Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Background</bold> Various factors can contribute to the health of a population, including the healthcare system in place. Public health utilises data from population health monitoring to discover, diagnose and analyse health problems and risks in the community. Population health measurements are critical for improving health. The purpose of the present study was to analyse the issues involved in monitoring population health status and its determinants in Bagira Heath Zone (HZ), Democratic Republic of the Congo. <bold>Methods</bold> The study was a cross-sectional survey of 505 adults attending health facilities between July and September 2023. Data were collected using a questionnaire and recorded in KoboCollect. The EQ-5D health-related quality of life (HRQoL) tool was used to assess population health status over the past 30 days. Descriptive analysis and multiple linear regression were performed using Stata 14 software. <bold>Results</bold> Being male ( <italic>p</italic> < 0.026) and of Shi tribe (p˂0.001) were identified as a sociodemographic determinants of health status. Healthcare available, individual behaviours such as attending private health facilities, affordability of care ( <italic>p</italic> < 0.001), and factors related to mental and physical health status were important elements of HRQoL of the Bagira HZ population. The people surveyed considered their health status to be average, with an EQ visual analogue scale/HRQoL score of 64.1% and a median (interquartile range) unhealthy days index of 11.0 (6.0–21.0) days in 84% of cases, and 43.4% of respondents assessing their individual general health status as good. The respondents estimated that their physical and mental health had not been good for a mean (standard deviation) of 7.0 (57.2) and 7.0 (42.4) days, respectively, and that a health problem had limited their daily activities for a mean of 10.5 (7.0) days. <bold>Conclusion</bold> The results of this study showed that the health of the Bagira HZ population is influenced by sociodemographic factors, factors linked to the provision of healthcare, individual behaviour, and especially factors linked to the mental and physical dimensions of quality of life, and that the existing surveillance system does not take these determinants into account. <bold>Trail registration</bold> Clinical trial number: not applicable </p>