Foraging is determinant to improve smallholders’ food security in rural areas in Mali, West Africa

Studies on the enabling factors for household food security (HFS) most often used simplified econometric models looking into the links with a selected set of variables. In this research, a livelihood approach of HFS was used and aimed at determining the most significant livelihood assets for HFS in dryland agricultural systems. Elements of the five livelihood assets were assessed through questionnaire surveys with a random sample of 180 households, and six focus group discussions in three communities along the rural-urban continuum, in Southern Mali. The coping strategy index approach was used to evaluate household food security status. Non-parametric and parametric statistical tests were combined, as appropriate, to identify the most significant determinants of HFS status. Findings indicated that most determinant factors of HFS were the diversity of wild and cultivated food plants, and hunting (natural capital); access to clean water and irrigation (infrastructural capital); and off-farm employment (financial capital). HFS also improved along the urban-rural continuum and rural households with high natural capital seemed to be more food secure. Findings call for important investment to expand the natural capital (e.g., domestication of new crops and agricultural diversification) and infrastructural capital (irrigation facilities, clean water) of the rural households

Lymphome Cérébral Primitif (LCP) du Sujet Immunocompétent: A Propos d’Un cas à l’Hôpital National de Niamey (HNN)

Le Lymphome Cérébral Primitif (LCP) du sujet immunocompétent est une entité rare des lymphomes Non Hodgkiniens en général et des tumeurs cérébrales en particulier. Il est caractérisé par sa sévérité clinique, mais aussi son mauvais pronostic. Nous rapportons un cas de LCP chez un sujet immunocompétent diagnostiqué au service de neurologie et pris en charge au service d’Onco-hématologie de l’Hôpital National de Niamey.   Primary Cerebral Lymphoma (PCL) of the immunocompetent subject is a rare feature of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in general and brain tumors in particular. It is characterized by its clinical severity, but also its poor prognosis. We report a case of LCP in an immunocompetent subject diagnosed in the neurology department and managed by Onco-hematology at the National Hospital of Niamey

Lymphome Cérébral Primitif (LCP) du Sujet Immunocompétent: A Propos d’Un cas à l’Hôpital National de Niamey (HNN)

Le Lymphome Cérébral Primitif (LCP) du sujet immunocompétent est une entité rare des lymphomes Non Hodgkiniens en général et des tumeurs cérébrales en particulier. Il est caractérisé par sa sévérité clinique, mais aussi son mauvais pronostic. Nous rapportons un cas de LCP chez un sujet immunocompétent diagnostiqué au service de neurologie et pris en charge au service d’Onco-hématologie de l’Hôpital National de Niamey.   Primary Cerebral Lymphoma (PCL) of the immunocompetent subject is a rare feature of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in general and brain tumors in particular. It is characterized by its clinical severity, but also its poor prognosis. We report a case of LCP in an immunocompetent subject diagnosed in the neurology department and managed by Onco-hematology at the National Hospital of Niamey

Réseau d'EpidémioSurveillance de la Chimiorésistance aux trypanocides et aux acaricides en Afrique de l'Ouest (RESCAO)

Epidemiological Monitoring Network of Chemoresistance to Trypanocidal and Acaricides Drugs in West Africa (RESCAO). To better coordinate the efforts against trypanocidal and acaricides drugs resistance, the Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) of Antwerp and the "Centre International de Recherche-Développement sur l'Elevage en zone Subhumide (CIRDES)" of Bobo Dioulasso, established in April 2009 an epidemiological surveillance network of chemoresistance to trypanocidal and acaricides drugs in Western Africa, named RESCAO. Its main objective is to contribute to the improvement of the livestock health and of the productivity of agriculture in tropical Africa, through both an efficient strategic control of trypanosomosis and tick born diseases, including a rational use of the available therapeutic drugs. RESCAO is headed by a regional steering committee based at CIRDES. This committee meets on a yearly basis to overview the on-going activities and to identify new strategies for action. Moreover, molecular analyzes performed on samples from seven West African's countries, members of RESCAO, have shown that resistance to diminazeneaceturate was widespread in Trypanosoma congolense with percentages ranging from 67.85 (19/28) for Burkina Faso to 100% (9/9) for Ghana

Assessment of Post-abortion Care Services in Two Health Facilities in Conakry, Guinea

High quality post-abortion care (PAC) is needed to curb maternal deaths by providing effective treatment and preventing future unintended pregnancies through PAC family planning. This study aimed at assessing PAC services with a focus on women‘s satisfaction with care they received in two health facilities in Conakry. We conducted a cross-sectional mixed method study with 426 PAC clients from March 1st to August 31st, 2014. Data analyses were performed using Stata software version 14 for quantitative data and using a thematic approach for qualitative data. Overall, 92.5% of women were satisfied with PAC services they received. The short waiting time (< 30 min), the appropriate management of pain during the treatment, the affordable cost of the treatment, the confidentiality of services, the good patient-provider interaction and the cleanliness of the premises were factors statistically significantly associated with the satisfaction of women (P-value ˂ 0.001). This study showed a high rate ofwomen‘s satisfaction. Nevertheless, health authorities should assure a regular follow-up on the application of official prices for the treatment of PAC patients; and providers should further consider aspects such as pain management during treatment, confidentiality of services, patient-provider interaction for optimal satisfaction of clients with PAC services. Keywords: Assessment, Post-abortion care, Health facilities, GuineaDes soins post-avortement (SAA) de haute qualité sont nécessaires pour réduire les décès maternels en fournissant un traitement efficace et en prévenant les futures grossesses non désirées grâce à la planification familiale après-avortement. Cette étude visait à évaluer les services de SAA en mettant l'accent sur la satisfaction des femmes à l'égard des soins qu'elles ont reçus dans deux établissements de santé à Conakry. Nous avons mené une étude transversale à méthodes mixtes auprès de 426 clientes de SAA du 1er mars au 31 août 2014. Les analyses de données ont été réalisées à l'aide du logiciel Stata version 14 pour les données quantitatives et en utilisant une approche thématique pour les données qualitatives. Dans l'ensemble, 92,5% des femmes étaient satisfaites des services de SAA qu'elles ont reçus. Le temps d'attente court (<30 min), la gestion appropriée de la douleur pendant le traitement, le coût abordable du traitement, la confidentialité des services, la bonne interaction patiente -prestataire et la propreté des locaux étaient des facteurs statistiquement significativement associés à la satisfaction des femmes (valeur P ˂0,001). Cette étude a montré un taux élevé de satisfaction des femmes. Néanmoins, les autorités sanitaires devraient assurer un suivi régulier de l'application des prix officiels pour le traitement des patientes de SAA; et les prestataires devraient en outre prendre en compte des aspects tels que la gestion de la douleur pendant le traitement, la confidentialité des services, l'interaction patiente-prestataire pour une satisfaction optimale des clientes à l‘égard des services de SAA. Mots-clés: Évaluation, Soins post-avortement, Établissements de santé, Guiné

Genetic Diversification and Selection Strategies for Improving Sorghum Grain Yield Under Phosphorous-Deficient Conditions in West Africa

Sorghum, a major crop for income generation and food security in West and Central Africa, is predominantly grown in low-input farming systems with serious soil phosphorus (P) deficiencies. This study (a) estimates genetic parameters needed to design selection protocols that optimize genetic gains for yield under low-phosphorus conditions and (b) examines the utility of introgressed backcross nested association mapping (BCNAM) populations for diversifying Malian breeding materials. A total of 1083 BC1F5 progenies derived from an elite hybrid restorer “Lata-3” and 13 diverse donor accessions were evaluated for yield and agronomic traits under contrasting soil P conditions in Mali in 2013. A subset of 298 progenies were further tested under low-P (LP) and high-P (HP) conditions in 2014 and 2015. Significant genetic variation for grain yield was observed under LP and HP conditions. Selection for grain yield under LP conditions was feasible and more efficient than the indirect selection under HP in all three years of testing. Several of the BCNAM populations exhibited yields under LP conditions that were superior to the elite restorer line used as a recurrent parent. The BCNAM approach appears promising for diversifying the male parent pool with introgression of diverse materials using both adapted Malian breed and unadapted landrace material from distant geographic origins as donors

Impact of an Antenatal Counseling on Use of Modern Family Planning Methods in the Postpartum in Rural Guinea

In Guinea, family planning (FP) uptake remains low. The objective of this study was to compare the impact of two types of antenatal counseling on modern FP uptake in the postpartum in rural Guinea. This was a two-group non-equivalent study comparing the impact of a reinforced antenatal counseling (intervention) to the routine antenatal counseling (control). The study included 404 pregnant women at five rural health centres in Forécariah district, Western Guinea. Each woman was followed up until the ninth month postpartum. The study was conducted from October 12, 2013 to December 30, 2014. Findings showed that at the ninth month postpartum, use of modern FP was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (5.7% and 1.1%, respectively; p=0.024). However, 67.6% and 65.7% of women in the intervention group and the control group, respectively, abstained from sexual intercourse at the sixth month postpartum and had the intention to do so until the child walks. At the ninth month postpartum such women represented 70.5% and 59.5%, respectively. Therefore, a longer study period is recommended to assess the effect of antenatal counseling on use of modern FP in the postpartum in Guinea. Keywords: Antenatal counseling; Family planning; Postpartum; Rural; Guine

Cholécystectomies Laparoscopiques Pour Cholécystite Aigue Lithiasique Versus Lithiase Vésiculaire Symptomatique

Introduction: The aim of this work was to highlight the therapeutic and prognostic difficulties between a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute gallstone cholecystitis (CAL) and uncomplicated symptomatic vesicular lithiasis (LVS) as well as the reasons for conversion to laparotomy. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective comparative and analytic study over 18 months. Patients admitted and operated for CAL or LVS in the A Surgery Department of the National Hospital of Niamey (HNN) were included. Results: The study involved 61 patients divided into two groups. Group 1 (30 patients) corresponding to patients operated for CAL, group 2 (31 patients) corresponding to patients operated for LVS. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy accounted for 61% of all cholecystectomies performed and 1.45% of surgical activity during the same period. The average age in group 1 was 43.7 years with extremes of 14 and 61 years. In group 2, the average age was 38.9 years with extremes ranging from 12 to 55 years. Women were predominantly represented with 63.3% and 96.7% respectively for groups 1 and 2. Patients were overweight in 9 cases for group 1 (30% of cases) and 12 cases in group 2 (38%), 7% of cases). Hepatic colic was the main sign of appeal in all patients in both groups. In group 1; 26 out of 30 cases or 86.7% of cases had leukocytosis, whereas in group 2, leukocytosis was normal in 30 cases, ie 96.8% of cases. Accessibility of the vesicle was difficult in 73.3% of cases in group 1 against 22.6% of cases in group 2. The vesicle was distended and necrotic in groups 1 in 76.7% and 10 respectively. % of cases. On the other hand, in 25.8% of cases, the vesicle was distended and without any necrosis in group 2. The rate of conversion to laparotomy was 6.55% (4 cases) and exclusively concerned group 1. Operative follow-up immediate outcomes were simple in 98.34% of cases. The complications involved 2 patients in group 1 (1.66% of the total), including parietal suppuration and biliary leakage. Mean operative time was 68.7 min in group 1 versus 41.6 min in group 2. Mean duration of hospitalization was 4.3 days with extremes between 2 and 10 days in group 1 versus1,7 days with extremes ranging from 1 to 7 days in group 2. Mortality was zero. Conclusion: In recent years, laparoscopic surgery has made remarkable progress in Niger. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy seems to be more difficult to perform with significant morbidity in the case of CAL than LVS. The risk of per and postoperative complications can be estimated from the clinical data (acute cholecystitis or symptomatic vesicular lithiasis) and the surgeon's experience. In a cholecystectomy that lasts more than 2 hours, the cumulative risk of complications is highe

The impact of participation in Diversity Field Fora on farmer management of millet and Sorghum varieties in Mali

Malian farmers have been cultivating millet and sorghum for millennia, but they are slow to adopt and develop modern varieties because it is difficult to observe the difference in yields in their fields, given the challenging local growing conditions. Farmer participatory approaches are therefore recommended. This paper applies an instrumental variables method to survey data from Mali to evaluate the impacys of Diversity Field Fora, a type of farmer field school which aims to boost millet and sorghum yields by showing farmers how to manage diverse varieties. Impact indicators are expected and recalled millet and sorghum yields. the total number of unique attributes of millet and sorghum varieties stocked as seed, and the relative deprivation of the household farm with respect to these indicators. The findings suggest the project has had results at one of two sites where it has been implemented with the same local leadership and more intensively over a longer time frame