Borassus akeassii Bayton, Ouédr. & Guinko is a multipurpose palm species historically central to the livelihoods of rural communities in southwestern Burkina Faso, particularly the Gouin society in Gouindougouba. Its traditional uses included the production of palm wine and handcrafted items from various plant parts. However, this longstanding tradition has undergone profound socio-economic changes, threatening the species’ continued cultivation and presence.Based on an ethnographic survey, an ecological assessment and participatory observations, this study reveals a marked decline in B. akeassii populations and use in a region where the species has played an important role for local livelihoods. The reduced economic and cultural importance of the species appears to be mainly linked to the decline in palm wine production, once the main product derived from the palm and a major driver of its cultivation. The decline is exacerbated by a rural population transitioning toward more profitable economic activities and distancing from traditional practices.The erosion of cultural ties to B. akeassii can be framed within a broader societal transformation, including shifts in religious habits, changes in dietary patterns, and overall modernization, all of which contribute to the weakening of rituals and knowledge associated with the species. To ensure the sustainable use and conservation of B. akeassii, the study advocates for renewed interest in its cultivation and the promotion of its derived products. This promotion could be supported by government-led initiatives, particularly through plantation programs aimed at enhancing its presence in reforestation efforts and strengthening its role in local livelihoods.
OBJECTIVE:To provide guidelines for the pelvic clinical exam in gynecology and obstetrics. MATERIAL AND METHODS:A multidisciplinary experts consensus committee of 45 experts was formed, including representatives of patients' associations and users of the health system. The entire guidelines process was conducted independently of any funding. The authors were advised to follow the rules of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE®) system to guide assessment of quality of evidence. The potential drawbacks of making strong recommendations in the presence of low-quality evidence were emphasized. METHODS:The committee studied 40 questions within 4 fields for symptomatic or asymptomatic women (emergency conditions, gynecological consultation, gynecological diseases, obstetrics, and pregnancy). Each question was formulated in a PICO (Patients, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) format and the evidence profiles were produced. The literature review and recommendations were made according to the GRADE® methodology. RESULTS:The experts' synthesis work and the application of the GRADE method resulted in 27 recommendations. Among the formalized recommendations, 17 present a strong agreement, 7 a weak agreement and 3 an expert consensus agreement. Thirteen questions resulted in an absence of recommendation due to lack of evidence in the literature. CONCLUSIONS:The need to perform clinical examination in gynecological and obstetrics patients was specified in 27 pre-defined situations based on scientific evidence. More research is required to investigate the benefit in other cases.
Annona senegalensis Pers.(Annonaceae) is a multipurpose shrub species, but threatened in Burkina Faso.Therefore, understanding its natural regeneration is a challenge for the sustainable management of the species resources.Our study examines the regeneration potentials of A. senegalensis across two phytogeographic zones.The structure of Weibull showed that the distribution of the regeneration individuals based on height classes, was inverse J-shaped in the two phytogeographic zones.The structure reveals a relative predominance of individuals in small size classes.A log-linear adjustment test of Weibull's confirmed the observed distribution and Weibull distribution were not conformed (p<0.0001).A generalized linear model (GLM) and an ANOVA showed that the density of the natural regeneration of A. senegalensis was significantly higher in the south-sudanian zone.The density of the regeneration stratum 1 was 2.46 times higher in the north-sudanian than in the south-sudanian zone.The Green Index (GI) confirmed that the spatial distribution of regeneration individuals was random (GI=0).Annona senegalensis reproduces mainly by seed germination.Annona senegalensis faces difficult natural regeneration, accentuated in the north-sudanian by the climate pejoration and a stronger anthropogenic pressure.The study suggests assisted natural regeneration, which should contribute to better conservation of the species.
The present work on the production of biogas from cow dung substrates was carried out at the Laboratory of Renewable Thermal Energy (L.E.T.RE) of the Joseph KI-ZERBO University in collaboration with the National Program of Biodigester of Burkina Faso (PNB-BF). We focus in this work on the determination of the physicochemical characteristics of the substrates allowing the follow-up of the biogas production. We experimented with anaerobic digestion for 100 days each at mesophilic temperature, i.e. a hermetic enclosure included between 27 and 38\(^{\circ}\)C. The average flow of biogas is Q = 2.5 m3 d -1, and that of methane is 1.9 m3 d -1. This methane-rich gas CH4 with a flow rate of 1.9 m3 d -1, i.e. a rate of 60% in the biogas, has a high energy capacity of 23kJm-3 and can be used for cooking and lighting especially in rural areas. The following physicochemical characteristics were observed for cow dung: dry matter 11.85%, volatile matter 58.83%, hydrogen potential 7.01, density 731 kg.m-3, carbon content 33.32%, nitrogen content 1.46%, nitrogen-carbon ratio 24.70, acids are around 0.18 kgCODm-3, and the average chemical oxygen demand 30 kgCODm-3. This characterization was performed on a 4m3 pilot bioreactor with daily substrates loading ranging from 20 to 30 kg. The temperature of the reaction medium remained around 35\(^{\circ}\) C, optimal for the mesophilic operation of the bioreactor. The results obtained making it possible to demonstrate the possibility of producing a large quantity of flammable biogas in a continuous manner are in agreement with the literature on methanization.
Introduction : Environ un quart des personnes vivant avec le virus de l’immunodéficience humaine (PVVIH) avait réalisé une charge virale plasmatique (CVP) en 2020 au Burkina Faso. Le but de cette étude était d’évaluer les connaissances, les attitudes et les pratiques (CAP) des agents de santé en matière de mesure de la CVP du VIH. Méthodes : Une étude transversale a été conduite auprès des agents de santé impliqués dans la prise en charge des PVVIH dans les 13 régions du Burkina Faso en 2021. Des scores ont été construits pour évaluer leurs CAP sur la mesure de la CVP. Les facteurs associés aux connaissances et pratiques ont été identifiés par une régression logistique. Résultats : Au total, 255 agents de santé ont été inclus dans l’étude. La majorité avait de bonnes connaissances (73 %) et des attitudes favorables (93 %). Cependant, 40 % avaient des pratiques inadéquates. Tenant compte de la disponibilité d’un laboratoire de réalisation de la CVP au sein du centre de santé, occuper un rôle de coordonnateur augmentait la probabilité d’avoir de bonnes connaissances, tandis que ne pas avoir une qualification médicale réduisait cette probabilité. Les bonnes pratiques étaient plus courantes chez les agents santé travaillant au deuxième niveau de la pyramide sanitaire. Conclusions : Des interventions pour accroître la réalisation de la CVP sont indispensables pour améliorer la prise en charge des PVVIH. Par exemple, des investigations futures pourraient étudier le rôle des médiateurs dans l’accroissement de la demande de la CVP auprès des PVIHH et de leur soignant.
