Effet des pesticides sur l’activité microbienne d’un sol ferrugineux tropical du Burkina Faso

L’effet des pesticides utilisés en culture cotonnière sur l’activité microbienne globale des sols a été étudié sur un sol ferrugineux tropical en zone ouest du Burkina Faso. Des échantillons de sol ont été prélevés à 30, 73, et 119 jours après semis du cotonnier. Les analyses de respirométrie, de détermination de la biomasse microbienne et de l’ammonification ont été réalisées. Les résultats indiquent que les doses de pesticides apportées sont insuffisantes pour affecter les bactéries ammonifiantes. En revanche, ces doses perturbent la vie du sol en affectant l’efficience des microorganismes à utiliser la matière organique, en activant tantôt la respiration et la biomasse microbiennes et tantôt en les inhibant.Mots Clés : Pesticide – Sol – Activité Respiratoire – Biomasse Microbienne – Bactérie AmmonifianteThe effect of pesticides used in cotton cultivation on soil global microbial activity was studied on a tropical ferruginous soil in the west zone of Burkina Faso. The soil samples were took at 30, 73 and 119 days after thecotton seeds. The analyses of respirometry, of microbial biomas  determination and of the ammonification were realized. The results indicate that the doses of pesticides that put aren’t enough to affect ammonificate bacteriums. In return, these doses disrupt soil life by affecting microorganism’s efficiency in using organic matter, by stimulating sometimes microbial’s respiration and biomas, and sometimes inhibiting it.Key words: Pesticide – Soil – Respiratory activity – Microbial biomas – Ammonificate bacteriu

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of mothers and caregivers on infant and young child feeding in Peri-Urban Zones of Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso

Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of mothers/caregivers on infant and young child feeding are key factors for optimal nutritional status, health and growth of the children. A community-based, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted duringJanuary 2017 to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) of mothers/ caregivers who lived in peri-urban areas of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina-Faso. This study was carried out before a nutrition education-based interventionand included 245 mothers/ caregivers that were randomly selected in the peri-urban communities of Bobo-Dioulasso. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire developed based on Food and Agriculture Organization knowledge, attitudes and practices assessment method was used to collect KAP and socio-economic data. Analyses were performed using SPSS version 20. For this study, authorization was obtained from the regional directorate of health of the Hauts-Bassins region. Verbal consent was obtained after the participants had been informed about the study objectives. Among the 245 study participants, 55.1% were aged less than 30 years. More than 3 out of 4 mothers/caregivers (76.3%) were Muslim and 59.2% of them were illiterate. Almost all mothers/caregivers (98.8%) had adequate knowledge for breastfeeding and 87.9% of them knew about exclusive breast feeding up to 6 months. In addition, 91.8% of mothers/caregivers reported that they gave colostrum at birth. Furthermore, 67.5% of the mothers started breastfeeding within one hour after delivery. Based on mothers/caregivers’ report on complementary foods consumed by 6-59 months  children in the previous 24h before the interview, cereals were the most reported consumed food group (89.8%) followed by meat and fish products (28.6%). This study found that mothers/caregivers had adequate knowledge about IYCF in general. However,mothers/caregivers’ practice of complementary feeding was inappropriate. Cereals were the food group consumed by most of children aged 6-59 months raising the needs for interventions, such as cooking demonstrations during postnatal visits in health facilities, to improve complementary feeding in this population. Key words: IYCF, knowledge, attitude, and practices; low income countries; Burkina Fas

Anémie et parasitoses (intestinales et urinaires) chez les enfants d’âge scolaire au Burkina Faso: cas des écoles de Yamtenga, Daguilma et Koubri

La présente étude vise principalement à évaluer le statut de l’anémie associé à l’état parasitaire chez des enfants de trois écoles riveraines de retenues d’eaux au Burkina Faso: Daguilma, Koubri et Yamtenga. Il s’agit d’une étude transversale réalisée d’avril 2004 à octobre 2014. L’évaluation de l’anémie a été basée sur la mesure du taux d’hémoglobine à l’aide de l’appareil Hemocue. La caractérisation des parasitoses intestinales a été réalisée en utilisant la méthode de formol éther. La méthode de filtration de Plouvier a été utilisée pour identifier les oeufs de schistosomes. Au total, 363 écoliers dont 182 garçons et 181 filles ont participé à l’étude. La prévalence de l’anémie chez les écoliers à Yamtenga, Koubri et Daguilma est respectivement de 35,83%, 28,33% et 41,46%. Aucune différence significative n’a été notée entre filles et garçons au niveau de chaque site et sur l’ensemble des 3 sites (p= 1). La prévalence globale des parasites intestinaux chez les écoliers est de 75,83%. Pour la schistosomiase urinaire, 5,83% des écoliers sont infectés à Yamtenga, 4,33% à Koubri et 3,06% à Daguilma. La différence est significative entre les garçons (11,67%) et les filles (0,0%) à Yamtenga (p= 0,01). Par contre, à Koubri et à Daguilma, aucune différence significative n’a été observée entre les garçons et les filles (p= 0,619 et p= 1, respectivement).Tous les écoliers infectés par les Ankylostomes, Trichocéphales et Ascaris sont anémiés au niveau des trois sites de l’étude. Parmi les 16 écoliers infectés par la schistosomiase urinaire, 11 présentent une anémie. De l’ensemble des résultats de cette étude, il ressort que la prévalence de l’anémie chez les enfants est fortement influencée par les géohelminthes et la schistosomiase urinaire.Mots clés : Anémie, parasite intestinal, schistosome, élève, Burkina Faso

Caesarean section at Koudougou regional hospital centre: indications and prognosis

Background: Objective was to study the indications and the prognosis of cesarean section in the obstetrics and gynecology department of CHR Koudougou from August 1st to October 16th 2018.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study for descriptive purposes with prospective collection of data over the month and monitoring of parturients up to the 42nd day post caesarean section. The study covered the period from August 1 to October 16, 2018. Gestures received in the work room and those hospitalized for a scheduled cesarean were involved in this study.Results: This study involved 316 deliveries. The caesarean section rate was 34.8% (n=110). The average age was 26.75 years with extremes of 12 and 42 years. Term pregnancies represented 90.9%. History of cesarean section was observed in 47, 3%. The main groups contributing to the caesarean section rate represent: Groups 5 (9.5%), Group 1 (9.2%), Group 3 (5.1%), the scar uterus (17.3%) and suffering fetal (14.6%). The reported complications were 15.5% including 3.6% parietal suppuration and 0.8% stillbirth.Conclusions: The caesarean section occupies an important place in the maternity service of the RHC of Koudougou. Robson's group 5 was the largest contributor to the overall cesarean rate in our study. Measures should be taken in this group so that the uterine scar does not become an absolute indication for cesarean

Restoration of Degraded Lands in West Africa Sahel: Review of experiences in Burkina Faso and Niger

This is a comprehensive literature review of land restoration activities in West Africa Sahel. Water constraints and the inherent soil poverty are the major factors that limit crop yields and productivity of cropping systems in West Africa Sahel (WAS). Livestock is not well integrated with agricultural activities and crop residues are usually exported from the farm for household needs and animal feeding. In traditional systems, soil fertility maintenance was based on a relatively long fallow period (10-15 years) followed by a short cropping period of 3 to 5 years. But the increased population pressure has resulted in significant changes of the traditional bushfallow system. Lands are now continuously cultivated for long period with low external inputs, leading to soil fertility decline over time (Bationo and Mokwunye 1991; Bekunda et al. 2010). In addition to biophysical aspects, a wide range of socio-economic factors such as the low financial capacities of poor farmers to invest in agricultural inputs, high pressure on ecological resources for food, fodder or energy, also add to the stress on the systems. Failure by the smallholder farmers to intensify agricultural production in a manner that maintains soil productivity is the main cause of land degradation, particularly in the fragile ecosystems of WAS. Land degradation is defined as a process that leads to the reduction of land productivity for useful purposes, and is typically a result of soil, wind, or water erosion; soil salinization; waterlogging; chemical deterioration; or any combination of these factors (Adeel 2003). Land degradation is a global problem, particularly in the dry areas, home to a large population of poor farmers, where land degradation and water scarcity are major threats to food security. The impacts of land degradation are severe on both human society and ecosystems. Desertification is often wrongly attributed solely to droughts, but it is the deadly combination of continued land abuse during periods of deficient rainfall that results in unproductive land, and ultimately desertification (UNESCO 2003). Combating desertification by rehabilitating degraded lands can be done successfully, using existing, often traditional techniques. Land restoration involves restoring the fertility of degraded lands. The social syndrome where diminishing availability of lands, inherent low fertility, continuous soil erosion, and continuous nutrient removal without replenishment, results in a spiraling downfall in productive capacity and a diminished resilience of the soil system to provide a suitable medium for crop growth needs to be addressed. Smallholder farmers are at the center of both soil fertility decline and restoration process. Their decisions to manage, to utilize technologies and to improve or restore soil fertility are guided by the socioeconomic conditions and the overall benefits that will accrue from production (Sanginga and Woomer, 2009; Bekunda et al. 2010). A sustainable management of lands under cultivation and the restoration of degraded lands could be achieved by affordable strategic management innovations; taking into account the socioeconomic conditions of farmers. While individual technologies can contribute; a more integrated systems that combines technologies, crops, and trees such as the agroforestry systems could better contribute for sustainable management of natural resources. Many efforts have been invested to developing strategies and approaches for both sustainable management of natural resources and restoration of degraded lands in WAS. In some cases, farmer communities have developed sound, sustainable approaches to land rehabilitation and management but there is insufficient information on successful restoration in the context of WAS, particular with regards to policy, institutions and socioeconomic conditions under which specific approaches could be adapted and applied successfully (Bunning 2003). The main objective of this review was to investigate the main experiences of regenerating degraded landscapes (RDL) in Niger. Going through the documentation, we found many similarities in experiences across the two countries of Niger and Burkina. Some interesting experiences were found in Burkina, Niger or at the same time in the two countries. We finally decided to extend the review to the two countries as a representative zone of the WAS. The critical issue in taking restoration to scale is that ecological, economic and institutional context varies at fine scales. The main goal of this review is to identify the specificities and the context of the most efficient experiences of RDL that could be widely scaled in the WAS

Effects of burning on soil macrofauna in a savanna-woodland under different experimental fuel load treatments

In West African savanna-woodland, the use of prescribed burning as a management tool has ecological implications for the soil biota. Yet, the effects of fire on soil inhabiting organisms are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine the responses of soil macro-invertebrates to early fires in a Sudanian savanna-woodland on a set of experimental plots subject to different fuel load treatments. The abundance of major macro-invertebrate taxa and functional groups, and taxon richness were quantified in soil cores collected from three different soil layers before and immediately after burning. The results indicated that, overall, there was substantial spatial and temporal variation in the composition of macro-invertebrate assemblages. The immediate effects of fire were to reduce total invertebrate numbers and numbers of many invertebrate groups dramatically. This is probably due to the fact that many of the surface-dwelling macrofauna perished as a result of less favorable microclimate due to fire, diminished resources, or migrate to safer environments. Fuel load treatment did not affect the community taxonomic richness or abundance of the soil-dwelling fauna. Furthermore, annual changes in community composition were more pronounced at the burnt site than in the control. This could be related to the inter-annual difference in precipitation pattern recorded during the two-year study period at our site. Since soil macrofauna population declines in fire-disturbed areas, increasing fire prevalence may jeopardize the long-term conservation of fire sensitive macrofauna groups. Special fire management attention is therefore recommended with due consideration to the type of burning and fuel properties to avoid the detrimental effects of intense fire affecting the resilience of savanna soil macrofauna species

Manuel de formation sur la récupération biologique des terres dégradées

Dans le cadre du projet d’appui à la sécurité alimentaire des ménages (PASAM-TAI) au Niger, l’ONG CRS et ICRISAT ont conçu ce manuel de formation destiné aux femmes engagées dans la restauration biologique de terres dégradées. Cette approche intégrée combine techniques traditionnelles de conservation de l’eau (zaï, demi-lunes) avec la culture de légumes et arbres à haute valeur nutritive et commerciale. La technique BDL permet de produire entre autres okra, oseille, senne, pomme de Sahel, moringa sur des sols latéritiques en cours de désertification. L’impact sur les revenus, la nutrition familiale et l’indépendance économique des femmes est significatif

Low-cost adaptation options to support green growth in agriculture, water resources, and coastal zones

The regional climate as it is now and in the future will put pressure on investments in sub-Saharan Africa in water resource management, fisheries, and other crop and livestock production systems. Changes in oceanic characteristics across the Atlantic Ocean will result in remarkable vulnerability of coastal ecology, littorals, and mangroves in the middle of the twenty-first century and beyond. In line with the countries' objectives of creating a green economy that allows reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improved resource efficiency, and prevention of biodiversity loss, we identify the most pressing needs for adaptation and the best adaptation choices that are also clean and affordable. According to empirical data from the field and customized model simulation designs, the cost of these adaptation measures will likely decrease and benefit sustainable green growth in agriculture, water resource management, and coastal ecosystems, as hydroclimatic hazards such as pluviometric and thermal extremes become more common in West Africa. Most of these adaptation options are local and need to be scaled up and operationalized for sustainable development. Governmental sovereign wealth funds, investments from the private sector, and funding from global climate funds can be used to operationalize these adaptation measures. Effective legislation, knowledge transfer, and pertinent collaborations are necessary for their success

Do floristic composition, plant species abundance and vegetation structure in Sudanian wetlands vary according to conservation status?

In Sahel, wetlands are particularly endangered hence practical knowledge for their sustainable management is needed. The aim of this study was to compare plant community structure between protected and unprotected wetland bank stands in eastern Burkina Faso. Phytosociological and dendrometrical parameters were carrying out in adult trees, seedling individuals and herbaceous species. Discrimination of plant communities and diversity indices were calculated for each group. Weibull distribution was used to compare the diameter structures. The results shows that plant communities located in riverbanks of unprotected wetlands have a greater specificheterogeneity. They are rich inannual speciesand in species with a wide distribution. Finally their woody stands are characterized by lower basal areas than unprotected wetland riverbank stands. Plant community stands in riverbanks of protected wetlands were better preserved but some disturbances were noticed. Furthermore, juvenile plants of the two sites were threatened and this may affect in long term, the relative stability of these trees stands as revealed by Weibull distribution. Further study should focus on wetlands riverbanks seedling status in order to propose restoration strategies