Contribution a l’étude physicochimique de l’écosystème lacustre Dayet Aoua au Maroc

L’étude consiste à la détermination de la qualité physicochimique des eaux du lac Dayet Aoua situé dans le Moyen Atlas au Maroc juste après son dernier desséchement survenu en été 2002. Les résultats d’analyse obtenus au cours de la période d’étude comprise entre février et juillet 2005, montrent que les eaux du lac sont bicarbonatées calciques et magnésiennes, dures à très dures. La dureté dépend essentiellement des ions magnésium. Les analyses des formes azotées et des orthophosphates des eaux du lac donnent des valeurs très faibles, et ne décèlent aucune sorte de pollution de type organique pouvant engendrer son eutrophisation, ce qui permet de le classeractuellement parmi les lacs oligotrophes.Mots-clés : lac, physico-chimie, pollution organique, oligotrophe

The scourge of head injury among commercial motorcycle riders in Kampala; a preventable clinical and public health menace

Background: Trauma is an increasingly important cause of disease globally. Half of this trauma is from road traffic injuries with motorcycles contributing 21-58%. Low protective gear use, lack of regulation and weak traffic law enforcement contribute to unsafe nature of commercial motorcycles also known as \u201cboda boda\u201d in Uganda. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of protective gear use, the occurrence of head injury and the relationship between the two among commercial motorcycle riders in Kampala. Methods: Following ethical approval we recruited consecutive consenting participants to this analytical cross-sectional study. Data was collected using pretested interviewer administered questionnaires, double entered in Epidata and analyzed with STATA. Proportions and means were used to summarize data. Odds ratios were calculated for association between wearing helmets and occurrence and severity of head injury. Results: All 328 participants recruited were male. Of these, 18.6% used Protective gear and 71.1 % sustained head injury. Helmets protected users from head injury (OR 0.43, 95% CI, 0.23-0.8) and significantly reduced its severity when it occurred. Conclusion: Protective gear use was low, with high occurrence of head injury among commercial motorcycle riders in Uganda. More effective strategies are needed to promote protective gear use among Uganda\u2019s commercial motorcycle riders

Knowledge and use of family planning among men in rural Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Unmet need for family planning exceeds 33% in Uganda. One approach to decreasing unmet need is promoting male involvement in family planning. Male disapproval of use of family planning by their female partners and misconceptions about side effects are barriers to family planning globally and in Uganda in particular. Researchers have conducted a number of qualitative studies in recent years to examine different aspects of family planning among Ugandan men. The present study aimed to quantify men's knowledge of family planning in rural Uganda to understand how better to involve men in couples' contraceptive decision-making, particularly in low-resource settings. METHODS: Data were derived from in-person, researcher-administered surveys of men in a rural agrarian district in Uganda (N = 178). Participant demographics and knowledge of family planning methods, side effects, and use were queried. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. RESULTS: Men were 34 years of age on average (range 18-71) and about half (56%) had a primary school education or less. Ninety-eight percent reported any knowledge of family planning, with 73% of men reporting obtaining information via radio and only 43% from health workers. The most common method known by men was the male condom (72%), but more than half also knew of injections (54%) and pills (52%). Relatively few men reported knowing about the most effective reversible contraceptive methods, intrauterine devices and implants (both 16%). Men identified many common contraceptive side-effects, such as vaginal bleeding (31%), and misconceptions about side effects, such as increased risk of infertility and birth defects, were relatively uncommon (both < 10%). About half of all men reported ever using a family planning method (53%), and 40% reported current use. CONCLUSIONS: This study's quantitative results build on those of recent qualitative studies and provide information about the types of family planning information men are lacking and avenues for getting this information to them

Placental Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection: Operational accuracy of HRP2 rapid diagnostic tests in a malaria endemic setting

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria has a negative effect on the outcome of pregnancy. Pregnant women are at high risk of severe malaria and severe haemolytic anaemia, which contribute 60-70% of foetal and perinatal losses. Peripheral blood smear microscopy under-estimates sequestered placental infections, therefore malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) detecting histidine rich protein-2 antigen (HRP-2) in peripheral blood are a potential alternative.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>HRP-2 RDTs accuracy in detecting malaria in pregnancy (MIP >28 weeks gestation) and placental <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>malaria (after childbirth) were conducted using Giemsa microscopy and placental histopathology respectively as the reference standard. The study was conducted in Mbale Hospital, using the midwives to perform and interpret the RDT results. Discordant results samples were spot checked using PCR techniques.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among 433 febrile women tested, RDTs had a sensitivity of 96.8% (95% CI 92-98.8), specificity of 73.5% (95% CI 67.8-78.6), a positive predictive value (PPV) of 68.0% (95% CI 61.4-73.9), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 97.5% (95% CI 94.0-99.0) in detecting peripheral <it>P. falciparum </it>malaria during pregnancy. At delivery, in non-symptomatic women, RDTs had a 80.9% sensitivity (95% CI 57.4-93.7) and a 87.5% specificity (95%CI 80.9-92.1), PPV of 47.2% (95% CI 30.7-64.2) and NPV of 97.1% (95% CI 92.2-99.1) in detecting placental <it>P. falciparum </it>infections among 173 samples. At delivery, 41% of peripheral infections were detected by microscopy without concurrent placental infection. The combination of RDTs and microscopy improved the sensitivity to 90.5% and the specificity to 98.4% for detecting placental malaria infection (McNemar's <it>X </it>²> 3.84). RDTs were not superior to microscopy in detecting placental infection (McNemar's <it>X </it>²< 3.84). Presence of malaria in pregnancy and active placental malaria infection were 38% and 12% respectively. Placental infections were associated with poor pregnancy outcome [pre-term, still birth and low birth weight] (aOR = 37.9) and late pregnancy malaria infection (aOR = 20.9). Mosquito net use (aOR 2.1) and increasing parity (aOR 2.7) were associated with lower risk for malaria in pregnancy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Use of HRP-2 RDTs to detect malaria in pregnancy in symptomatic women was accurate when performed by midwives. A combination of RDTs and microscopy provided the best means of detecting placental malaria. RDTs were not superior to microscopy in detecting placental infection. With a high sensitivity and specificity, RDTs could be a useful tool for assessing malaria in pregnancy, with further (cost-) effectiveness studies.</p

Mapping the medical outcomes study HIV health survey (MOS-HIV) to the EuroQoL 5 Dimension (EQ-5D-3L) utility index

10.1186/s12955-019-1135-8Health and Quality of Life Outcomes1718

Contamination en métaux traces des sédiments du lac Fouarat (Maroc)

Résumé Les agglomérations urbaines de la ville de Kénitra sont susceptibles de perturber l\'équilibre écologique du lac Fouarat, à cause de leur essor démographique et industriel. Les sédiments du lac Fouarat ont été prélevés et analysés dans le but de déterminer leurs principales caractéristiques. La teneur en métaux et les paramètres chimiques ont été évalués dans la fraction inférieure à 63 &mu;m. Les résultats obtenus montrent que les concentrations métalliques trouvées sont supérieures aux concentrations relevées par d\'autres travaux sur des témoins (non pollués). La comparaison entre les teneurs en métaux dans les sédiments du fond et ceux de surface d\'une carotte montre que les teneurs en zinc, en chrome et en cadmium diminuent de la surface vers la profondeur. L\'intensité de cette pollution est traduite par le facteur et l\'indice de contamination qui montrent une nette contamination de sédiments du lac Fouarat. Mots-clés : lac Fouarat, sédiments fins, métaux lourds, caractéristiques physicochimiques Abstract Metals trace contamination in lake Fouarat sediments (Morocco) Large agglomerations of Kénitra city may upset the equilibrium of Fouarat lake because of population and industrial growth. Sediments from Fouarat lake have been therefore analyzed to determine their main characteristics as well as their heavy metals Pollution. content; the latter has been evaluated in the fraction below 63 &mu;m. The results obtained by the dosage of heavy metals show that sediments are loaded. These values are exceeding limits values noted in sediments non-polluted. The intensity of this pollution is reflected in the factor and evidence of contamination showing important metals contamination in the Fouarat lake. Key words: Fouarat lake, fine-grained sediments, heavy metals, physico-chemical caracteristics, Pollution. Afrique Science Vol.1(1) 2005: 109-12

Influence des rejets des eaux usées sur la composition des eaux de surface et des sédiments superficiels du lac Merja Fouarate au Maroc

Résumé Le site objet du présent travail est un lac situé à proximité d'une grande agglomération urbaine. Cette dépression qui communique avec la nappe phréatique sousjacente est devenue actuellement un exutoire dans lequel sont déversés, sans aucun traitement préalable, les effluents domestiques et industriels des quartiers avoisinants. Dans le but d'évaluer l'influence des rejets déversés sur la qualité des eaux du site étudié, la composition des eaux de surface et des sédiments superficiels du lac en basses eaux, ainsi que celle des rejets s'y déversant, a été déterminée. L'évolution spatiotemporelle de quelques paramètres physico-chimiques a été suivie sur les eaux prélevées. Les résultats obtenus montrent que les eaux étudiées sont dures et assez chargées en sels dissous et en matière en suspension; elles présentent une minéralisation importante se rapprochant en général des valeurs limites indiquées par la directive de la CEE et la réglementation française et dépassant celles fixées par l'Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS). Les eaux des rejets et des berges du lac ne sont pas conseillées à l'utilisation en irrigation. Les eaux superficielles du lac subissent l'influence néfaste des eaux usées de la ville de Kénitra. L'impact de cette pollution est plus ressenti au niveau des eaux et des sédiments superficiels des berges et s'étend même jusqu'à la zone centrale du lac. La nature des terrains avoisinants le lac contribue aussi à la dégradation de la qualité des eaux du lac, suite au lessivage en période de crue. Mots-clés : Lac Merja Fourate, pollution, eaux usées, composition chimique, eaux de surface, sédiments Abstract Influence of the worn water on the lake surface water and surface sediments com position of the lake Merja Fouarate in Morocco The site subject of this work is a lake located near an urban center. This depression which communicated with the subjacent ground water became currently a discharge site in which are poured domestic and industrial effluents without any preliminary treatments. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of the worn water on the lake water quality. In this way we have determined the lake surface water and the surface sediments composition. The obtained values have been compared to worn water case. The space-time evolution of some physicochemical parameters was monitored. The results obtained show that studied water is rather charged out of dissolved salt and suspended matter. They also show a hard water character, which presents in general bringing closer the limiting values indicated by the directive to the European Communities and the French regulation and exceeding that fixed by the World Health Organization. This leads that water of the rejections and the banks can not be used in the irrigation systems. The surface waters of the lake are subject to the harmful influence of wastewater of Kénitra town. The impact of this pollution is felt more on the level of water and surface sediments of the banks and extends even to the central zone of the lake. The nature of the soil contributes also by following scrubbing in a rainy and rising period. Key words: Lake Merja Fourate, pollution, wastewater, chemical composition, surface water, sediments Afrique Science Vol.1(1) 2005: 145-16

Developing Content for a mHealth Intervention to Promote Postpartum Retention in Prevention of Mother-To-Child HIV Transmission Programs and Early Infant Diagnosis of HIV: A Qualitative Study

Maternal attendance at postnatal clinic visits and timely diagnosis of infant HIV infection are important steps for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. We aimed to use theory-informed methods to develop text messages targeted at facilitating these steps.We conducted five focus group discussions with health workers and women attending antenatal, postnatal, and PMTCT clinics to explore aspects of women's engagement in postnatal HIV care and infant testing. Discussion topics were informed by constructs of the Health Belief Model (HBM) and prior empirical research. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed according to the construct of the HBM to which they related. Themes were extracted and used to draft intervention messages. We carried out two stages of further messaging development: messages were presented in a follow-up focus group in order to develop optimal phrasing in local languages. We then further refined the messages, pretested them in individual cognitive interviews with selected health workers, and finalized the messages for the intervention.Findings indicated that brief, personalized, caring, polite, encouraging, and educational text messages would facilitate women bringing their children to clinic after delivery, suggesting that text messages may serve as an important "cue to action." Participants emphasized that messages should not mention HIV due to fear of HIV testing and disclosure. Participants also noted that text messages could capitalize on women's motivation to attend clinic for childhood immunizations.Applying a multi-stage content development approach to crafting text messages--informed by behavioral theory--resulted in message content that was consistent across different focus groups. This approach could help answer "why" and "how" text messaging may be a useful tool to support maternal and child health. We are evaluating the effect of these messages on improving postpartum PMTCT retention and infant HIV testing in a randomized trial