Evaluating the Assessment of the UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction Framework: Past, Present and Future

The goal of this paper is to critically evaluate and discuss the ways in which the success of disaster risk reduction is defined, and assessed in the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR). The UNISDR was created in 1999 as the first and largest organization to address Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) on a global scale. Its presence and influence has thrived and evolved on the vision and purpose of ensuring the implementation of the International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction (ISDRR), established in 2005, with an emphasis on promoting a "culture of prevention."1 This non-governmental organization is politically and financially supported by initiatives from the ISDR Support Group. This ensures the sharing of information and resources between the UNISDR and all UN Member states in the field of Disaster Risk Reduction. The following research will discuss the public perception of the organization in their disaster reduction efforts through the UNISDR Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters (HFA) Midterm Review (MTR) assessment tools, and the roles of different actors involved in the assessments. Using the Science, Technology, and Society (STS) co-production framework of knowledge, and its implications on the dichotomous relationship between expert and non-expert individuals in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policy decision-making, I evaluate the role and input of stakeholders and disaster community members. I focus on their contribution to the knowledge gained from the United Nations' disaster assessment tools, as well as improvements of the HFA. Research on DRR and the frameworks introduce by the UNISDR have often been the topic of discussion, without much thought on the processes and individuals involved in assessing the effectiveness of these frameworks. This research will shed some light on this topic by examining the stakeholders of DRR, the characters behind the assessments, and the opportunities and barriers to change using the guidelines and policies of the HFA.M.S., Science, Technology & Society -- Drexel University, 201

Epidemiology of placenta previa: 10 years analysis in Bamako’s district

Background: The obstetrical haemorrhage constitutes the first cause of mother death, among the causes of these haemorrhages: the placenta previa. That is why we initiated this study for determine epidemiology of placenta previa in our service. The aim objective of this study was to determine the evolution and epidemiology of the placenta previa in our department.Methods: It was a cross-sectional and comparative study of 10 consecutive years. We compared two groups: with and without placenta previa. We performed a multivariate analysis using the logistic regression model as well as the Odds Ratio and its 95% confidence interval.Results: We recorded 504 cases of placenta previa among 30323 deliveries (1.7%). Age, parity and previous placenta praevia have been the recovered risk factors (p 0.05). Indeed, there was a significantly higher incidence of stillbirths, Apgar score <7, transfer of new-borns and small birth weights in the placenta previa group (p <0.001).Conclusions: The most significant rick factors associated with placenta previa are high maternal age, high parity and previous placenta previa, caesarean section and abortion

Mali y Cuba: convergencias y divergencias en la protección a la infancia

El artículo que se presenta es un trabajo reflexivo que propone una comparación sobre la protección a la infancia en Mali y Cuba. Aunque los dos países se rigen por los mismos instrumentos jurídicos internacionales, y constan de un cuerpo legal nacional que protege a los infantes, la realidad social de la infancia en ambos países es muy diferente. Se muestran los instrumentos legales de protección a la infancia en ambos países. En la misma manera reafirma que la protección a la infancia primeramente debe concernir a estados y gobiernos locales, quienes tienen la responsabilidad de asegurar su bienestar y pleno desarrollo, no solo desde el marco jurídico, sino desde la práctica social

Acceptability of contraceptive implants at the maternity ward of the Matam Communal Medical Center

Background: World Health Organization (WHO), defines contraception as "the use of agents, devices, methods or procedures to decrease the likelihood of conception or avoid it". In Africa, only 24% of women of childbearing age have access to a modern contraceptive method. The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of use of the contraceptive implant, to describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the users, to identify the reasons for the choice of the method and to assess the degree of satisfaction of the clients.Methods: The study was conducted at the Matam Communal Medical Center on level 2 of the health pyramid in Guinea. This was a 12-month cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study (June 2017 to May 2018), including all women admitted for desire for contraception and who agreed to choose the implant as a contraceptive method.Results: The study involved 512 clients. The proportion of female users was 26.21%. The average age was 27.8 years, the main users were women of liberal trade, married, multiparous. The main reasons for choice cited by clients were the effectiveness and long duration of action of the method, i.e. 35.2% and 30.9% respectively. The majority of providers of the method were represented by midwives (73.3%) and the degree of client satisfaction with the method was 97%.Conclusions: The implant is a long-acting method of contraction. It is frequently used at the Communal Medical Center of Matam. Its efficient use would involve effective counselling

Sexualité des femmes ménopausées en Afrique sub-saharienne: exemple du Sénégal

Introduction:&nbsp;en Afrique, la vie sexuelle après la ménopause reste un domaine mal exploré du fait de son caractère tabou. L'objectif de cette étude était d'apprécier la qualité de la sexualité du couple au cours de la ménopause.&nbsp;Methodes: il s'agissait d'une une enquête transversale concernant un échantillon représentatif de 320 femmes ménopausées. Les critères d'inclusion étaient la ménopause naturelle. N'étaient pas incluses de l'étude les patientes ayant fait l'objet d'une ménopause précoce ou iatrogène. La fiche d'enquête était divisée en 4 chapitres : les caractéristiques socio-culturelles de la femme, les données cliniques, les données psycho-sexuelles et les données thérapeutiques. Nous avons utilisé la comparaison des proportions et le test du Chi 2 avec un seuil de signification inférieur à 0,05.&nbsp;Resultats: l'âge moyen des femmes était de 60 ans. L'âge moyen de survenue de la ménopause était de 48 ans et l'ancienneté de la ménopause était de 11,3 ans. Aucune femme de notre étude n'était épargnée par les manifestations du syndrome climatérique. Les bouffées de chaleur étaient présentes dans 85,9%, la sècheresse vaginale dans 62,8% et les troubles urinaires dans 52,5%. Seules les femmes mariées déclaraient avoir des rapports sexuels avec leurs conjoints (62,1%). Ces rapports sexuels étaient occasionnels dans 68,9% des cas alors que 18,1% des femmes n'avaient plus d'activité sexuelle. La diminution de l'activité sexuelle était due aux troubles de l'érection du conjoint (62% des couples) et au manque de désir sexuel (83,5% des femmes). Une absence d'excitation sexuelle et d'orgasme étaient également retrouvée respectivement dans 92% et 100%. Cependant, 93,5 % des femmes mariées jugeaient supportable leur vécu.&nbsp;Conclusion: le statut marital, la dyspareunie, la sècheresse vaginale et les troubles érectiles du conjoint ont un impact réel sur la sexualité de la femme ménopausée au Sénégal

Laparoscopic management of cervical and endometrial cancer in Africa: experience of the National Hospital Centre of Pikine

Background: Laparotomy represents the standard historical surgical approach to these cancers. Process of treatment of benign adnexal pathologies to the emergence of a new pathway for the management of these cancerous pathologies.Methods: Our prospective study from December 2016 to December 2018 included 10 patients with early-stage uterine cancer and endometrial cancer confirmed by MRI. The characteristics of patients, their cancer, their intervention and morbidity were revealed.Results: Our results show that the average age of the patients was 63 years; There were 2 cases of cervical cancer and 8 cases of endometrial cancer. For cervical cancer, it was essentially squamous cell carcinoma; one patient was at stage Ia2 and the other at stage Ib1. For endometrial cancers, squamous cell carcinoma was 80%; 6 patients were in stage IB and 2 in stage IC. Of the 10 patients undergoing surgery, 9 had laparoscopic colpohysterectomy and lymphadectomy and one complementary laparoscopic lymphadenectomy. The average number of lymph nodes removed was 9 and no lymph node metastasis was found. In the immediate postoperative period, one patient had transient urinary incontinence and another had vaginal slice lymphorhea.Conclusions: The main interest of this practice is to be the least morbid possible for patients at the early stage. With our short experience, we obtained a reduction in operating time, a reduction in hospital stay, a decrease in the consumption of analgesics and antibiotics postoperatively and a reduction in per and postoperative complications

In vitro vasorelaxation mechanisms of bioactive compounds extracted from Hibiscus sabdariffa on rat thoracic aorta

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In this study, we suggested characterizing the vasodilator effects and the phytochemical characteristics of a plant with food usage also used in traditional treatment of arterial high blood pressure in Senegal.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Vascular effects of crude extract of dried and powdered calyces of <it>Hibiscus sabdariffa </it>were evaluated on isolated thoracic aorta of male Wistar rats on organ chambers. The crude extract was also enriched by liquid-liquid extraction. The various cyclohexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol extracts obtained as well as the residual marc were subjected to Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. The different methanolic eluate fractions were then analyzed by Thin Layer (TLC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and their vascular effects also evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The H. Sabdariffa crude extract induced mainly endothelium-dependent relaxant effects. The endothelium-dependent relaxations result from NOS activation and those who not dependent to endothelium from activation of smooth muscle potassium channels. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenolic acids in the ethyl acetate extract and anthocyans in the butanolic extract. The biological efficiency of the various studied extracts, in term of vasorelaxant capacity, showed that: Butanol extract > Crude extract > Residual marc > Ethyl acetate extract. These results suggest that the strong activity of the butanolic extract is essentially due to the presence of anthocyans found in its fractions 43-67.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results demonstrate the vasodilator potential of <it>hibiscus sabdariffa </it>and contribute to his valuation as therapeutic alternative.</p

Epidemiological, clinical, prognostic and therapeutic aspects of twin delivery in two referral maternity units in Dakar (Senegal)

Background: Twin pregnancy is the simultaneous development of two embryos and then two fetuses in the uterine cavity. Objective of present study was to assess the epidemiological, clinical, prognostic and therapeutic aspects of twin delivery in two referral maternity units in Dakar.Methods: A descriptive and analytical retrospective bi-centric study of all cases of twin deliveries recorded in two referral center in Dakar was conducted during the period January 1st, 2005-December 31st, 2015, i.e. an 11-year period. It concerned 619 pregnant women who gave birth to twins in these two referral medical structures. The epidemiological parameters, clinical, prognostic and therapeutic aspects of twin childbirth were studied. The data were entered and analysed using Epi info version 3.5.3.Results: The twinning prevalence was 1.11%. The majority of our parturient women (506 or 81.7% of the cases) came from the Dakar suburbs. The average age of the parturient women was 28 years and the gestity age 3.1. Pregnancy was well monitored for 98.5% of the parturient women with an average number of prenatal consultations of 3.6. The first prenatal consultation was performed in 52% of cases in the first quarter. In more than one third of cases (234 or 37.8%), the diagnosis was made in the third quarter of pregnancy. 113 cases (18.2%) of premature rupture of membranes, 10 cases (1.61%) of threat of premature delivery and 7 cases (11.13%) of placenta previa were registered. During labour, the diagnosis was made by clinical examination in 32.2% of cases. Bichorial biamniotic twin pregnancy was the most frequent anatomical type (62.6%). On admission, the first twin (T1) was in cephalic presentation in 56.7%, in breech presentation in 15.2%; The second twin (T2) was in breech presentation in 21.1% of the cases. Caesarean section was related to the first twin in 50.6% and the second twin in 53.8% of the cases. Caesarean section was performed in 50.6% for the first twin and in 53.8% for the second twin. The mean time interval between the delivery of T1 and that of T2 was 17.4 min. Low birth weight was more frequent for the second twin (54.3%). The stillbirth rate was 48.26 per thousand. Maternal complications were dominated by renal-vascular syndromes (4.2%), haemorrhagic causes (1.86%), perineal lesions (1.6%) and uterine rupture (0.97%). Postpartum haemorrhage was observed in 8 cases (1.29%). Maternal mortality was nilConclusions: Twin delivery poses varying difficulties due to the complexity of obstetrical mechanics and the frequency of dystocic presentations. Despite improved maternal prognosis, in recent years, perinatal mortality and morbidity, still high, remain a constant concern

A hospital based case control study of female breast cancer risk factors in a Sub-Saharan African country

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women worldwide with over 1.3 million new cases per year. There is a wide variation in the geographical burden of the disease with the highest incidences seen in the developed regions of the world and the lowest incidences observed in the least developed regions. The objective of this study was to understand further the risks for breast cancer in Senegalese population which can then inform public health strategies to try and reduce the burden of breast cancer.Methods: This matched case control study was conducted in 2015 in Aristide Le Dantec Teaching Hospital in Dakar. All women with pathologically confirmed primary breast cancer were considered as cases. For each case, 2 age-matched women were recruited. We collected and compared demographic factors, family history of breast cancer, socioeconomic variables, reproductive variables (age at menarche, age at first pregnancy and first live birth, parity, menopausal status, duration of breastfeeding), and exogenous hormone use up to 6 months. Odds ratios from univariate logistic regression were used to estimate the relative risk of breast cancer associated with the various factors, and their predictive effects.Results: In all, 212 women with breast cancer who were diagnosed as having breast cancer and 424 control women were involved in the study. The mean±SD age of cases and controls was 43.37±11.94 years (range 18-83 years) and 42.04±11.08 years (range 18-84 years), respectively. There were no significant differences between cases and controls with regards to marital status, parity, age at menarche, past oral contraceptive use, age at first last full-term pregnancy and history of breastfeeding. Breast cancer risk was significantly greater in women with a family history of the disease (OR 2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35-3.31). A significant increase in breast cancer was observed among illiterate women compared to educated women (OR 1.27, CI 1.02-1.58), in premenopausal women and those without occupation.Conclusions: In this study, reproductive factors as early menarche or menopausal status were not associative to the risk of breast cancer and the early age at diagnosis and the positive history of breast cancer suggest a genetic pattern of this disease in Senegalese woman. But this fact is difficult to confirm for financial reasons