Evaluation Of Household Waste Disposal Quality And Associated Factors In Southern Drc (Cities Of Lubumbashi And Kolwezi): A Cross-Sectional Study With Linear Regression Analysis

Abstract

Context: Inadequate household waste management is a major public health problem in rapidly growing African cities, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Kolwezi and Lubumbashi, rapid urbanization and insufficient sanitation services expose populations to significant health risks. Objective: Evaluate the quality of household waste disposal in the city of Kolwezi and identify the associated socio-demographic factors. Methods: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 with 5,789 selected households in the cities of Lubumbashi and Kolwezi. A waste disposal quality score (0–10) was constructed. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed. Results: The majority of households exhibited poor waste disposal quality. The level of education ( β = +1.42; p = 0.003), the use of a collection service ( β = +2.05; p < 0.001) and the household size ( β = −0.31; p = 0.041) were significantly associated with the waste disposal quality score. Conclusion: The quality of household waste disposal in Kolwezi remains inadequate and heavily influenced by socio-educational and organizational factors. Strengthening environmental education and municipal waste collection services is essential. Keywords: Household waste management; Environmental health; Waste disposal quality; Urban sanitation; Democratic Republic of Congo.