Analysis of missing data and completeness modeling of cancer clinical records: The case of the Ngaliema Clinic in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo  

Authors

  • Pascal Mamenepi Atuba Teacher in the Nursing Sciences Department, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Author
  • Héritier Belangana Kalubi Student in Nursing Sciences, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Author
  • Jean-Pierre Olonge Omokende Teacher at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kisantu, Kongo Central, Democratic Republic of Congo. Author
  • Crispin Katombe Kakwaka Teacher in the Nursing Sciences Department, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Author
  • Jacques Masumbuku Lofandjola Teacher in the Nursing Sciences Department, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Author
  • Félicien Ilunga Ilunga Teacher in the Nursing Sciences Department, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Author
  • Félicien Kandolo Tshimungu Teacher in the Nursing Sciences Department, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/x488nx46

Keywords:

Cancer, Medical records, Missing data, Ngaliema Clinic, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Abstract

Introduction

The present study aims to examine the completeness and model the exhaustiveness of clinical records of cancer patients followed at the Ngaliema Clinic in Kinshasa.

Materials and methods

A retrospective study analyzed the records of 81 patients with cancer followed at the Ngaliema clinic between 2023 and 2025. Using JASP 0.95.4.0 software, descriptive and inferential analyses based on the Little, Friedman, Durbin -Conover test and a multiple linear regression model were performed at the usual threshold of 0.05.

Results

There was a predominance of women and patients under 50 years of age, mostly residing in the Lukunga district, with cancer diagnosed at an invasive stage (stage II) among the patients whose records were analyzed. The MCAR hypothesis was verified (p = 0.767). A significant difference was observed between the five evaluated recording domains ( χ² = 135; p < 0.001). Furthermore, the overall completeness score decreases significantly according to age (β = -0.174; p = 0.016); bilateral organ involvement (β = -7.349; p = 0.029); year of detection 2024 vs 2025 (β = -10.732; p < 0.001); non-invasive nature of the disease (β = -5.893; p = 0.047); family history of cancer (β = -4.491; p = 0.028); of residence in the Funa district vs. Lukunga (β = -4.547; p = 0.017) and of initial traditional treatment/prayer (β = -5.822 ; p = 0.025). However, this score increases with the time elapsed before consultation (β = 0.476 ; p < 0.001) and then with origin from the Tshangu district (β = 9.236 ; p = 0.009).

Conclusion

The completeness of cancer records at the Ngaliema Clinic depends markedly on clinical severity, patient age, and therapeutic pathway. 

Recommendation

Implement a standardized oncology form, strengthen digital skills, support digitization and develop a sustainable provincial cancer registry.

Author Biographies

  • Pascal Mamenepi Atuba, Teacher in the Nursing Sciences Department, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

    is a trainer of advanced-level nurses (BAC+5). Since 2020, he has been teaching at the Faculty of Nursing at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques in Kinshasa. He is currently pursuing research in Biostatistics and Health Informatics at the Doctoral School of Health Sciences in Kinshasa. He reviews a few articles in the Asian Journal of Research in Infectious Diseases and BP International.

  • Héritier Belangana Kalubi, Student in Nursing Sciences, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

    is a registered nurse (Bachelor's degree + 3 years). He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Nursing and is a member of the NGO Pallia Familli, which provides palliative care in the homes of patients in need in the city of Kinshasa.

  • Jean-Pierre Olonge Omokende, Teacher at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kisantu, Kongo Central, Democratic Republic of Congo.

    is a nurse specializing in anesthesiology and resuscitation. He practices as an anesthesiologist at the Makala General Reference Hospital in Kinshasa and teaches full-time at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kisantu in the Kongo Central province of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

  • Crispin Katombe Kakwaka, Teacher in the Nursing Sciences Department, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

    is a demographer by training. He regularly managed the Hospital Statistics department in Kinshasa and other provinces of the DRC. Currently, he teaches courses related to his experience at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques in Kinshasa and at other medical training institutions in the city.

  • Jacques Masumbuku Lofandjola, Teacher in the Nursing Sciences Department, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

    holds a PhD in Public Health. He teaches at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques in Kinshasa and the University of the DRC. He is currently the research officer for the National Association for Palliative Care of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Editorial member of the African Annals of Medicine, journal of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa.

  • Félicien Ilunga Ilunga, Teacher in the Nursing Sciences Department, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

    holds a PhD in Public Health, specializing in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Clinical Research, and Applied Computer Science. He teaches at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques in Kinshasa and other higher education institutions and universities in the DRC. From 2005 to 2014, he was responsible for public health projects and served as the academic coordinator for university programs associated with the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques in Kinshasa and the Free University of Brussels. He was an editorial member of the African Annals of Medicine, a journal of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Kinshasa, in 2018.

  • Félicien Kandolo Tshimungu, Teacher in the Nursing Sciences Department, Higher Institute of Medical Techniques of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

    holds a Ph.D. in Public Health. He teaches at the Higher Institute of Medical Techniques in Kinshasa and other universities in the DRC. He was Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, where he significantly contributed to the reform of the education system, transitioning to the LMD (Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate) system. He was a member of the thesis monitoring and support committee and a member of the thesis examination board at the Erasme Doctoral School, Research Chair in Nursing Sciences, University of Paris 13, Bobigny-Université, Paris, France, from 2015 to 2019.

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Published

2026-05-01

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): May 2026 issue

Section

Original Research Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Pascal Mamenepi Atuba, Héritier Belangana Kalubi, Jean-Pierre Olonge Omokende, Crispin Katombe Kakwaka, Jacques Masumbuku Lofandjola, Félicien Ilunga Ilunga, Félicien Kandolo Tshimungu (Author)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Mamenepi Atuba, P., Belangana Kalubi, H., Olonge Omokende, J.-P., Katombe Kakwaka, C., Masumbuku Lofandjola, J., Ilunga Ilunga, F., & Kandolo Tshimungu, F. (2026).  Analysis of missing data and completeness modeling of cancer clinical records: The case of the Ngaliema Clinic in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo  . SJ Gynecology and Obstetrics Africa, 3(2), 13. https://doi.org/10.51168/x488nx46

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