Mutilations sexuelles féminines et droits humains en Afrique

Quelle est la situation actuelle des mutilations sexuelles féminines (M.G.F.), en Afrique, après vingt ans de controverses ? On estime à environ 115 millions le nombre de femmes qui dans le monde ont subi des mutilations génitales : clitoridectomie, excision ou infibulation (Rapport Hosken,1993). L'immense majorité d'entre elles vivent en Afrique où les mutilations génitales continuent d'être pratiquées au nom de traditions culturelles et religieuses. Ces pratiques ont lieu à tout âge ..

Les femmes, le sexe de l’État et les enjeux du politique : l’exemple de la régionalisation au Sénégal

Les débats menés autour de l’État africain, ces trente dernières années, ont reflété les grandes idées qui ont agité le monde contemporain, mais ils sont, dans l’ensemble, restés muets sur des questions soulevées au cours des deux décennies des Nations Unies pour la femme. Or une approche de genre des questions du politique s’avère indispensable sur bien des plans. Elle aide désormais à mieux saisir la manière dont l’inégalité entre les sexes est instituée, prolongée, voire renforcée au cœur du politique. Cet article vise à montrer l’importance des travaux sur le genre, l’État et le politique et la logique dont ils procèdent. Il vise également à faire comprendre en quoi consiste l’interrogation sur le sexe de l’État en Afrique, sur la dimension masculine et patriarcale de l’État et son impact sur les politiques, sur les femmes et sur les rapports et les rôles sociaux des sexes. On ne saurait tendre vers les objectifs d’égalité dans le développement en Afrique sans reconsidérer le sexe de l’État et de ses politiques.The debates surrounding the African state over the last three decades have reflected the major ideas that existed in worls, but they have not addressed issues brought to light during the two United Nations Women’s Decades. However a gender approach to political issues has proved essential at different levels. It is now serving to clarify the manner in which gender inequality has been established, perpetuated, or even strengthened within politics. This article focuses on the importance of the work carried out on gender issues, the state and politics, as well as their underlying rationale. It also seeks to provide a better understanding of the questions raised about the gender of the state in Africa, the male and patriarchal dimension of the state as well as its impact on policies, women, and gender roles and relationships. The goal of promoting equality and development in Africa may not be achieved until the gender of the state and of its policies has been reconsidered

Evaluation of determinants of the use of health mutuals by the population of the Ziguinchor region in Senegal

Access to health services is a concern around the world. Different strategies were developed, but Africa’s rate remains the lowest. This article aims to contribute to the population's access to healthcare, and to assess the determinants of the use of mutual health insurance by the population of the Ziguinchor region in Senegal.    Methods: The study is transversal and descriptive, carried out from July to August 2018. Through the quota method we defined the number of patients to be interviewed. Thus, by a geographic stratification according to the departments and a second-degree stratification taking into account the staff of the different hospital departments, 392 patients were selected.   Results: 73% at the Regional Hospital Center and 27% at the Regional Peace Hospital. Response rate: 97%, women 60% and men 40%. The enrollment for women (24%) is slightly higher than that for men (21%). Socio-economic factors. The rate of adherence is the highest of for patients with university level, followed by high school; income:  the highest rate for patients with a monthly income between 200,000 and 500,000 FCFA, followed by patients with an income monthly between 100,000 and 200,000 FCFA. Factors linked to the provision of care: the rate of Mutual Health Insurance adherence follows distances from patients' homes. Concerning the relation to satisfaction, education, distance and information are more determining than adherence rate.    Recommendations: 1) State: actions on education and distance; 2) Sensitizing the population on mutual health insurance; 3) Urging healthcare providers to reduce waiting times and respect schedules as well as appointments.&nbsp

Contribution of Information-Education-Communication in the adoption of Universal Health Coverage by the populations in the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa in 2020.

Aims: This study aims to assess the knowledge of people from Central Africa about Universal Health Coverage and show the contribution of Information-Education-Communication for its adoption. Methods: a cross-sectional analytical study across 4 of 6 Central African Countries was conducted. Independent variables are sociodemographic characteristics. Dependent variables are knowledge about Information-Education-Communication and Universal Health Coverage. The questionnaire was disseminated by WhatsApp images or word file or copy/paste of the text and send to the contacted and trained focal points. From the Smartphone, the filmed or transferred data were entered into a CSpro 5.0 input form. Mean score calculations and Odd Ratio with 95 % Confidence Interval for p < 0.005 were used to make associations.   Results: the Universal Health Coverage had never been heard of by 56.3% of the participants. The Universal Health Coverage was defined as health insurance by (43.9%), free care (30.3%). Respondents with secondary and higher education are more likely to have heard of the UHC than respondents with no education or those with elementary education [OR = 2.95 (1.01-8.64), p = 0.021] and [OR = 4.27 (1.50 – 12.16), p = 0.002] respectively. Conclusion: 9.3% of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) population is aware of the Universal Health Coverage; 89.4% of these accept universal health coverage in their country, and 87.4% of them think that the Information Education Communication could enable better adherence to the Universal Health Communication. Implemention of Universal Health Coverage for the general population and adoption of Information-Education-Communication to promote Universal Health Coverage and pool efforts and affiliation procedures in the CEMAC zone is very importan

Contribution of Information-Education-Communication in the adoption of Universal Health Coverage by the populations in the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa in 2020.

Aims: This study aims to assess the knowledge of people from Central Africa about Universal Health Coverage and show the contribution of Information-Education-Communication for its adoption. Methods: a cross-sectional analytical study across 4 of 6 Central African Countries was conducted. Independent variables are sociodemographic characteristics. Dependent variables are knowledge about Information-Education-Communication and Universal Health Coverage. The questionnaire was disseminated by WhatsApp images or word file or copy/paste of the text and send to the contacted and trained focal points. From the Smartphone, the filmed or transferred data were entered into a CSpro 5.0 input form. Mean score calculations and Odd Ratio with 95 % Confidence Interval for p < 0.005 were used to make associations. Results: the Universal Health Coverage had never been heard of by 56.3% of the participants. The Universal Health Coverage was defined as health insurance by (43.9%), free care (30.3%). Respondents with secondary and higher education are more likely to have heard of the UHC than respondents with no education or those with elementary education [OR = 2.95 (1.01-8.64), p = 0.021] and [OR = 4.27 (1.50 – 12.16), p = 0.002] respectively. Conclusion: 9.3% of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) population is aware of the Universal Health Coverage; 89.4% of these accept universal health coverage in their country, and 87.4% of them think that the Information Education Communication could enable better adherence to the Universal Health Communication. Implemention of Universal Health Coverage for the general population and adoption of Information-Education-Communication to promote Universal Health Coverage and pool efforts and affiliation procedures in the CEMAC zone is very importan

Les accidents de scooter chez l’enfant au CHU Aristide Le Dantec de Dakar: à propos de 74 cas

Introduction: Les accidents de scooter sont de plus en plus fréquents à Dakar. Le but de ce travail est de rapporter les aspects épidémiologiques et lésionnels des ces accidents chez l'enfant à Dakar. Méthodes: Une étude rétrospective et descriptive a été menée dans le Service de Chirurgie Pédiatrique du CHU  Aristide Le Dantec de Dakar entre le 1er janvier 2009 et le 31 décembre 2011. Nous avons étudié divers  paramètres dont la fréquence, les aspects sociodémographiques et lésionnels. Résultats: Les accidents  de scooter représentaient 12 % des accidents de la voie publique. Ils étaient fréquents entre 12 heures et  14 heures (27 %) et entre 18 heures et 20 heures (28,4 %). Ils pouvaient survenir tous les jours et  étaient fréquents pendant les mois d'avril (17,6 %) et de juin (13,5 %). Ils survenaient essentiellement  dans la périphérie de Dakar (78 %). La tranche de 3 à 8 ans (60,8 %) était la plus touchée. Le sexe  masculin était prédominant (sexe ratio de 1,5). Les piétons étaient les plus vulnérables (93,2 %). La  chute était le mécanisme dominant (98,7 %). Les lésions touchaient surtout le membre inférieur (51,1 %) et étaient constituées essentiellement de fracture. Conclusion: La fréquence des accidents de scooter chez l'enfant est liée à l'urbanisation galopante et à l'accroissement du parc automobile dans une presqu'île. Les victimes sont essentiellement des piétons et présentent le plus souvent des fractures.Key words: Accident de scooter, enfant, piétons, fractures, Daka

Human IgG response to a salivary peptide, gSG6-P1, as a new immuno-epidemiological tool for evaluating low-level exposure to Anopheles bites

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human populations exposed to low malaria transmission present particular severe risks of malaria morbidity and mortality. In addition, in a context of low-level exposure to <it>Anopheles </it>vector, conventional entomological methods used for sampling <it>Anopheles </it>populations are insufficiently sensitive and probably under-estimate the real risk of malaria transmission. The evaluation of antibody (Ab) responses to arthropod salivary proteins constitutes a novel tool for estimating exposure level to insect bites. In the case of malaria, a recent study has shown that human IgG responses to the gSG6-P1 peptide represented a specific biomarker of exposure to <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>bites. The objective of this study was to investigate if this biomarker can be used to estimate low-level exposure of individuals to <it>Anopheles </it>vector.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The IgG Ab level to gSG6-P1 was evaluated at the peak and at the end of the <it>An. gambiae </it>exposure season in children living in Senegalese villages, where the <it>Anophele</it>s density was estimated to be very low by classical entomological trapping but where malaria transmission occurred during the studied season.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Specific IgG responses to gSG6-P1 were observed in children exposed to very low-level of <it>Anopheles </it>bites. In addition, a significant increase in the specific IgG Ab level was observed during the <it>Anopheles </it>exposure season whereas classical entomological data have reported very few or no <it>Anopheles </it>during the studied period. Furthermore, this biomarker may also be applicable to evaluate the heterogeneity of individual exposure.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results strengthen the hypothesis that the evaluation of IgG responses to gSG6-P1 during the season of exposure could reflect the real human contact with anthropophilic <it>Anopheles </it>and suggest that this biomarker of low exposure could be used at the individual level. This promising immuno-epidemiological marker could represent a useful tool to assess the risk to very low exposure to malaria vectors as observed in seasonal, urban, altitude or travellers contexts. In addition, this biomarker could be used for the surveillance survey after applying anti-vector strategy.</p

Réalités et enjeux de la participation des femmes dans les essais cliniques sur les antirétroviraux : expérience au Sénégal

De plus en plus d'essais cliniques se déroulent dans les pays du Sud. Contrairement aux pays du Nord, où dans les années 1990 les associations critiquaient l'absence de femmes dans les essais, les femmes sont quatre fois plus nombreuses que les hommes parmi les participants lors du dernier d'entre eux mené à Dakar. Cela rend particulièrement aiguë la question de la survenue de grossesses dans les essais. Ce chapitre analyse cette féminisation des participants aux essais, avec la question de savoir si celle-ci résulte des modalités d'inclusion. Le mode de prise en charge des femmes enceintes dans les essais sera présenté et discuté à partir de l'expérience des femmes, des soignants et des chercheurs. Les problèmes que pose la féminisation des participants aux essais cliniques seront discutés, notamment pour ce qui concerne les limites du dispositif de prise en charge en matière de contraception, les dispositions éthiques exigées et la possibilité de critères d'inclusion basés sur le sexe

Effects of lenten fasting on body composition and biochemical parameters

Background: The catholic lenten fasting is the period of 40 days of fasting that precedes Easter. It is one of religious fasting less documented in the scientific literature. Thus the aim of our study was to evaluate the evolution of anthropometric and body composition and biochemical profile during Catholic lenten fasting.Methods: We conducted a prospective study, which took place during the period between one week before at the end of lenten fasting. Eleven fasters (4 women and 7 men), aged between 18 and 59 years were included in present study. Anthropometric, body composition parameters and biochemical profile were evaluated one week before, at 15th day and at the end of Lenten fasting.Results: Weight, body mass index (BMI) and visceral fat decreased significantly at the end of Lenten fasting. Lipid profile changed significantly during this fasting period. Total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein – cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides decreased significantly with fasting. High density lipoprotein – cholesterol (HDL-C) was remained unchanged during this fasting period while TC/HDL ratio was significantly decreased at the end of Lent.Conclusions: Present study showed that the fasting of Lent seems to have beneficial effects on reducing cardiovascular risk factors. Further studies are required to better understand the physiological mechanisms involved for a therapeutic use

Insecticidal effects of siliceous sands as preservative for maize and cowpea storage

Siliceous sands were tested in maize and cowpea storage against pests. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the insecticidal activity of two sands applied at increased doses of 1, 2, 3 and 4g/250g of maize and cowpea on Sitophilus zeamais, Callosobruchus maculatus, Prostephanus truncatus and Tribolium castaneum adults. Sands (Diobe1 and 2) were sieved and the two particles sizes retained for the study were 1×1 mm and 0.3×0.3 mm. Untreated plots and Actellic® served as control and the experiment was conducted during one month. Each dose was repeated 4 times. Results revealed a high efficiency of siliceous sand against these four pests with greater efficiency of Diobe1. Mortality of 85% was observed with Diobe 1 against 100% for actellic® and 0% for untreated plots. Emergences progressed inversely to the mortality. Damage and losses reached respectively 25% and 6% with untreated plots. P. truncatus caused nearly 16% of damages and 3% of losses at lower doses. However, with 4g/250g of stored substances (1.6%, w/w), the losses were below 1%. Insects did not show the same sensitivity to treatment and fineness of particles sands inhibits their action as long as the dose increases