Informal Economy and Urbanization of West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) Cities

Urbanization is a growing phenomenon in the UEMOA countries, in a context of the increasing informalization of its economies. Based on these facts, this research set out to analyze the relationship between urbanization and the size of the informal economy. This research uses the Pooler Mean Group (PMG) model to analyze the effects of urbanization on informality, and the Panel Threshold Regression (PTR) model for nonlinear analysis. It appears that the rate of urbanization has a positive effect on the size of the informal economy. Also, that the quality of institutions can reduce the above positive effect, reducing the rate of urbanization. Keywords: Informal economy, Urbanization, Institution, PMG estimate, PTR estimate. DOI: 10.7176/DCS/10-12-05 Publication date: December 31st 202

Consultation meeting with key stakeholders

The  consultation  workshop  with  Burkinabe  key  stakeholders  for  the  V1  Project  within  the   Challenge  Program  on  Water  and  Food  (CPWF)  of  the  Volta  Basin  took  place  from  14  to  15   March  2011  in  Ouagadougou.  The  meeting  room  of  the  DIST  in  CNRST  was  booked  for  the   first  day  while  in  the  second  day,  the  workshop  took  place  in  the  conference  room  of  the   National  Archives  Centre.   The  opening  ceremony  was  made  by  Dr.  Eric  Kemp-­‐Benedict  (SEI/Boston,  USA)  and  Dr.   Kaboré  Séraphine  (INERA/Ouagadougou).  After  welcoming  all  attendees  of  the  workshop,   Dr.  Eric  has  thanked  INERA  for  its  active  participation  in  the  2nd  phase  of  the  CPWF  program   for  the  Volta  Basin  and  particularly  in  the  V1  project  “targeting  and  scaling  out  water   harvesting  interventions  for  agriculture”.  He  has  outlined  the  objectives  of  the  workshop,   that  is,  to  consult  and  discuss  among  actors  for  the  better  understanding  of  the   methodology  adopted  for  the  V1  research  project.   The  coordinator  of  the  V1  project  in  INERA  (Dr.  Kaboré)  seconded  Dr.  Eric  and,  on  behalf  of   the  Director  of  INERA  welcomed  the  trainer  as  well  as  all  participants  who  positively   responded  to  her  invitation.  She  argued  that  the  main  objective  of  the  project  is  to  elaborate   a  reliable  tool  suitable  for  scaling  out  good  water  management  practices  and  approaches  for   food  production  in  the  Volta  Basin.  She  finally  asked  attendees  to  actively  work  for  the   success  of  the  workshop.   After  this  ceremony,  each  attendee  was  asked  to  fully  present  himself.  This  was  followed  by   two  PowerPoint  presentations  of  an  overview  of  the  project.  Attendees  were  from  INERA,   government  institutions,  NGOs  and  development  projects  on  water  and  agriculture

Diversité des pratiques d’intégration agriculture – élevage dans les exploitations familiales du sud de la région de Maradi (Niger) et perspectives

No AbstractMots clés: Pratiques, Intégration agriculture-élevage, Maradi, NigerKeywords: Practice, crops, livestock integration, Maradi, Nige

The condition of pastoral resources of a land of reception and transit for transhumant herders: the Kotchari territory (Southeastern Burkina Faso)

Kotchari pasturelands, which include a portion of the W National Park, were characterized by three complementary methods: an analysis of a colour composition of an Aster image, a floristical analysis and a pastoral survey. Nine pastoral landscape units with diverse tree cover were described, they include ten agrostological groups. The landscape units located outside the protected area, especially on thin to fairly deep soils, show the highest density in ligneous species and the highest herbaceous richness as well as the least dominance between species. Conversely, herbaceous phytomass and ligneous cover are higher in the protected area, particularly on the deep hydromorphic soils units. In addition, these units are more or less heterogeneous, some containing several agrostological groups. In general, the pasture lands located outside the protected area tend to be the most degraded: in some of them there is a regeneration of trees and a decrease of perennial herbaceous species. In all, although the phytomass is rather abundant and the pastoral values are acceptable in most units, those located outside the W park appear not very interesting in terms of pastoral use. Their ability to produce herbaceous regrowth after vegetation fires is low, the landscape is highly fragmented and the access to some units is not possible all year long. The pastoral status of the pastoral units inside the protected area, which have the highest phytomasses and the best pastoral values, is clearly much better. The strong interest of transhumant herders in this region seems guided on the one hand by the quality and availability of forage that is better at the end of the dry season than in their home grazing territory, and on the other hand by the opportunity of illegal use of pastoral resources in protected areasLes pâturages du terroir de Kotchari, qui incluent une portion du Parc national du W, ont été caractérisés par trois méthodes complémentaires: une analyse en composition colorée d'une image satellitaire Aster, une analyse floristique et une enquête pastorale. Neuf unités paysagères pastorales plus ou moins densément boisées qui comprennent dix groupements agrostologiques ont été décrites. Celles situées à l'extérieur de l'aire protégée présentent la densité en ligneux la plus élevée et la strate herbacée la plus riche en espèces avec la dominance entre espèces la moins marquée, surtout sur les sols minces à moyennement profonds. La phytomasse herbacée sur pied et le recouvrement ligneux apparaissent en revanche plus élevés dans l'aire protégée, notamment dans les unités sur sols profonds hydromorphes. Par ailleurs, ces unités sont plus ou moins hétérogènes, certaines renfermant plusieurs groupements agrostologiques. De manière générale, il y a une tendance à la dégradation des pâturages dans les unités situées en dehors de l'aire protégée: certaines d'entre elles présentent un début d'embuissonnement et les herbacées pérennes y sont en diminution. Au total, malgré une phytomasse globalement satisfaisante et des valeurs pastorales acceptables, la plupart des unités situées hors du parc W apparaissent peu intéressantes au plan pastoral. Leur potentiel en repousses herbacées après les feux est faible, les milieux sont fortement fragmentés et il est impossible d'accéder à certaines d'entre elles toute l'année. Le statut pastoral des unités pastorales à l'intérieur de l'aire protégée, qui ont les plus fortes phytomasses et les meilleures valeurs pastorales, est clairement bien meilleur. Le fort attrait des transhumants pour ce terroir semble s'expliquer par une production fourragère meilleure et plus disponible en fin de saison sèche que dans les territoires d'attache d'une part, par l'usage possible des ressources interdites des aires protégées d'autre part

Etude des paramètres opératoires d’électrocoagulation pour le traitement d’un effluent de textile : Exemple du bleu de méthylène

Les effluents industriels issus des activités textiles présentent une grande charge polluante difficilement biodégradable et qui a des impacts non négligeables sur l’environnement et l’Homme. Leur décontamination par les procédés conventionnels biologiques ou physiques est souvent inefficace et nécessite par conséquent le recours à des procédés d’oxydation avancée dont l’électrocoagulation. Dans le présent travail, nous avons étudié l’élimination par électrocoagulation du bleu de méthylène, modèle de colorant synthétique textile, en utilisant des électrodes de fer et d’aluminium. L’étude des paramètres pouvant influencer l’élimination par électrocoagulation du bleu de méthylène tels que le pH, la durée de l’électrolyse, la densité de courant et la nature de l’anode a montré que les meilleurs traitements sont obtenus avec un effluent de pH égal à 7 pendant 4 heures d’électrolyse à une densité de courant de 3,75 A/cm2 en utilisant l’électrode de fer. Dans ces conditions, le pourcentage d’élimination du bleu de méthylène dans les eaux atteint 80,1%. Des électrodes en fer seraient donc plus intéressantes pour l’élimination du bleu de méthylène, comparativement à des électrodes en aluminium.Mots clés : Electrocoagulation, fer, aluminium, effluents industriels, bleu de méthylène.   English Title: Study of operator parameters in electrocoagulation for the treatment of a synthetic textile effluent: example of methylene blueIndustrial effluents from textile activities have a large polluting load that is difficult to biodegrade and which has significant impacts on the environment and on humans. Their decontamination by conventional biological or physical processes is often ineffective and therefore requires the use of advanced oxidation processes including electrocoagulation. In the present work, we investigated the  electrocoagulation removal of methylene blue, a synthetic textile dye model, using iron and aluminum electrodes. The study of the parameters of EC which can influence the elimination of methylene blue in wastewater, such as the pH, the duration of the electrolysis, the  current density and the nature of the anode showed that the best treatment are obtained with a pH effluent equal to 7, for 4 hours of electrolysis with an iron electrode at a current density of 3.75 A / cm2. Under these conditions, the percentage of elimination of methylene blue in water reaches 80.1%. Iron electrodes would therefore be more advantageous for the removal of methylene blue, compared to aluminum electrodes.Keywords: Electrocoagulation, iron, aluminum, industrial effluents, methylene blue

Vegetation improvement and soil biological quality in the Sahel of Burkina Faso

Soil living environment contains macro-fauna that play important role in the soil structure and chemical composition, the degradation process of organic matter and in the resilience of ecosystems. Few studies evaluated the impact of the “re-greening” trend observed in the Sahel on soil biological quality. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of the “re-greening” of the Sahel on soil macro-fauna population and diversity. The method of Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility (TSBF) was used to assess macro-fauna abundance and diversity in different land use types (cropland, shallow land, degraded land and forest). Four sites were selected, in the Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso, with contrasted Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). In each site, four repetitions were taken for each land use type. In total, 64 plots samples were used to assess the abundance of macro-fauna. Results showed that there were more individuals (64.92%) and higher macro-fauna density in re-greening zones compared to the degrading zones. There was dominance of Arthropoda phylum (60.85%), Insecta class (59.03%) and Isoptera order (46.97%) in macro-fauna population. There were more species in the shallow land and cropland in re-greening zones and all trophic groups are represented in all sites. Despite this abundance, composition and diversity, it was observed that the re-greening processes have not significantly improved soil biological quality. It is concluded that vegetation improvement might be at the beginning stage in the Sahel, especially in croplands, and clear change of soil biological quality is not perceptible but may be tangible in the future.Keywords: Macro-fauna, ecosystem, soil quality, re-greening, degradation

Knowledge and practice of emergency contraception among female students of public university of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, West Africa

Background: Female students are exposed to unsafe sex, sources of unwanted pregnancy and abortions. It is recognized that emergency contraception can effectively prevent pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and practices of Ouagadougou public university students in relation to emergency contraception in order to propose solutions to reduce the proportion of unwanted pregnancies among female students.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between May 1st and October 31st, 2016 in the public universities of Ouagadougou. A questionnaire was administered to a sample of 732 students randomly selected.Results: The average age of female students was 22.7 years old. The age group 19 to 24 was the most represented (68.03%). Of the students surveyed, 87% knew or had heard of emergency contraception. The students only used the emergency contraceptive pill. The emergency contraceptive use rate was 44.42%. Approximately, 83% of users were aware of the delay in using emergency contraception. The reasons for using emergency contraception were condom breakage (25.10%) and unprotected sex (74.9%). Female students purchased the contraceptive directly in pharmacies (93.61%).Conclusions: Emergency contraception gives women a last chance to avoid an unwanted pregnancy after unprotected sex.  Awareness and free availability of emergency contraception (EC) could improve the reproductive health of female students

Maternal mortality by direct obstetric causes in an urban referral hospital: case of Boulmiougou District Hospital in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Background: Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading causes of death and disability for women of childbearing age. Objective of this study was to study maternal mortality of direct obstetric origin at the Boulmiougou district hospital from 2010 to 2014.Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study of maternal deaths by direct obstetric cause at the maternity ward of Boulmiougou District Hospital during the period from January 1st 2010 to December 31st, 2014, i.e. 5 years.Results: The maternal mortality rate by direct obstetric cause of 147.68 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The average age of the patients was 27.09 years old. The direct causes of maternal death were hemorrhage (47.06%), hypertensive disorders (20.59%), infections (14.71%) and unsafe abortion (11.76%). Contributing factors to maternal deaths were delay in evacuation (47.06%) and delay in care (38.23%).Conclusions: Maternal mortality remains high in the Boulmiougou District Hospital. To effectively combat maternal mortality, it is important to focus on the continuous training of staff and the strengthening of the technical platform

Baseline survey of animal trypanosomosis in the region of the Boucle du Mouhoun, Burkina Faso

In view of gathering baseline information about the prevalence of animal trypanosomosis, the Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) funded a cross sectional survey in the Region of the Boucle du Mouhoun which constitutes the Northern limit of the tsetse distribution in Burkina. This cross sectional study was carried out in 53 villages located in the 6 provinces of the region. A total of 2002 cattle, 1466 small ruminants and 481 donkeys were sampled. This survey showed that about 25% of the cattle had been treated with trypanocidal drugs within 3 months before the survey compared to 3% and 0.42% for the small ruminants and donkeys respectively. Parasitological prevalence in cattle was low: 0.77% (95% C.I. 0.30-1.95%). No goats and three donkeys were found infected with trypanosomes. Infections were mainly due to Trypanosoma vivax (75.0%) with cases of T. congolense (25.0%). In cattle, the serological prevalence of trypanosomosis, for the entire Region of the Boucle du Mouhoun, was 34.2% (95%C.I. 26.1-43.4%). For sheep, goats and donkeys, the prevalence were of 20.9% (95%C.I. 12.2-33.5%), 8.5% (95%C.I. 5.7-12.5%) and 5.8% (95%C.I. 3.9-8.6%) respectively.The age and distance to the river were the two main risk factors associated with seropositivity.PATTEC coordinating teamhttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/rvschb2013ab201

Profil épidémiologique de la rougeole au Mali de 2009 à 2018: Epidemiological profile of measles in Mali from 2009 to 2018

Introduction: La rougeole, maladie virale hautement contagieuse causée par un Morbillivirus, reste un important problèeme de santé publique dans de nombreux pays malgré l'existence d'un vaccin efficace. La surveillance de la rougeole est l'un des aspects clés de la lutte contre cette maladie. La présente étude avait pour objectif de décrire la mortalité et la morbidité de la rougeole au Mali entre 2009 et 2018. Méthodes: Il s'agissait d'étude transversale descriptive. Les données de surveillance de la rougeole au Mali de 2009 à 2018 ont été analysées en personne, lieu et temps. Résultats: De 2009 à 2018, le nombre de cas confirmés de rougeole était de 6461 dont 29 décès soit une létalité de 0,45%. La confirmation des cas avait été faite par le laboratoire pour 2551 cas (39,48%), par lien épidémiologique pour 3738 cas (57,85%) et cliniquement pour 172 cas (2,66%). Les enfants de moins de 5 ans représentaient 50,97% des cas et 75,86% des décès. La majorité des cas (95,71 %) n'avaient jamais été vaccinés contre la rougeole. Les incidences les plus élevées avaient été observées en 2009 (22,65 pour 100 000 hbts) et 2010 (11,81 pour 100 000 hbts). Tombouctou, Gao et Mopti avaient enregistrés les plus grands nombres de cas en 2009 et Bamako, Koulikoro et Mopti en 2010. Conclusion: La majorité des cas et des décès étaient les enfants non vaccinés de moins de cinq ans. Un renforcement du programme élargi de vaccination de routine, une riposte aux épidéemies et des stratéegies de vaccination couvrant tout le pays sont nécessaires. Introduction: Measles, a highly contagious viral disease caused by a Morbillivirus, remains an important public health problem in many countries despite the availability of an effective vaccine. Measles surveillance is one of the key aspects of measles control. The objective of this study was to describe measles mortality and morbidity in Mali between 2009 and 2018. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Measles surveillance data in Mali from 2009 to 2018 were analysed by person, place and time. Results: From 2009 to 2018, the number of confirmed measles cases was 6461 including 29 deaths, i.e. a case-fatality rate of 0.45%. Cases were confirmed by the laboratory for 2551 cases (39.48%), by epidemiological link for 3738 cases (57.85%) and clinically for 172 cases (2.66%). Children under 5 years of age represented 50.97% of cases and 75.86% of deaths. The majority of cases (95.71%) had never been vaccinated against measles. The highest incidences were observed in 2009 (22.65 per 100,000 inhabitants) and 2010 (11.81 per 100,000 inhabitants). Timbuktu, Gao and Mopti had the highest number of cases in 2009 and Bamako, Koulikoro and Mopti in 2010. Conclusion: The majority of cases and deaths were among unvaccinated children under five years of age. Strengthening of the routine expanded programme of immunisation, response to epidemics and nationwide immunisation strategies are needed