Analysis of the curricular integration of environmental education in the first year of LMD system within medical training institutions in the city of (KONGO CENTRAL, DRC)

Abstract

The implementation of the Bachelor’s-Master’s-Doctorate (LMD) system in the DRC aims to professionalize university curricula through the Competency-Based Approach (CBA). However, the role of eco-health determinants in the foundational curriculum remains poorly documented. Objective: To analyze the institutional structure and the degree of pedagogical alignment in environmental health education during the first year of the LMD program at paramedical institutions in the port city of Boma.Methods: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study (quantitative-qualitative) was conducted during the 2025–2026 academic year with 218 participants (final-year/first-year students and faculty) and 12 academic administrators at three institutions in Boma. A literature review of syllabi, bivariate tests (Chi-square), and multivariate binary logistic regression were combined with thematic content analysis (NVivo v14). Results: The verage number of hours allocated to environmental health is 22.4 ± 4.8 hours (representing 1.8% of the total course load for the first year). There is a significant disparity between programs (30 hours in Public Health vs. 15 hours in Nursing, p < 0.001). Only 14.2% of students demonstrate a high level of operational mastery of local eco-health risks. The multivariate model demonstrates that engaging in practical field activities (ORa = 4.21; 95% CI [2.10–8.45]; p < 0.001) and the constructive alignment of assessments with the APC (ORa = 2.85; 95% CI [1.34–6.07]; p = 0.006) significantly predict conceptual and practical mastery. Discussion & Conclusion: Environmental health remains marginalized and taught primarily through theoretical lectures, creating a significant disconnect from the eco-health vulnerabilities of the coastal and port area of Boma. A curriculum revision incorporating hands-on eco-health field placements is essential.

Key words: Environmental Health, Curricular Integration, LMD System, Competency-Based Approach, Boma, DRC.

Received Date: September 17, 2026

Accepted Date: October 09, 2026

Published Date: November 01, 2026

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/1049