Rapid urban malaria appraisal (RUMA) I: Epidemiology of urban malaria in Ouagadougou

BACKGROUND: Rapid urbanization in sub-Saharan Africa has a major impact on malaria epidemiology. While much is known about malaria in rural areas in Burkina Faso, the urban situation is less well understood. METHODS: An assessment of urban malaria was carried out in Ouagadougou in November -December, 2002 during which a rapid urban malaria appraisal (RUMA) was applied. RESULTS: The school parasitaemia prevalence was relatively high (48.3%) at the cold and dry season 2002. Routine malaria statistics indicated that seasonality of malaria transmission was marked. In the health facilities, the number of clinical cases diminished quickly at the start of the cold and dry season and the prevalence of parasitaemia detected in febrile and non-febrile cases was 21.1% and 22.0%, respectively. The health facilities were likely to overestimate the malaria incidence and the age-specific fractions of malaria-attributable fevers were low (0–0.13). Peak prevalence tended to occur in older children (aged 6–15 years). Mapping of Anopheles sp. breeding sites indicated a gradient of endemicity between the urban centre and the periphery of Ouagadougou. A remarkable link was found between urban agriculture activities, seasonal availability of water supply and the occurrence of malaria infections in this semi-arid area. The study also demonstrated that the usage of insecticide-treated nets and the education level of family caretakers played a key role in reducing malaria infection rates. CONCLUSION: These findings show that determining local endemicity and the rate of clinical malaria cases are urgently required in order to target control activities and avoid over-treatment with antimalarials. The case management needs to be tailored to the level of the prevailing endemicity

Dim Delobsom

Delobsom, Dim (1897-1940), Burkinan author, canton chief, and civil servant, was born in Sao village, about 60 kilometers northwest of Ouagadougou, in the Mossi region of the presentday country of Burkina Faso. His mother was Datoumi Yaare, from the village of Kaonghin; and his father, Gueta Wagdogo, was the son of Yiougo, the naba (Mossi chief) of Sao. Naba Yiougo supported Mogho Naba Wobgo (Boukary Koutu), the principal king of the four Mossi kingdoms, against a rebelling vassal, the naba ofLalle. In 1896, Mogho Naba Wobgo supported Gueta Wagdogo to attain the chieftaincy (whereupon he assumed the name Naba Piiga ) after the death of Naba Yiougo. The meaning of Dim Delobsom\u27s name, The king has returned the favor:\u27 acknowledged the relationship between the two rulers

Fluid identities : contextualising genital reconstructive surgery after female circumcision in Burkina Faso : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social Anthropology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.

Female circumcision procedures were traditionally performed on many girls and women in Burkina Faso. These practices were outlawed in 1996, and are now termed ‘female genital mutilation’ by the government and activists trying to stop them. About thirtyfive years ago, Pierre Foldès, a French urologist who was on a humanitarian mission to West Africa, developed a surgical procedure to alleviate health problems associated with these practices. He later refined his procedure and started using it to also restore clitoral anatomy and function. This surgery, which is presented as two distinct procedures in Burkina Faso, is now performed by some indigenous doctors in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. In this ethnographic study, I explore the reasons motivating some Burkinabe women to seek genital reconstructive surgery, the impact this surgery has on them and societal attitudes towards this surgery and these women. I discuss concepts of gender and embodiment in relation to Burkinabe girls’ and women’s health and sexuality by considering their understanding of what is normal, healthy, natural, complete, sexually attractive and feminine. I also consider the manner in which the meanings of these notions are changing depending on the prevailing discourse. I argue that the salience of the discourse promoted by the Burkinabe government and activists working to end female circumcision in the urban areas of Burkina Faso is compounding the harm associated with this practice. It has led some circumcised women to view themselves, and to be viewed by others, as unhealthy and sexually defective, and to believe that they need genital reconstructive surgery. Yet, limited information about this surgery, its cost and taboos associated with sex and sexuality limit women’s access to the surgery. I further argue that that some Burkinabe women in the Raëlian Movement are co-opting the discourse that paints circumcised women as victims to create spaces where they can remodel typical Burkinabe values, but also exercise those which are particular to their religion. They have thus embraced genital reconstructive surgery to reconstruct not just their bodies, but also their identity as healthy and sensual women

Work opportunities and frictions for rural child migrants in West African cities

This chapter looks at the participation of rural children and youth in the urban labour market and, specifically, focuses on the first years of their migration. In Burkina Faso, the proportion of the working population employed informally was 74.3 per cent in 2001 but few studies have focused specifically on employment practices. This chapter examines the broad range of activities in which rural child and youth migrants engage, and the reasons behind their tactical choices as urban workers. The chapter addresses both diversities and similarities in children’s and youth’s experiences, and the transformation individuals undergo as they gain more knowledge about urban ways and the labour market. It is an empirical piece of work that demonstrates what constitutes young migrants’ negotiation of the urban informal economy in Burkina Faso

Qualitative Impact Study of Credit With Education in Burkina Faso

The objective of this qualitative study is to investigate and document program ef­fects for participants and program communi­ties after two years of activities. Three com­munities were visited for approximately one week each, and an attempt was made to in­terview all current members of the Credit Association in each village as well as com­munity leaders and other nonparticipants

ong et Développement Agricole Au Burkina Faso: Présence Majeure et Effets Mineurs

This report analyses the effect of NGO participation on Agriculture developmen