Risques économico-environnementaux liés aux emballages traditionnels pour vivres frais utilisés dans le bassin maraîcher de Foumbot (Cameroun)

The Foumbot agricultural region is become, due to his agricultural dynamism, one of the most important market garden centers of the western region of Cameroon. The rapid development of this region at the end of 1990’s has been accompanied by the adoption of a traditional packaging model. The choice concerning the packaging in Foumbot region presents two advantages. First the permanent availability due to the abundance of row materials collected in raffia forests/forests-gallery and, secondly, an affordable prices for farmers. However, considering the diversity of market garden produces within the region, the increasing volumes of produced collected and the quality of traditional packing, economical and environmental issues of traditional packing are become the majors concerns which need sustainable alternatives. The strategy consisting of adapting products to specific traditional packing, the afforestation process of endemic species such as raffia and other raw materials from forest-gallery, the direct selling without intermediaries and in the same way the scaffolding piles should be therefore confirmed as relevant strategies dealing with the sustainability of market garden distribution

Risques économico-environnementaux liés aux emballages traditionnels pour vivres frais utilisés dans le bassin maraîcher de Foumbot (Cameroun)

Le bassin maraîcher de Foumbot dispose de par son dynamisme agricole, de l’un des principaux centres de collecte des vivres frais des hautes terres de l’ouest Cameroun. Au début des années 1990, le monde rural des hautes terres de l’ouest s’est caractérisé par une reconversion des caféiculteurs dans le maraîchage et le vivrier. Ainsi, le développement fulgurant du vivrier marchand et particulièrement de la filière maraîchère à l’intérieur de ce bassin s’est accompagné de l’adoption des modèles traditionnels d’emballages. Le choix porté sur les emballages traditionnels pour la collecte, le conditionnement et la distribution des vivres frais vise la maximisation des bénéfices et l’offre des produits de qualité à une clientèle diversifiée, nombreuse et exigeante. Cette option innovante a eu comme double avantage : sa disponibilité permanente grâce à la multitude des forêts de raphia et des forêts-galerie, mais aussi son coût relativement abordable pour les maraîchers. Cependant, face à la diversité des vivres frais, à l’accroissement des volumes des produits collectés et à la qualité des emballages traditionnels utilisés, les impacts économiques et environnementaux constituent désormais des préoccupations centrales auxquelles des solutions durables sont indéniables. Dès lors, le choix des emballages pour chaque type de vivre frais, le reboisement des espèces endémiques prélevées des raphiales et des forêts-galerie, la vente directe de même que le chargement par échafaudage se confirment comme des stratégies pertinentes dans la perspective de la durabilité de la filière « vivres frais ».The Foumbot agricultural region is become, due to his agricultural dynamism, one of the most important market garden centers of the western region of Cameroon. The rapid development of this region at the end of 1990’s has been accompanied by the adoption of a traditional packaging model. The choice concerning the packaging in Foumbot region presents two advantages. First the permanent availability due to the abundance of row materials collected in raffia forests/forests-gallery and, secondly, an affordable prices for farmers. However, considering the diversity of market garden produces within the region, the increasing volumes of produced collected and the quality of traditional packing, economical and environmental issues of traditional packing are become the majors concerns which need sustainable alternatives. The strategy consisting of adapting products to specific traditional packing, the afforestation process of endemic species such as raffia and other raw materials from forest-gallery, the direct selling without intermediaries and in the same way the scaffolding piles should be therefore confirmed as relevant strategies dealing with the sustainability of market garden distribution

Factors influencing disability in patients with chronic low back pain attending a tertiary hospital in sub-Saharan Africa

BackgroundVery little is known about the burden of chronic low back pain in Africa. This study aimed at assessing disability and associated factors in chronic low back patients in Cameroon.MethodsWe carried a hospital-based cross-sectional study including patients suffering from low back pain (LBP) of at least 12weeks' duration. Disability was assessed using the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). RMDQ >4 described persons with dysfunctional levels of disability.Multivariable linear regression was used to investigate factors associated with higher RMDQ scores hence greater disability. Variables investigated included; gender, age, marital status, employment status and type, smoking history, alcohol consumption, income, pain intensity, LBP duration, psychological wellbeing, sleep satisfaction, leg pain, numbness/paresthesia, bowel/bladder dysfunction symptoms (BBDS), body mass index (BMI), and days of work absence.ResultsA sample of 136 adults (64% female) with a mean age of 50.612.2years participated in the study. Median duration of LBP was 33 (25th - 75th percentile: 12-81) months. Mean RMDQ score was 12.8 +/- 6. In multivariable linear regression, pain intensity (=0.07, p=0.002), longer days of work absence (=0.15, p=0.003) and BBDS ( =2.33, p=0.029) were associated with greater disability. Factors such as consumption of alcohol (=-3.55, p=0.005) and higher psychological wellbeing scores (=-0.10, p=0.004) significantly contributed to less disability (lower RMDQ scores). Dysfunctional levels of disability were present in 88.1% of patients.Conclusion CLBP is associated with significant disability and this relationship is driven by several factors. Multidisciplinary management strategies especially those targeted to improve pain control, manage BBDS and improve psychological wellbeing could reduce disability and improve quality of life