Table 2

Parameter estimates of the effect of COVID-19 and the lockdown policy on rates of total outpatient visits, visits for common infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases and maternal and child health services in Kinshasa, DRC

IndicatorsGombe health zoneOther health zones (n=34)
COVID-19 exposure and lockdown*COVID-19 exposure and lockdown lifted†COVID-19 exposure and no lockdown‡
Level changeTrend changeLevel changeTrend changeLevel changeTrend change
IRR (95% CI)P valueIRR
(95% CI)
P valueIRR
(95% CI)
P valueIRR (95% CI)P valueIRR
(95% CI)
P valueIRR (95% CI)P value
Overall visits and by sex, age and facility tier
 Total outpatient visits0.19
(0.12 to 0.32)
<0.0011.05
(0.85 to 1.30)
0.622.50
(1.81 to 3.45)
<0.0010.90
(0.72 to 1.12)
0.350.84
(0.81 to 0.86)
<0.0011.00
(0.99 to 1.01)
0.04
 Female0.16
(0.08 to 0.33)
<0.0011.12
(0.82 to 1.53)
0.442.55
(1.60 to 4.06)
<0.0010.83
(0.60 to 1.14)
0.250.84
(0.82 to 0.88)
<0.0011.01
(1.00 to 1.02)
0.04
 Male0.24
(0.12 to 0.46)
<0.0010.98
(0.74 to 1.30)
<0.902.42
(1.57 to 3.74)
<0.0010.98
(0.73 to 1.31)
0.900.82
(0.79 to 0.85)
<0.0011.01
(1.00 to 1.01)
0.04
 Under 5 years0.12
(0.07 to 0.22)
<0.0011.05
(0.82 to 1.35)
<0.672.42
(1.68 to 3.50)
<0.0010.97
(0.75 to 1.25)
0.810.85
(0.82 to 0.88)
<0.0010.99
(0.99 to 1.00)
0.93
 5 years and over0.21
(0.14 to 0.30)
<0.0011.08
(0.92 to 1.28)
0.322.40
(1.86 to 3.11)
<0.0010.85
(0.72 to 1 to 01)
0.070.83
(0.81 to 0.85)
<0.0011.01
(1.00 to 1.01)
to 0.001
 Health centres0.18
(0.08 to 0.37)
<0.0011.27
(0.94 to 1.71)
0.102.14
(1.42 to 3.22)
<0.0010.77
(0.56 to 1.04)
0.090.90
(0.87 to 0.92)
<0.0011.00
(0.99 to 1.01)
0.09
 Hospitals0.21
(0.09 to 0.47)
<0.0010.95
(0.65 to 1.38)
0.782.65
(1.44 to 4.87)
0.0010.99
(0.67 to 1.47)
0.990.71
(0.66 to 0.77)
<0.0011.01
(0.99 to 1.02)
0.10
Common IDs
 Malaria case diagnoses0.10
(0.05 to 0.20)
<0.0011.48
(1.10 to 1.99)
0.0081.72
(1.10 to 2.68)
0.010.64
(0.47 to 0.87)
0.0040.81
(0.78 to 0.85)
<0.0011.00
(1.00 to 1.02)
0.003
 RDT for malaria done0.12 (0.06 to 0.27)<0.0011.18
(0.85 to 1.62)
0.322.07
(1.25 to 3.43)
0.0040.79
(0.57 to 1.11)
0.180.77
(0.74 to 0.80)
<0.0011.01
(1.00 to 1.02)
0.004
 Diarrhoea case diagnoses0.19
(0.08 to 0.43)
<0.0011.48
(1.05 to 2.09)
0.021.75
(1.05 to 2.93)
0.030.60
(0.42 to 0.85)
0.0040.75
(0.71 to 0.79)
<0.0011.01
(1.00 to 1.02)
<0.001
 Pneumonia case diagnoses0.25
(0.09 to 0.69)
0.0081.21
(0.78 to 1.86)
0.381.59
(0.79 to 3.19)
0.190.83
(0.52 to 1.30)
0.410.71
(0.66 to 0.76)
<0.0011.03
(1.02 to 1.04)
<0.001
 NCDs
 Diabetes new case diagnoses0.07
(0.03 to 0.19)
<0.0011.55
(1.01 to 2.39)
0.041.53
(0.85 to 2.39)
0.150.70
(0.45 to 1.09)
0.110.91
(0.82 to 0.99)
0.030.98
(0.96 to 0.99)
0.02
 Hypertension new case diagnoses0.23
(0.07 to 0.70)
0.011.11
(0.68 to 1.81)
0.661.51
(0.72 to 3.2)
0.270.90
(0.55 to 1.49)
0.690.84
(0.79 to 0.89)
0.0011.00
(0.99 to 1.02)
0.15
Maternal health
 ANC1 visits0.57
(0.35 to 0.91)
0.021.09
(0.89 to 1.34)
0.391.11
(0.79 to 1.56)
0.550.94
(0.76 to 1.17)
0.631.04
(1.01 to 1.08)
0.0030.99
(0.99 to 1.00)
0.59
 Facility-based childbirth0.89
(0.64 to 1.25)
0.510.98
(0.85 to 1.13)
0.781.03
(0.79 to 1.33)
0.810.99
(0.85 to 1.16)
0.991.08
(1.04 to 1.11)
<0.0011.00
(0.99 to 1.01)
0.29
 PNC2 visits1.02
(0.55 to 1.91)
0.930.87
(0.67 to 1.14)
0.330.89
(0.56 to 1.42)
0.631.15
(0.87 to 1.53)
0.321.07
(1.03 to 12)
<0.0011.00
(0.99 to 1.01)
0.13
  • Baseline (unexposed) period was January 2018 to February 2020.

  • *Exposed period: April to June 2020.

  • †Exposed period: July to December 2020.

  • ‡Exposed period: April to December 2020.

  • ANC1, first antenatal care; DRC, Democratic Republic of the Congo; ID, infectious disease; IRR, incidence rate ratio; NCD, non-communicable disease; PNC2, second postnatal care; RDT, rapid diagnostic test.