Factors Associated With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Among Survivors of the Kamuina Nsapu Armed Conflict in the City of Kananga, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Background From 2016 to 2017, the city of Kananga experienced a tragedy marked by the emergence of the Kamuina Nsapu insurrectionary movement. This armed conflict left significant human and material damage of unprecedented scale in this region of the country, where mental health service provision is extremely limited. Nine years later, the toll continues to rise. This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted to determine the factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among survivors of this armed conflict in the city of Kananga. Methodology Conducted from July to September 2025 using multi-stage stratified sampling, 491 respondents participated in this survey. For each participant, sociodemographic variables as well as medical, psychiatric, and traumatic histories were collected using a data collection sheet. The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) was administered to screen for the disorder. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to detail participant characteristics; logistic regression was employed to identify independent factors associated with PTSD. Results The prevalence of PTSD among survivors of the Kamuina Nsapu armed conflict in Kananga in 2025 was 53.4%. The median age was 40 years, with a female predominance (65.3%). Physical disability resulting from conflict (p = 0.027; OR = 5.49; CI = 1.35 - 29.58), history of cardiac conditions (p = 0.004; OR = 4.57; CI = 1.73 - 14.55), loss of valuable assets (p < 0.001; OR = 3.81; CI = 1.91 - 7.87), experiencing physical violence (p = 0.002; OR = 3.33; CI = 1.59 - 7.26), having risked death (p < 0.001; OR = 3.29; CI = 1.99 - 5.46), severe injuries of loved ones (p = 0.020; OR = 2.64; CI = 1.50 - 4.64), family psychiatric history (p < 0.001; OR = 2.48; CI = 1.52 - 4.13), death of a loved one (p = 0.001; OR = 2.34; CI = 1.15 - 4.89), and sexual violence (p = 0.001; OR = 2.34; CI = 1.17 - 4.82) emerged as independent factors statistically associated with PTSD among survivors. Conclusion Survivors of the Kamuina Nsapu armed conflict in the city of Kananga are particularly affected by PTSD due to the interplay of multiple factors. Tailored medico-psycho-social support remains essential in this region of the country, which is characterized by a low availability of mental healthcare services.