Household hunger in Mont Ngafula II health zone, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo: a community based cross-sectional study

Background Household hunger remains a major public health challenge globally and is particularly severe in Kinshasa. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of household hunger and identify its associated factors in the Mont Ngafula II health zone. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between November and December 2024 among 583 households with at least one child aged 6–59 months, selected using multistage probability sampling. Household hunger was assessed using the Household Hunger Scale. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with household hunger. Results Overall, 32.4% of households experienced moderate hunger and 3.8% experienced severe hunger. After adjustment, children with inadequate dietary diversity were more likely to experience household hunger (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–2.44). Children from food-insecure households had a higher risk of wasting (aOR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.65–8.24) and were more likely to be underweight (aOR = 7.1; 95% CI: 2.4–22.0). Household hunger was also significantly associated with unemployment of the household head, poverty, food expenditure below US$1 per person per day, consumption of fewer than three meals per day, and larger household size. Conclusions Household hunger remains highly prevalent in this urban setting and is strongly associated with poor child nutritional outcomes and socioeconomic deprivation. The findings underscore the need for integrated policies addressing poverty reduction, social protection, equitable resource allocation, and nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions, including urban agriculture and nutrition education.