HIV/AIDS Policy in Senegal: A Civil Society Perspective

Reviews the successes and failures of Senegal's response to HIV/AIDS, as well as the role of civil society, in prevention, treatment, care, support, and monitoring and evaluation. Recommends decentralizing services and collaborating with civil society

Spatial Distribution of Aerosol Optical Thickness Retrieved from SeaWiFS Images by a Neural Network Inversion over the West African Coast

Aerosol optical thickness (AOT) was provided by SeaWiFS over oceans from October 1997 to December 2010. Weekly, monthly, and annually maps might help scientifics to better understand climate change and its impacts. Making average of several images to get these maps is not suitable on West African coast. A particularity of this area is that it is constantly traversed by desert dust. The algorithm used by SeaWiFS inverts the reflectance measurements to retrieve the aerosol optical thickness at 865 nm. For the poorly absorbing aerosol optical thickness less than 0.35, the standard algorithm works very well. On the west African coast that is often crossed by desert aerosol plumes characterized by high optical thicknesses. In this paper we study the spatial and temporal variability of aerosols on the West African coast during the period from December 1997 to November 2009 by using neural network inversion. The neural network method we used is mixed method of neuro-variational inversion called SOM-NV. It is an evolution of NeuroVaria that is a combination of a variational inversion and multilayer perceptrons, multilayer perceptrons (MLPs). This work also enables validation of the optical thickness retrieved by SOM-NV with AOT in situ measurements collected at AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) stations

The role of health insurance in the coverage of oral health care in Senegal

Oral diseases costs are among the most expensive health care benefits. In Senegal, households contribute up to 37.6% of the national health spending through direct payments. The aim of this work was to study the role of health insurance in the coverage of oral health care in Senegal. The study was based on health insurance agents and policyholders. The study reveals that oral health care coverage through health insurance still does not meet requirements for treatment of oral infections. In financial terms, oral health care costs health insurance too much. As a result, carriers cover them partially. On top of that, the majority of the population’s lack of knowledge about mutual, because they have a little background on oral health care, the latter weighs heavily on health insurance leading to the use of self-medication, traditional medicine and handicraft prosthetists. The analysis reveals an unequal access to oral health care through the health insurance system. To bring under control the expenditure for oral health care, carriers and dental surgeons must work together to raise the populations’ awareness on community solidarity

Fonctionnement Hydrique du Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) en Moyenne et Haute Casamance (Sénégal)

Cette étude aborde le fonctionnement hydrique du baobab afin de mieux appréhender ses relations en eau avec ses phases phénologiques et l’effet induit par les saisons climatiques et de celui de la toposéquence. Pour cela, l’humidité du sol, la teneur relative en eau (TRE) et le potentiel hydrique foliaire (Ψ) ont été étudiés. Les données ont été collectées sur deux sites, en plateau et dans le bas-fond, en saison sèche chaude (SSC), en pleine saison des pluies (PSP) et en saison sèche fraiche (SSF). La SSC correspond à l’apparition des premières feuilles. La PSP correspond à la pleine feuillaison et la fin de la floraison et au début de la fructification. La SSF correspond à la maturation avancée des fruits et à la pleine chute des feuilles. Le logiciel R version 3.4.2 a été utilisé pour traiter les données. Il a permis d’effectuer des tests pour l’analyse des données. Les résultats montrent une variation saisonnière de l’humidité du sol autour de la zone racinaire du baobab. En effet, en SSC, l’humidité du sol est à son niveau le plus faible contrairement en MSP et en SSF. Cependant, la faible disponibilité en eau du sol en SSC n’empêche pas l’état hydrique interne du baobab d’être élevé. En effet, espèce caduque à tronc succulent, les Ψ et les TRE trouvés du baobab sont plus élevés en saison sèche qu’en saison pluvieuse. Egalement, en fonction des saisons climatiques, les différences obtenues sur les Ψ d’une part, et sur les TRE d’autre part, sont statistiquement significatives (P<0,05) sur le plateau contrairement au bas-fond. Ce dernier bénéficie des conditions hydriques du sol plus favorables pendant la saison sèche, ce qui a probablement minimisé ces différences, d’où le rôle important de la toposéquence sur la recharge de l’eau du sol. Ces résultats sont importants dans le but de mieux encourager la propagation les plantations de baobab grâce à sa capacité d’adaptation aux saisons climatiques et au milieu, et de sa tolérence à la sècheresse saisonnière du sol, afin de palier la dégradation de la ressource et faire face aux effets du changement climatique. This study deals with the baobab's water functioning in order to better understand its water relations with its phenological phases and the effect induced by the climatic seasons and that of the toposequence. For this, the soil moisture, the relative water content (TRE) and the leaf water potential (Ψ) were studied. Data were collected at two sites, in the upland and in the lowland, in the hot dry season (SSC), in the middle of the rainy season (PSP) and in the cool dry season (SSF). SSC corresponds to the appearance of the first leaves. The PSP corresponds to full leafing and the end of flowering and early fruiting. SSF is the advanced ripening of fruits and the full fall of leaves. The R version 3.4.2 software was used to process the data. It allowed to test the data analysis. The results show a seasonal variation ofsoil moisture around the baobab root zone. Indeed, in SSC, soil moisture is at its weakest level, unlike in MSP and SSF. However, the low water availability of soil in SSC does not prevent the internal water condition of baobab from being high. Indeed, succulent trunk deciduous species, Ψ and TRE found baobab are higher in the dry season than in the rainy season. Also, according to the climatic seasons, the differences obtained on Ψ on the one hand, and on the TREs on the other hand, are statistically significant (P <0.05) on the upland contrary to the lowland. The latter benefits from more favorable soil moisture conditions during the dry season, which probably minimized these differences, hence the important role of toposequence on groundwater recharge. These results are important in order to better encourage the spread of baobab plantations through its ability to adapt to the climatic seasons and the environment, and its tolerance of seasonal soil drought, in order to mitigate the degradation of the resource and cope with the effects of climate change

Foetal instrumental extractions (IE) at the maternity at Nabil Choucair Health Center (Senegal) from 2005 to 2016: epidemio-clinical and prognostic aspects

Background: The main objective was to take stock of practices on instrumental extractions at the maternity of Nabil Choucair Health Center.Methods: This was a prospective, descriptive study from 1 January 2005 to 31 April 2016. The collection was carried out through the data sheet completed on the basis of an analysis of files, the delivery register and the anaesthesia register of the operating room. The data was entered using the Sphinx software version 5 and the data analysis performed by Epi info version 3.5.Results: 240 instrumental extraction cases were compiled, and their frequency was 0.4%. The mean age of patients was 24.8 years. Obstetric vacuum was the most commonly used instrument (66.4%) and an episiotomy was performed in 73.6%. Maternal complications were dominated by simple perineal tears (6.2%).Conclusions: Instrumental extractions should be rehabilitated in our maternity facilities to combat the outbreak of the caesarean section. Instrumental extractions indications and techniques should be controlled to avoid complication

Relations sociales et influence économique dans la chaîne de valeur du lait local au Sénégal

Despite its socio-economic importance, the local milk sector in Senegal is struggling to overcome the factors that determine its development. The milk value chain study took place in the Kaolack region with 349 stakeholders and assessed the market risk factors and the level of socio-economic influence of the stakeholders. Results show that the overall added value is significant according to the income structure, relatively unequal and captured mostly by women with traditional processing of local milk. The regional economic exchange network is almost absent and the gap is filled by a sparse social network. Thus, the development of the local milk value chain requires a mobilization of both economic and social networks and a better redistribution of the added value to the different stakeholders. Keywords: Value chain, Added value, milk, social network, economic integrationMalgré son importance socio-économique, la filière lait local au Sénégal peine à maîtriser les déterminants de son développement. Une étude de cette chaîne de valeur s’est déroulée dans la région de Kaolack auprès de 349 acteurs et a permis d’évaluer les facteurs de risque du marché et le niveau d’influence socio-économique des acteurs. Les résultats montrent que la valeur ajoutée globale est forte selon la structure du revenu, inégalitaire et captée en majorité par les transformatrices artisanales du lait local. Le réseau d’échange économique régional est quasi-absent et comblé par un réseau social peu dense. Ainsi, le développement de la chaîne de valeur du lait local doit passer par une mobilisation à la fois des relations économiques et sociales et une meilleure redistribution de la valeur ajoutée aux différents acteurs. Mots-clés: Chaîne de valeur, Valeur ajoutée, lait, réseau social, intégration économiqu

Relations sociales et influence économique dans la chaîne de valeur du lait local au Sénégal

Malgré son importance socio-économique, la filière lait local au Sénégal peine à maîtriser les déterminants de son développement. Une étude de cette chaîne de valeur s’est déroulée dans la région de Kaolack auprès de 349 acteurs et a permis d’évaluer les facteurs de risque du marché et le niveau d’influence socio-économique des acteurs. Les résultats montrent que la valeur ajoutée globale est forte selon la structure du revenu, inégalitaire et captée en majorité par les transformatrices artisanales du lait local. Le réseau d’échange économique régional est quasi-absent et comblé par un réseau social peu dense. Ainsi, le développement de la chaîne de valeur du lait local doit passer par une mobilisation à la fois des relations économiques et sociales et une meilleure redistribution de la valeur ajoutée aux différents acteurs. Mots-clés: Chaîne de valeur, Valeur ajoutée, lait, réseau social, intégration économiqu

Education Through Labor: From the deuxième portion du contingent to the Youth Civic Service in West Africa (Senegal/Mali, 1920s-1960s)

International audienceUnder the French colonial regime, the “second portion” of the military was used as labour brigades, compelled to serve for two years in works of public nature. They were encamped in labor camp and were taught the value of work as well as discipline and basic rules of hygiene. After the independence of the francophone West African countries in 1960, postcolonial leaders in Senegal and Mali try to implement a civil service for the youth in order to offer them basic education. In reality, the civil service appears as a way to control and use the recruits for economic purposes echoing in some extent the former colonial “second portion du contingent.” More broadly, through the analysis of the legacies and continuities, I argue that the postcolonial elites perpetuate the “civilizing mission,” no more for the so-called mise en valeur of the colonies but for the development of the territory

Estimating the contribution of key populations towards the spread of <scp>HIV</scp> in Dakar, Senegal

Introduction: Key populations including female sex workers (FSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) bear a disproportionate burden of HIV. However, the role of focusing prevention efforts on these groups for reducing a country’s HIV epidemic is debated. We estimate the extent to which HIV transmission among FSW and MSM contributes to overall HIV transmission in Dakar, Senegal, using a dynamic assessment of the population attributable fraction (PAF). Methods: A dynamic transmission model of HIV among FSW, their clients, MSM and the lower-risk adult population was parameterized and calibrated within a Bayesian framework using setting-specific demographic, behavioural, HIV epidemiological and antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage data for 1985 to 2015. We used the model to estimate the 10-year PAF of commercial sex between FSW and their clients, and sex between men, to overall HIV transmission (defined as the percentage of new infections prevented when these modes of transmission are removed). In addition, we estimated the prevention benefits associated with historical increases in condom use and ART uptake, and impact of further increases in prevention and treatment. Results: The model projections suggest that unprotected sex between men contributed to 42% (2.5 to 97.5th percentile range 24 to 59%) of transmissions between 1995 and 2005, increasing to 64% (37 to 79%) from 2015 to 2025. The 10-year PAF of commercial sex is smaller, diminishing from 21% (7 to 39%) in 1995 to 14% (5 to 35%) in 2015. Without ART, 49% (32 to 71%) more HIV infections would have occurred since 2000, when ART was initiated, whereas without condom use since 1985, 67% (27 to 179%) more HIV infections would have occurred, and the overall HIV prevalence would have been 60% (29 to 211%) greater than what it is now. Further large decreases in HIV incidence (68%) can be achieved by scaling up ART in MSM to 74% coverage and reducing their susceptibility to HIV by two-thirds through any prevention modality. Conclusions: Unprotected sex between men may be an important contributor to HIV transmission in Dakar, due to suboptimal coverage of evidence-informed interventions. Although existing interventions have effectively reduced HIV transmission among adults, it is crucial that further strategies address the unmet need among MSM