Pratiques agricoles et perceptions paysannes des impacts environnementaux de la cotonculture dans la province de la KOMPIENGA (Burkina Faso)

La dégradation des écosystèmes et d’une manière générale de l’environnement au Burkina Faso est liée aux facteurs anthropiques, notamment les activités agricoles. L’objectif de cette étude est de mettre en exergue les pratiques agricoles, les perceptions paysannes des impacts environnementaux et les risques de dégradation des ressources naturelles dans la zone cotonnière de l’Est (Province de la Kompienga). Par le biais (i) d’une enquête auprès d’un échantillon de 60 Unités de Production Cotonnière (UPC), (ii) des interviews semi structurées avec des maraîchers (12), des apiculteurs (15), des pêcheurs (29), des éleveurs (54) et des membres de comités villageois de gestion des forêts (23), (iii) et des investigations sur les pratiques agricoles, l’étude a été conduite. Les résultats ont révélé une pression foncière dans la zone avec pour corollaire un abandon des techniques de conservation et de restauration des sols. L’usage des fertilisants organiques est peu répandu. L’étude a révélé que 8 types de rotations culturales sont pratiquées dans la zone. Le type de rotation culturale coton-céréales-coton est pratiqué par 63% des cotonculteurs. Les perceptions paysannes sur la dégradation des ressources végétales, les risques encourus par l’écologie apicole ainsi que des effets négatifs des fertilisants chimiques sur l’eau et les sols sont diversement appréciés. Face à cette situation, il est urgent pour les producteurs de coton d’utiliser les engrais organiques et d’adopter des techniques de conservation et de restauration des sols pour préserver l’exploitation durable des ressources naturelles de la zone.Mots-clés : Culture de coton; Pratiques agricoles; Pression foncière; Risque de dégradation de l’environnement; Burkina Faso

Effect of Urea-Treated \u3cem\u3ePennisetum Pedicellatum\u3c/em\u3e and Supplementation of Concentrates With Urea on Milk Production of “Mossi” Ewes

The “Mossi” sheep is a near parent of “Djallonke” sheep that live in sudano-sahelian area of Burkina Faso. However, there are few available results on dairy production from this breed. The treatment of straw with urea is a technique used in several developing countries to improve the nutritional value of gramineous forages (Sourabié et al., 1995). The aim of this study was to test the influence on the performance of “Mossi” ewes and on milk composition of treatment of Pennisetum pedicellatum (Pp) with urea in comparison with addition of urea to the concentrate feed

Toward optimal implementation of cancer prevention and control programs in public health: A study protocol on mis-implementation

Abstract Background Much of the cancer burden in the USA is preventable, through application of existing knowledge. State-level funders and public health practitioners are in ideal positions to affect programs and policies related to cancer control. Mis-implementation refers to ending effective programs and policies prematurely or continuing ineffective ones. Greater attention to mis-implementation should lead to use of effective interventions and more efficient expenditure of resources, which in the long term, will lead to more positive cancer outcomes. Methods This is a three-phase study that takes a comprehensive approach, leading to the elucidation of tactics for addressing mis-implementation. Phase 1: We assess the extent to which mis-implementation is occurring among state cancer control programs in public health. This initial phase will involve a survey of 800 practitioners representing all states. The programs represented will span the full continuum of cancer control, from primary prevention to survivorship. Phase 2: Using data from phase 1 to identify organizations in which mis-implementation is particularly high or low, the team will conduct eight comparative case studies to get a richer understanding of mis-implementation and to understand contextual differences. These case studies will highlight lessons learned about mis-implementation and identify hypothesized drivers. Phase 3: Agent-based modeling will be used to identify dynamic interactions between individual capacity, organizational capacity, use of evidence, funding, and external factors driving mis-implementation. The team will then translate and disseminate findings from phases 1 to 3 to practitioners and practice-related stakeholders to support the reduction of mis-implementation. Discussion This study is innovative and significant because it will (1) be the first to refine and further develop reliable and valid measures of mis-implementation of public health programs; (2) bring together a strong, transdisciplinary team with significant expertise in practice-based research; (3) use agent-based modeling to address cancer control implementation; and (4) use a participatory, evidence-based, stakeholder-driven approach that will identify key leverage points for addressing mis-implementation among state public health programs. This research is expected to provide replicable computational simulation models that can identify leverage points and public health system dynamics to reduce mis-implementation in cancer control and may be of interest to other health areas

The SIPHER consortium : introducing the new UK hub for systems science in public health and health economic research

The conditions in which we are born, grow, live, work and age are key drivers of health and inequalities in life chances. To maximise health and wellbeing across the whole population, we need well-coordinated action across government sectors, in areas including economic, education, welfare, labour market and housing policy. Current research struggles to offer effective decision support on the cross-sector strategic alignment of policies, and to generate evidence that gives budget holders the confidence to change the way major investment decisions are made. This open letter introduces a new research initiative in this space. The SIPHER (Systems Science in Public Health and Health Economics Research) Consortium brings together a multi-disciplinary group of scientists from across six universities, three government partners at local, regional and national level, and ten practice partner organisations. The Consortium’s vision is a shift from health policy to healthy public policy, where the wellbeing impacts of policies are a core consideration across government sectors. Researchers and policy makers will jointly tackle fundamental questions about: a) the complex causal relationships between upstream policies and wellbeing, economic and equality outcomes; b) the multi-sectoral appraisal of costs and benefits of alternative investment options; c) public values and preferences for different outcomes, and how necessary trade-offs can be negotiated; and d) creating the conditions for intelligence-led adaptive policy design that maximises progress against economic, social and health goals. Whilst our methods will be adaptable across policy topics and jurisdictions, we will initially focus on four policy areas: Inclusive Economic Growth, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Mental Wellbeing and Housing

Evaluating the use of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis among pregnant and postpartum adolescent girls and young women in Cape Town, South Africa

BackgroundAdolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa are at a higher risk of acquiring HIV. Despite the increasing availability of daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, knowledge on PrEP use during pregnancy and postpartum periods at antenatal care (ANC) facilities remains inadequate.MethodsData from HIV-uninfected pregnant women in Cape Town, South Africa, were used in this study. These women aged 16–24 years were enrolled in the PrEP in pregnancy and postpartum (PrEP-PP) cohort study during their first ANC visit. Using the PrEP cascade framework, the outcomes of the study were PrEP initiation (prescribed tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine at baseline), continuation (returned for prescription), and persistence [quantifiable tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) in dried blood samples]. The two primary exposures of this study were risk perception for HIV and baseline HIV risk score (0–5), which comprised condomless sex, more than one sexual partner, partner living with HIV or with unknown serostatus, laboratory-confirmed sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and hazardous alcohol use before pregnancy (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Consumption score ≥ 3). Logistic regression was used to examine the association between HIV risk and PrEP, adjusting for a priori confounders.ResultsA total of 486 pregnant women were included in the study, of which 16% were “adolescents” (aged 16–18 years) and 84% were “young women” (aged 19–24 years). The adolescents initiated ANC later than the young women [median = 28 weeks (20–34) vs. 23 weeks (16–34), p = 0.04]. Approximately 41% of the AGYW were diagnosed with sexually transmitted infection at baseline. Overall, 83% of the AGYW initiated PrEP use during their first ANC. The percentage of PrEP continuation was 63% at 1 month, 54% at 3 months, and 39% at 6 months. Approximately 27% consistently continued PrEP use through 6 months, while 6% stopped and restarted on PrEP use at 6 months. With a higher risk score of HIV (≥2 vs. ≤1), the AGYW showed higher odds of PrEP continuation [adjusted odds ratio: 1.85 (95% CI: 1.12–3.03)] through 6 months, adjusting for potential confounders. Undergoing the postpartum period (vs. pregnant) and having lower sexual risk factors were found to be the barriers to PrEP continuation. TFV-DP concentration levels were detected among 49% of the AGYW, and 6% of these women had daily adherence to PrEP at 3 months.ConclusionsAGYW were found to have high oral PrEP initiation, but just over one-third of these women continued PrEP use through 6 months. Pregnant AGYW who had a higher risk of acquiring HIV (due to condomless sex, frequent sex, and STIs) were more likely to continue on PrEP use through the postpartum period. Pregnant and postpartum AGYW require counseling and other types of support, such as community delivery and peer support to improve their effective PrEP use through the postpartum period.Clinical Trial NumberClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03826199

Optimal Use of Locally Available Feed Resources for Sheep Fattening in Mixed Crop-Livestock Farming Systems in the Central Plateau of Burkina Faso

Two trials were carried out on Djallonke fattening sheep to investigate feed systems that would produce meat at lower cost. “Kibsa Aliment” (KSA), a commercial concentrate (17.60% digestible crude protein, 0.91 UF/kg dry matter), or cottonseed cakes (CSC) were partially or totally substituted by local energy and nitrogen sources. A control diet (D1) [40% sorghum straw (SS) + 60% KSA] was thus compared to various feed combinations that included local products: in D2, KSA was partially substituted (– 30%) by 27.50% Piliostigma reticulatum pods (PrP) + urea (Ur), and in D3, KSA was totally substituted by 47% CSC + PrP + Ur. In trial 1, the average daily gains (ADG) were significantly different (P < 0.01) with values of 100.5, 62.4, and 58.6 g recorded in D1, D2, and D3, respectively. These substitutions led to ADG losses of – 38.1 and – 49.2 g, respectively. However, D2 and D3 yielded the highest profits with extra benefits of + 519 and + 1055 CFA francs net per animal. In trial 2, CSC was partially substituted (– 10%) by Pennisetum pedicellatum (Pp) hay, which resulted in ADG losses of – 14.4 g. In conclusion, the combination of 20-30% CSC or KSA, and 27% PrP + Ur enhanced the fodder (SS or Pp) quality and enabled producers to register the highest profits

Influence of substituting roasted soybean (<em>Glycine max</em>) seeds by those of cowpea (<em>Vigna unguiculata</em>) and of the protein level in the diet on the performance of the local-breed guinea fowl in Burkina Faso

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a diet based on roasted seeds of cowpea in substitution of soybeans on the growth performance and profitability of the local-breed guinea fowl. Three hundred 12-day-old fowls were divided into 12 batches. Four iso-energetic diets, incorporating 5% and 10% of roasted cowpea or soybean seeds, respectively, during starting and growing-finishing, were prepared. The protein levels of the diets were 17.5% or 20% for the starter feed, and 15% or 17.5% during growing-finishing. Starter-feed diets were served on days 13−68, and growing-finishing diets on days 69−222. Zootechnical parameters (liveweight, weight gain and feed ingested) were monitored every other week. At the end of the trial, four fowls per batch were slaughtered to evaluate carcass yield and some organs. The economic viability of the different diets was assessed. Incorporation of cowpea roasted seeds did not induce significant differences in any of the parameters studied except for a few parameters of carcass yields. However, the difference in protein levels produced significant differences in favor of the most protein-rich diets for most of the parameters measured. The breeding period of the guinea fowl given the richer diets was reduced by two weeks. Roasted seeds of cowpea can therefore be used in the diet of the local guinea fowl in substitution of soybeans

Dairy and Weight Performances of Burkinabe Sahelian Goats Fed a Diet Supplemented with Local Feed Resources

In dairy production, in addition to the indispensable contribution of nitrogenous and energetic nutrients, it is essential that animal needs in some minerals be covered. To investigate this proposition, 32 Burkinabe Sahelian does in third lactation, aged 4 to 4 and half years, were divided into four groups in order to evaluate the effect of four isonitrogenous supplementation diets, formulated by using local millet bran and cowpea hay, and differing from one another by the values of the ratios (i) digestible crude proteins/feed unit (122, 122, 133 and 153 for groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively) and (ii) concentrate/fodder (1.27, 1.27, 0.5 and 0 for groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively). Group 1, compared to group 2, received in addition to an isonitrogenous supplementation, ad libitum mineral supplementation. Milk yields, and weight performances of does and their kids were monitored for 13 to 14 weeks. The larger addition of concentrate (local bran) did not significantly affect goat milk production. However, it was noted that the concentrate globally helped increase by 11% total daily production (milk collected + milk consumed by the kids). It increased by over 40% when the quantity of milk collected was considered. The milk yields of goats that received mineral supplements (group 1) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher, with on average 358 ± 62 g vs 267 ± 70, 215 ± 32 and 197 ± 76 g per animal and per day of collected milk for groups 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The milk composition in dry matter, fat, proteins and minerals was not significantly affected in the supplemented diets. However, the milk collected from groups 2, 3 and 4 had relatively higher fat and protein contents. The milk from group 1 was significantly more concentrated in lactose: 4.35% vs 3.9, 3.8 and 3.6% for groups 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Does’ daily weight gains (DWGs) were + 7.6 ± 15.9, – 18.3 ± 3.3, – 26.3 ± 31.1 and – 23.7 ± 16.2 g for groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Kids’ DWGs were 50.7 ± 17.3, 46.5 ± 22.5, 39.1 ± 16.6 and 36.8 ± 14.2 g for those belonging to groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The estimated consumption index values were 11.1 ± 3.9, 11.6 ± 1.7, 13.2 ± 2.0 and 13.9 ± 2.2 for kids in groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. This study showed that with the correct combination of local feed resources, it is possible to improve markedly the milk production of Sahelian goats, and to improve it significantly when it is associated with mineral supplementation