulting in about 20 million individuals infected per year. The DRC accounts for 12.3% of global malaria prevalence rates. Mortality: The mortality rate is high, with an estimated 45,000 deaths per year. Children Under Five: This demographic is disproportionately affected, accounting for about 44% of cases and more than half of the registered deaths. Economic Impact: The high prevalence depletes family resources, contributes to significant poverty , and destabilizes the community's systems and the country's economy. Social Stressors and Structural Barriers Traditional Beliefs about Illness: Traditional models of disease and healing are strongly adhered to, due to limited education and healthcare access. This leads individuals to seek help from traditional healers and practitioners such as Nganga. Stigma and Witchcraft: The association of diseases with practices like witchcraft or curses makes some individuals resistant to seeking healthcare services, leading them to hide the sick loved one. Social and Gender Inequities: Women are particularly vulnerable as they are often not empowered to make financial or health-seeking decisions as homemakers. Conflict and Displacement: The country is prone to internal wars with militias, leading to millions being displaced and increasing vulnerability to malaria and lack of access to life-saving medical services. Healthcare System Strain: The established healthcare structures often lack proper service protocols and crucial resources , compounded by ongoing conflicts and the humanitarian crisis. The system is also overwhelmed by other highly prevalent conditions such as HIV, cholera, and Ebola

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Uploaded on
November 3, 2025
Number of pages
7
Written in
2025/2026
Type
Essay
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Grade
A+

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A Mini Ethnography on Congo Population




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A Mini Ethnography on Congo Population

Every country has its unique population, cultures, and practices; hence, knowing

and understanding them is necessary before traveling to these countries for any reason. Doing

this will help prepare for the encounter and adapt to their norms and expectations, which will

smoothen the interaction with the host individuals. Congo has a highly varying ethnicity, with

over two hundred and fifty ethnic groups.

Ethnicity

Congo has more than 250 indigenous and minority groups, including kasaians, batwa,

and hunde. This country's primary languages are French and Lingala, with others including

Swahili and Kikongo. The country also has over 700 languages and dialects (Minority Rights

Group, 2024). Traditional values and norms significantly influence these individuals' belief

systems. This includes intersections between the individual's territories, sense of belonging, and

social life (UNICEF, n.d.). They identify as a community rather than individualistic perspectives,

as seen in Western countries.

Stakes

Congo has one of the lowest healthcare coverage in the world, with most of its citizens

unable to access critical health services. This is associated with the poor infrastructure and

inability to access the services due to other barriers (African Leaders Malaria Alliance, 2023).

Malaria incidence rate in the country is approximately 300 per 1000, with approximately 20

million individuals infected per year. About 44% of these cases are children under five years of

age. The mortality rate associated with malaria in the Congo is also high, with 50 of 100000

individuals dying from the infection every year (African Leaders Malaria Alliance, 2023). The
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