DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sasjm.2026.v12i07.009

Pages: 760-763

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common metabolic complications of pregnancy and is a global public health concern. Its prevalence varies and is increasing worldwide in both low- and middle-income countries. Sub-Saharan Africa is undergoing an epidemiologic transition characterized by a rising burden of noncommunicable diseases, with substantial variation depending on the diagnostic criteria and study setting. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), available data remain limited and heterogeneous across regions. To date, no documented study has been identified in Kisangani. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the hospital-based incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus in Kisangani, identify associated determinants, describe the clinical characteristics of pregnant women with confirmed GDM, and assess maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes. Methods: This will be a longitudinal, descriptive, and analytical study with prospective data collection. It will be conducted over six months, from June through December 2026, at seven health facilities in Kisangani (referral health centers and general referral hospitals). Pregnant women at 24 to 32 weeks of gestation will be consecutively enrolled after providing informed consent and followed through delivery to assess maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications. GDM will be diagnosed using a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) according to the criteria of the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG). Sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and obstetric data will be collected and analyzed using R software, version 4.4.2. Associations will be assessed using multivariable logistic regression, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Expected Results: The study will determine the incidence of GDM in Kisangani, identify its determinants, and evaluate its effect on maternal, fetal, and neonatal complications.