Perception de la qualité de l’air et de ses conséquences sanitaires chez des populations exposées à Cotonou : cas des carrefours Vedoko cica-Toyota et Akpakpa PK3

Air pollution is a global disaster responsible for millions of deaths each year. To provide solutions adapted to the most vulnerable populations, it is necessary to know and understand their point of view on the issue. This study aims at studying the perception of the exposed populations on air pollution as well as its health consequences. Within a radius of 500m, from the Vedoko Cica-Toyota and Akpakpa PK3 crossroads in Cotonou, a semi-directive questionnaire was carried out using KoBoCollect software with 217 individuals. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, air quality, sources of pollution, health consequences and means of protection of the populations living or working in these intersections was collected. Most of the population considers that the air quality is poor, with the main sources of pollution being means of transport, human activities, factories, and lack of hygiene. The health consequences are multiple with a predominance of diseases and respiratory symptoms. Wearing a mask, even if not systematic, is the main means of protection used. The average age of the respondents was 35 years with a minimum of 18 years and a maximum of 83 years. Finally, 64.4% were men and 35.5% were women. Many of the individuals surveyed are aware of the existence of air pollution and its health consequences. At both sites, the air is perceived in majority as being polluted.La pollution de l’air est un fléau mondial responsable chaque année de millions de morts. Pour apporter des solutions adaptées aux populations les plus vulnérables, il convient de connaître et de comprendre leur point de vue sur la question. Cette étude a pour objectif d’étudier la perception des populations exposées sur la pollution atmosphérique ainsi que ses conséquences sanitaires.Dans un rayon de 500m, à partir des carrefours Vedoko Cica-Toyota et Akpakpa PK3 de Cotonou, un questionnaire semi-directif a été réalisé à l’aide du logiciel KoBoCollect auprès de 217 individus. Des informations sur les caractéristiques socio-démographiques, la qualité de l’air, les sources de pollution, les conséquences sanitaires et les moyens de protection des populations vivant ou travaillant aux alentours de ces carrefours ont été collectées.  La majorité de la population estime que l’air est de mauvaise qualité, avec comme principales sources de pollution, les moyens de déplacement, les activités humaines, les usines et le manque d’hygiène. Les conséquences sanitaires sont multiples avec une prédominance de maladies et de symptômes respiratoires. Le port du masque, même non systématique, est le principal moyen de protection utilisé. L’âge moyen des enquêtés est de 35 ans avec un minimum de 18 ans et un maximum de 83 ans. Enfin, il y avait 64,4% d’hommes et 35,5% de femmes. La majorité des individus enquêtés ont conscience de l’existence de la pollution de l’air et de ses conséquences sanitaires. Aux deux sites, l’air est perçu en majorité comme étant pollué

Perception de la qualité de l’air et de ses conséquences sanitaires chez des populations exposées à Cotonou : cas des carrefours Vedoko cica-Toyota et Akpakpa PK3

Air pollution is a global disaster responsible for millions of deaths each year. To provide solutions adapted to the most vulnerable populations, it is necessary to know and understand their point of view on the issue. This study aims at studying the perception of the exposed populations on air pollution as well as its health consequences. Within a radius of 500m, from the Vedoko Cica-Toyota and Akpakpa PK3 crossroads in Cotonou, a semi-directive questionnaire was carried out using KoBoCollect software with 217 individuals. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, air quality, sources of pollution, health consequences and means of protection of the populations living or working in these intersections was collected. Most of the population considers that the air quality is poor, with the main sources of pollution being means of transport, human activities, factories, and lack of hygiene. The health consequences are multiple with a predominance of diseases and respiratory symptoms. Wearing a mask, even if not systematic, is the main means of protection used. The average age of the respondents was 35 years with a minimum of 18 years and a maximum of 83 years. Finally, 64.4% were men and 35.5% were women. Many of the individuals surveyed are aware of the existence of air pollution and its health consequences. At both sites, the air is perceived in majority as being polluted.La pollution de l’air est un fléau mondial responsable chaque année de millions de morts. Pour apporter des solutions adaptées aux populations les plus vulnérables, il convient de connaître et de comprendre leur point de vue sur la question. Cette étude a pour objectif d’étudier la perception des populations exposées sur la pollution atmosphérique ainsi que ses conséquences sanitaires.Dans un rayon de 500m, à partir des carrefours Vedoko Cica-Toyota et Akpakpa PK3 de Cotonou, un questionnaire semi-directif a été réalisé à l’aide du logiciel KoBoCollect auprès de 217 individus. Des informations sur les caractéristiques socio-démographiques, la qualité de l’air, les sources de pollution, les conséquences sanitaires et les moyens de protection des populations vivant ou travaillant aux alentours de ces carrefours ont été collectées.  La majorité de la population estime que l’air est de mauvaise qualité, avec comme principales sources de pollution, les moyens de déplacement, les activités humaines, les usines et le manque d’hygiène. Les conséquences sanitaires sont multiples avec une prédominance de maladies et de symptômes respiratoires. Le port du masque, même non systématique, est le principal moyen de protection utilisé. L’âge moyen des enquêtés est de 35 ans avec un minimum de 18 ans et un maximum de 83 ans. Enfin, il y avait 64,4% d’hommes et 35,5% de femmes. La majorité des individus enquêtés ont conscience de l’existence de la pollution de l’air et de ses conséquences sanitaires. Aux deux sites, l’air est perçu en majorité comme étant pollué

Factors associated with early sexual intercourse among teenagers and young adults in rural south of Benin

Early initiation to sexual intercourse increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS and early or unwanted pregnancies. This study aimed identifying the factors associated with the early initiation to sexual intercourse among teenagers and young adults aged 10-24, in the south of Benin. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the south of Benin where 360 respondents were selected by random cluster sampling. Multiple logistic regressions was used to find related factors to early sexual intercourse. The significance level for the tests was of 5%. The average reported age of initiation to sexual intercourse was 14.75±2.18. Among the male teenagers and young adults, 41.11% had an early sexual intercourse against 20.24% for the female gender (P<10-3). The lack of communication between parents-teenagers (P=0.003), level of education of the father (P=0.021), exposure to pornographic movies (P=0.025), an adverse opinion on premarital sexual abstinence (P=0.026) were significantly associated with early sexual intercourse. Communication about health promotion for behavioural change may contribute to delay the age of sexual initiation

Temporal variations in air pollution at two roundabouts in the city of Cotonou, Benin

Background: Air pollution has caused health and environmental problems around the world. In this study we analysed the temporal evolution of air pollution in Cotonou regarding the standards of Benin and of World Health Organization (WHO). Methods: Solar-powered electrochemical sensors (CO: carbon monoxide, SO2: sulphur dioxide, and O3/NO2: ozone/nitrogen dioxide) and photoionization detectors (for NMVOC: nonmethane volatile organic compounds) were permanently installed and monitored from June 2019 to March 2020 at Akpakpa PK3 (A) and Vèdokô Cica-Toyota (B) roundabouts. Results: CO and SO2 concentrations at both roundabouts were significantly higher on weekends than on weekdays. The concentrations of NMVOC and O3 / NO2 on Sunday differed considerably from the other days of the week at A and B, respectively. There was a positive linear correlation between the concentrations of CO and SO2, O3 / NO2 and SO2, and CO O3 / NO2 to B, and only between CO and O3 / NO2, in A. At the two sites, the average of SO2 concentrations (in μg/m3) were higher than the WHO standard (500) for an exposure of 10 minutes (2258 A and 2143 B) and the Benin standard (1300) for 1 hour exposure (2181 in A and 2092 in B). Conclusion: Air pollution varies in hours and days in Cotonou. Standards are respected, except for SO2. Particular attention should be paid to the concentrations and the possible sources of gas. More sophisticated monitoring system should be put in place

Buruli Ulcer Surveillance, Benin, 2003–2005

We reviewed Buruli ulcer (BU) surveillance in Benin, using the World Health Organization BU02 form. We report results of reliable routine data collected on 2,598 new and recurrent cases from 2003 through 2005

Clinical Epidemiology of Buruli ulcer from Benin (2005-2013): effect of time-delay to diagnosis on clinical forms and severe phenotypes

Buruli Ulcer (BU) is a neglected infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans that is responsible for severe necrotizing cutaneous lesions that may be associated with bone involvement. Clinical presentations of BU lesions are classically classified as papules, nodules, plaques and edematous infiltration, ulcer or osteomyelitis. Within these different clinical forms, lesions can be further classified as severe forms based on focality (multiple lesions), lesions' size (>15 cm diameter) or WHO Category (WHO Category 3 lesions). There are studies reporting an association between delay in seeking medical care and the development of ulcerative forms of BU or osteomyelitis, but the effect of time-delay on the emergence of lesions classified as severe has not been addressed. To address both issues, and in a cohort of laboratory-confirmed BU cases, 476 patients from a medical center in Allada, Benin, were studied. In this laboratory-confirmed cohort, we validated previous observations, demonstrating that time-delay is statistically related to the clinical form of BU. Indeed, for non-ulcerated forms (nodule, edema, and plaque) the median time-delay was 32.5 days (IQR 30.0-67.5), while for ulcerated forms it was 60 days (IQR 20.0-120.0) (p = 0.009), and for bone lesions, 365 days (IQR 228.0-548.0). On the other hand, we show here that time-delay is not associated with the more severe phenotypes of BU, such as multi-focal lesions (median 90 days; IQR 56-217.5; p = 0.09), larger lesions (diameter >15 cm) (median 60 days; IQR 30-120; p = 0.92) or category 3 WHO classification (median 60 days; IQR 30-150; p = 0.20), when compared with unifocal (median 60 days; IQR 30-90), small lesions (diameter =15 cm) (median 60 days; IQR 30-90), or WHO category 1+2 lesions (median 60 days; IQR 30-90), respectively. Our results demonstrate that after an initial period of progression towards ulceration or bone involvement, BU lesions become stable regarding size and focal/multi-focal progression. Therefore, in future studies on BU epidemiology, severe clinical forms should be systematically considered as distinct phenotypes of the same disease and thus subjected to specific risk factor investigation.The research leading to these results received funding from the Health Services of the Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian under the grant Proc. No94776 LJ; from the Fundacao para a Ciecia e Tecnologia (FCT), cofunded by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2-O Novo Norte); from the Quadro de Referencia Estrategico Nacional (QREN) through the Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) and from the Projeto Estrategico - LA 26 - 2013-2014 (PEst-C/SAU/LA0026/2013). A. G. Fraga received an individual FCT fellowship (SFRH/BPD/68547/2010) and J. Menino received an individual QREN fellowship (UMINHO/BPD/14/2014). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Genetic variation in autophagy-related genes influences the risk and phenotype of Buruli ulcer

Introduction Buruli ulcer (BU) is a severe necrotizing human skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Clinically, presentation is a sum of these diverse pathogenic hits subjected to critical immune-regulatory mechanisms. Among them, autophagy has been demonstrated as a cellular process of critical importance. Since microtubules and dynein are affected by mycolactone, the critical pathogenic exotoxin produced by M. ulcerans, cytoskeleton-related changes might potentially impair the autophagic process and impact the risk and progression of infection. Objective Genetic variants in the autophagy-related genes NOD2, PARK2 and ATG16L1 has been associated with susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases. Here, we investigated their association with BU risk, its severe phenotypes and its progression to an ulcerative form. Methods Genetic variants were genotyped using KASPar chemistry in 208 BU patients (70.2% with an ulcerative form and 28% in severe WHO category 3 phenotype) and 300 healthy endemic controls. Results The rs1333955 SNP in PARK2 was significantly associated with increased susceptibility to BU [odds ratio (OR), 1.43; P = 0.05]. In addition, both the rs9302752 and rs2066842 SNPs in NOD2 gee significantly increased the predisposition of patients to develop category 3 (OR, 2.23; P = 0.02; and OR 12.7; P = 0.03, respectively, whereas the rs2241880 SNP in ATG16L1 was found to significantly protect patients from presenting the ulcer phenotype (OR, 0.35; P = 0.02). Conclusion Our findings indicate that specific genetic variants in autophagy-related genes influence susceptibility to the development of BU and its progression to severe phenotypes.The research leading to these results received funding from the Health Services of the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian under the grant Proc.N°94776 LJ; from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), cofunded by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2—O Novo 267 Norte); from the Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional (QREN) through the Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) and from the Projeto Estratégico – LA 26 – 2013–2014 (PEst-C/SAU/LA0026/2013). JFM received an individual QREN fellowship (UMINHO/BPD/14/2014); CCu and AGF received an individual FCT fellowship (SFRH/BPD/96176/2013 and SFRH/BPD/68547/2010, respectively); and AC received an FCT contract (IF/00735/2014). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript