Pan African University Institute of Life and Earth Sciences

BACKGROUND: High maternal and neonatal mortality persist in Benin Republic despite recent improvements. Numerous women and newborns continue to suffer preventable deaths. Although factors associated with the attendance of at least one antenatal care (ANC) visit are well documented, there is little evidence on factors related to compliance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommended four ANC visits. The present study determined the extent to which reproductive age mothers received the ANC check-ups at a health facility focussing on the WHO-recommended regimen. METHODS: We examined factors related to ANC services utilisation patterns amongst 8701 women recruited in the 2011/2012 Benin Demographic and Health Survey data using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: The percentage of mothers with full ANC attendance was 59.56%, 27.61% received less than 4 visits and 12.84% had never attended ANC services. Results showed that out of 13 variables assessed, only the place of residence was not associated with ANC seeking. Amongst significant variables, household wealth index, female education and desire for pregnancy were the most important factors related to ANC services seeking, especially for the achievement of WHO recommended four ANC visits. The relative risk ratio of ANC attendance, for the achievement of WHO recommended four ANC regimens was high amongst mothers from economically well-off households (adjusted relative risk ratio [aRRR] for richest women = 10.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.16-18.33), educated women (aRRR for primary level = 4.34, 95% CI: 3.00-6.27) and those with desired pregnancies (aRRR = 3.4, 95% CI: 2.58-4.48). CONCLUSION: To achieve WHO-recommended minimum four ANC visits in Benin Republic, our findings suggest the need to financially support the most economically disadvantaged pregnant women and their families during pregnancy, advocate for reducing unmet needs for family planning, strengthen girls' education, especially by maintaining them in school till completion of at least the secondary school.

BACKGROUND: There has been a significant reduction of abortion rates in high-income countries, while the rates remain unchanged in low- and middle-income countries. In Ethiopia, for example, the number of women of reproductive age seeking an induced abortion is increasing. However, there is limited information concerning the reasons why the occurrence of this procedure is increasing. Thus, this study aimed to identify factors associated with having induced abortion in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: An unmatched case-control study was conducted using a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire from October to December 2017. The cases were 147 women of reproductive age who underwent abortion in a health facility or presented with complications due to induced abortion conducted outside the health facility. The controls were 295 women who came for antenatal care and who reported never having had an induced abortion. The cases were selected by consecutive sampling from nine health facilities, whereas the controls were selected by systematic sampling from the same health facilities. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed using STATA version 14 to identify factors associated with induced abortion. RESULTS: The mean age of cases was 26.5 ± 5.7 years, while for the controls it was 28.1 ± 4.8 years. Being unmarried (AOR = 9.6; 95% CI: 1.5-61.7), having primary (AOR = 5.3; 95% CI: 1.5-18.3) and tertiary (AOR = 5.7; 95% CI: 1.6-21.1) education, earning monthly income 100-300 USD (AOR = 0.2; 95% CI: 0.1-0.4) and > 300 USD (AOR = 0.1; 95% CI: 0.0-0.2), initiating first intercourse between ages of 15 and 19 (AOR = 4.7; 95% CI: 1.4-15.6), marrying before the age of 18 (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI: 1.3-6.7), and having two children (AOR = 4.7; 95% CI: 1.8-12.7) were independent predictors of induced abortion. CONCLUSION: Family planning programs hoping to reduce the occurrence of induced abortion should specifically target unmarried women, low income, and those who have two children. The government should also work on preventing early marriage and providing sexual and reproductive health education to help adolescents delay age at first sexual experience.

Abstract Neoproterozoic sedimentary basins are increasingly gaining hydrocarbon exploration attention globally following results of significant discoveries in these basins as a result of long, consistent and focused research and exploration efforts. The hydrocarbon prospectivity of the unexplored Mesoproterozoic–Early Paleozoic Voltaian basin is reviewed relative to global Neoproterozoic basins. Like the Voltaian basin of Ghana, global Neoproterozoic basins have experienced similar geological event of glaciation with accompanying deposition of marginal–shallow marine carbonates and associated siliciclastic argillaceous sediments. These carbonates and argillaceous sediments coupled with deep anoxic depositional environments, favored the preservation of organic matter in these sediments and carbonates globally making them source rocks and in some cases the reservoir rocks as well, to hydrocarbon occurrence. The hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Voltaian is highly probable with Neoproterozoic basins of similar geologic analogies, Amadeus basin, Illizi basin, the Tindouf and Taoudeni basins of the WAC, having proven and active petroleum systems with some listed as world class oil/gas producing basins together with other Neoproterozoic basins like South Salt Oman basin, Barnett shales and giant gas reserves of southwestern Sichuan basin of China.

Background: High maternal and neonatal mortality persist in Benin republic. Rates of decline are slow and factors influencing PNC services utilization are not well known. This study aims to assess factors associated with PNC services utilization among mothers and their newborns with special focus on the recommendation 2 of WHO guidelines on postnatal care of the mother and the newborn.Methods: This study analysed Benin’s 2011/2012 DHS data. A total of 16,599 women were interviewed where 8,275 eligible for the present study. Multinomial logistic regression was applied.Results: While 68.42% of mothers and their newborns received at least one PNC visit over postnatal period, the percent of newborns and their mothers with appropriate first PNC check-up was low, 19.95%. Factors explaining PNC uptake were place of residence, ethnic group, occupation, ANC attendance, place of delivery, baby birth size, household wealth status, mass media use, and to a lesser extent education attainment. Accessibility, number of living children followed by the birth order number, and desire for pregnancy appeared to be specific determinants to appropriate first PNC check-up. Mothers who attended more frequently ANC services were more likely to receive PNC check-ups. Mothers who delivered at private health facility were more likely to receive PNC check-ups.Conclusions: To increase the achievement of the recommended WHO PNC frequency, there is a need to: address unmet needs for Family Planning in Benin; to expend health education and counselling to encourage ANC attendance supervise by skilled personnel.

This paper is aimed at analyzing the phenomenon of shoreline retreat in the locality of Rufisque from 1978 to 2018 mainly using geospatial data and field visits. A set of Landsat images from different dates at 10 year intervals was then acquired through the United States Geological Survey platform and shoreline change analysis was run using the Digital Shoreline Analysis System. In addition to that desktop work, interactions with local residents allowed the determination of ongoing adaptation strategies actually in place to cope with coastal erosion. The study showed that Rufisque is subject to serious rates of erosion reaching −19.48 m/year from 1978–1988, close to −8 m/year from 1988–1998, −5.88 m/year from 1998–2008 and −6.67 m/year from 2008–2018. Beside that coastal erosion, it has been noticed that the coastline also experienced in some of its parts cases of accretion reaching 4.94 m/year for 1988–1998, 7.29 m/year from 1998–2008 and 7.68 m/year during the period 2008–2018. In terms of surfaces, Rufisque’ shoreline respectively lost 156.81 ha (1978–1988), 80.55 ha (1988–1998), 6.94 ha (1998–2008), 12.93 ha (2008–2018) and in the same note gained 2.86 ha (1988–1998), 32.51 ha (1998–2008) and 19.16 ha (2008–2018) attesting to the fact that the coastline is subject to both spatiotemporal changes. Finally, this study also reveals that while authorities’ reaction is taking place at much lower pace, local communities are actually using their ingenuity to put in place strategies to tackle coastal erosion.

Abstract Drought is one of the most important yield-limiting abiotic stresses threatening wheat production and productivity. Development of wheat genotypes with enhanced grain yield under drought-stressed conditions depend on the extent of genetic variation present for drought tolerance-related traits. This study was carried out to determine the level of genetic variation and associations of yield and yield attributing traits among 196 bread wheat genotypes under drought-stressed and well-watered conditions. The genotypes were evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions and phenotyped for yield and yield-related traits. The genotypes varied significantly for the traits under both conditions. Grain yield ranged from 2.13 to 3.74 t ha −1 and from 2.52 to 5.06 t ha −1 under drought-stressed and well-watered conditions, respectively. Under both conditions, variances due to genotype were higher than environment and genotype × environment interaction variances for all the traits. Estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the traits under both conditions, with both PCV and GCV being highest for kernel weight spike −1 and lowest for spike fertility. Under both conditions, broad-sense heritability estimates ranged from moderately high to very high, accompanied with high genetic advance as a percentage of the mean. Fertile spikelets spike −1 , one thousand kernel weight, kernel weight spike −1 , biomass yield and harvest index manifested high positive genotypic and phenotypic correlations and positive direct effects on grain yield under both conditions. The first five principal components accounted for 78.4% (well-watered) and 76.0% (drought-stressed) of the variation among the genotypes. The 196 genotypes were delineated into six major clusters under both water conditions, with clusters 3 (well-watered) and cluster 5 (drought-stressed) containing genotypes with the highest ability to tolerate drought stress. Genotypes Alidoro, Bolo, Dinknesh, ETBW8491 and ETBW172938 had high stable yields under both conditions. The identified traits and genotypes were drought tolerant and could be exploited to develop novel genotypes for drought stress tolerance.

Despite the amounting interest in improving access to and utilization of family planning methods, contraceptives prevalence rates remain low in Benin Republic. Rates of increase in contraceptives’ prevalence are low and underlying risk factors for use and non-use are not well known. This study investigates similarities and differences in factors associated to contraceptive use by type of method among 6,237 women recruited in 2011/2012 BDHS data using multiple logistic regression models. Most women (78.9%) involved in the current study did not use any contraceptive during their last sexual activity, 13.6% were currently using modern contraceptive methods and 7.8% was using traditional contraceptive methods. Significant covariates for modern contraceptive use were: female education, discussion about FP, number of living children, fertility preference, marital status, household wealth index, sex of household head, religious membership, and the area of residence. Concerning traditional methods use, they were: women’s ethnic background, discussion about FP, fertility preference and household wealth index. To improve contraceptives usage especially modern contraceptives, findings suggest, among other: fighting against sociocultural barriers; ensuring female’s formal education till secondary; encouraging good health behaviours (ANC follow-up, institutional delivery by skilled attendant, enhancing PNC visits) for women during childbirth and to increase FP education during those check-ups.

A hemiparasitic plant, Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth and soil nitrogen stress are the key constraints to maize (Zea mays L.) productivity in sub-Saharan Africa, where commonly cultivated maize is the normal endosperm type that is deficient in provitamin A, tryptophan and lysine (PVATL). Seventy-six extra-early maize inbreds with provitamin A, tryptophan, and lysine qualities (TZEEIORQ) were developed to address these constraints, and four checks were assessed under Striga, low and high nitrogen conditions at three locations in Nigeria. The inbreds were further genotyped with two beta-carotene hydroxylase 1 (crtRB1) markers, and their seeds were quantified for provitamin A content. Significant (p < 0.01) genetic variations were observed for grain yield and other agronomic attributes of the inbreds under varying environmental conditions. Levels of PVATL for the inbreds ranged from 2.21–10.95 µg g−1, 0.04–0.08%, and 0.19–0.39%, respectively. Beta-carotene marker, crtRB1-3′TE, was polymorphic and grouped the inbreds into two. The marker was effective in identifying inbreds with moderate provitamin A content. Inbreds TZEEIORQ 5, TZEEIORQ 52, and TZEEIORQ 55 exhibited resistance to Striga, tolerance to nitrogen stress with moderate levels of PVATL and could be invaluable sources of favorable alleles for breeding nutritionally improved maize varieties with resistance/tolerance to Striga and soil nitrogen stress.

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is a monocotyledonous herbaceous vine plant grown in the tropics and subtropics. It is a multi-species plant with varied intra- and interspecific ploidy levels. Of the 600 species, 11 are cultivated supporting the livelihood of over 300 million people. The paucity of information on ploidy and the genomic constitution is a significant challenge to the crop’s genetic improvement through crossbreeding. The objective of this study was to investigate the ploidy levels of 236 accessions across six cultivated and two wild species using chromosome counting, flow cytometry and genotyping-based ploidy determination methods. Results obtained from chromosome counting and genotyping-based ploidy determination were in agreement. In majority of the accessions, chromosome counting and flow cytometry were congruent, allowing future rapid screening of ploidy levels using flow cytometry. Among cultivated accessions, 168 (71%) were diploid, 50 (21%) were triploid, and 12 (5%) were tetraploid. Two wild species included in the study were diploids. Resolution of ploidy level in yams offers opportunities for implementing successful breeding programmes through intra- and interspecific hybridization.

Shale sample from Bokh Formation, Ogaden basin, Ethiopia was assessed for their petroleum potential by Rock-Eval pyrolysis. The Total Organic Carbon (TOC) values range from 0.76 to 0.86 wt%. These values exceed the minimum value of 0.5 wt% required for potential petroleum source rocks. The genetic potential (GP) and hydrogen index (HI) values range from 0.09 to 0.5 mg/g and 8 - 32 mgHC/gTOC, respectively. These values are generally lower than the minimal 2 mg/g GP and 200 mgHC/g HI required for a potential source rock. Several plots from the Rock-Eval pyrolysis data classify the samples as type IV kerogen with no potential to generate hydrocarbons. The Tmax and Production Index (PI) values range from 388°C to 453°C and 0.28 to 0.46, respectively. These values indicate that the shales are thermally matured. These results show that the shales from the Bokh Formation in Ogaden basin have no potential to generate hydrocarbons mainly crude oil, but are thermally matured and may generate natural gas.

The status of Infectious bursal disease (IBD) in indigenous chickens and backyard poultry in Rwanda has not been previously elucidated. This cross-sectional study was to determine the seroprevalence of infectious bursal disease in indigenous chickens and to identify the associated factors. The study was been done in three districts in the Eastern province of Rwanda where blood from 364 indigenous chickens were collected. ID Screen® IBD indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test was used to detect IBD antibodies in these birds. 145 questionnaires were also administered to poultry farmers to obtain information on biosecurity measures and associated factors to IBD outbreaks. The study revealed 48.4% (176/364) prevalence of the chicken with IBDV antibodies with statistical significance (P < .05) among/between location and age groups. The questionnaire revealed that there were other important associated factors which included chicken scavenging for seed as a source of food (59.3% of farmers reported), absence of routine vaccination (53.8%), live chickens are purchased from the open market with no information about IBD outbreaks and vaccination (30.0%), open disposal of dead chickens suspected of IBD (58.9%). IBD virus antibodies are present in indigenous chicken in Eastern Rwanda hence further investigation to better understand the epidemiology of IBD virus in indigenous chickens is desired and more research is needed to identify the role of indigenous chickens in the spread of IBD virus in Rwanda.

The Neoproterozoic (900-600 Ma) Arabian Nubian Shield is an example of Precambrian plate tectonics and arc accretion. The Western Ethiopian Shield (the southern extension of ANS) is geo-tectonically a characteristic of lower grades of Metavolcano-sedimentary sequences of ANS intruded by associated felsic granitoid and mafic bodies and at the same time it is contained of gneisses rocks of the MB. The Gold mineralization and alterations initiating throughout the Tulu Kapi syenite are in the form of in enechelon vein arrays and related structures, which are controlled by conjugate shear zones in the syenite and steep N-S striking structures. The earliest recorded deformation and alterations revealed the syenite albitization which is the one hosting for gold mineralization and it has been widely overprinted by multistage hydrothermal system that appears to have been controlled mainly by veins, crackle zones, fractures and minor breccia zones. Primary gold mineralization displays spatial and temporal relationship with Tulu Kapi syenite and the Kapi gabbro, both of which host gold mineralization, are 738.3&amp;plusmn;2.6 Ma and 699.5&amp;plusmn;2.7 Ma period, respectively, in a volcanic arc subduction syn-collisional tectonic setting by the fractionation of underplated, LREE-enriched basaltic magma with substantial crustal input to possible crustal melting. The underplated basaltic magma had been sourced from LREE-enriched mantle by subduction of sediment laden crustal slabs at a subduction zone. Fractional crystallization involved formation of Ca-rich plagioclase, which continually reacted with hydrothermal fluids to more fractionated Na-rich plagioclase, forming the gold mineralization hosting altered (albitized) syenites. The Pan-African orogeny, and associated regional metamorphism and magmatism, generated large-scale movements of gold and base metal-bearing fluids in the crust, channelized along complex fractures into regional NE-SW foliation in Ethiopia (e.g., western Ethiopia). However, these gold-rich alkalic magmas are so modified by crustal processes that evidence of their genetic relationship with gold become obscured. The primary ore mineral assemblage of quartz veins and veinlets, and associated mineralised syenite within Tulu Kapi area consists of pyrite, galena, chalcopyrite, hematite, and gold. The major and trace element composition of ore- forming fluids from the mineralised vein, barren and granitic intrusion is still largely unknown, yet could provide important and more direct evidence for the fluid source(s). This is vital in establishing a direct genetic link between syenite and other granitoid intrusion, and gold mineralization.

International audience

Version finale de l'article publié par la revue Environnement, Ingénierie &amp; Développement EID The treatment of domestic wastewater by vegetated filters is proposed as an alternative better suited to the socio-economic conditions of developing countries. The use of biochar in these filters in partial or total substitution of conventional filter substrate was the main aim of the present study. The effectiveness of three biochars produced from three crop wastes (Corn cobs, coconut shells and palm nut shells) in improving the purification performance of vertical flow filters vegetated with antelope grass was studied. The experimental set-up consisted of three biochar filters plus a control replicated thrice. The filters were supplied at a hydraulic loading rate of 142 l/m2/jr. The physi-co-chemical characteristics of the water were measured 30 and then 60 days from the beginning of the test; the physical growth parameters of randomly selected plants were measured weekly between the 30th and the 60th day, i.e. 4 times. The results reveal an increase in pH, an improvement in the reduction of nitrogen, iron, phosphorus, and microbes content effluents from biochar filters compared to those from conventional sand filters. Overall, the corn cob biochar filter showed better results after two months. It remains important for future studies to monitor the parameters over a longer period and to test the effect of the combination of the three biochars in one filter. Le traitement des eaux usées domestiques par filtres plantés est proposé comme une alternative adaptée aux conditions socio-économiques des pays en voie de développement. L’utilisation du biochar dans ces filtres en substitution partielle ou totale des massifs filtrants classiques était au centre de la présente étude. L’efficacité épuratoire de trois biochars produits à partir de chacun des trois résidus végétaux (les rafles de maïs, les coques de noix de coco, et les coques de noix de palmiste) pour l’amélioration des performances épuratoires des filtres à flux vertical plantés de roseaux a été étudiée ici. Le dispositif expérimental était constitué de trois filtres à biochars répliqués trois fois et de trois filtres té-moins alimentés à 142 l/m2/jr. Les caractéristiques physico-chimiques des eaux ont été mesurées à 30 puis 60 jours depuis le début de l’essai ; les paramètres physiques de croissance des plantes mesurées toutes les semaines entre le 30e et le 60e jour soit 4 fois. Les résultats révèlent une augmentation du pH, une amélioration de la réduction de la teneur en azote, fer, phosphore et des microbes dans les filtres à biochar comparé aux filtres à sable classiques. Globalement, le filtre avec biochar de rafles de maïs a permis d’obtenir de meilleurs résultats au bout de deux mois. Il reste opportun pour les prochaines études de faire le suivi des paramètres sur une plus longue durée et de tester l’effet de la combinaison des trois biochars.

Poultry is an important source of protein globally, today, but Escherichia coli (E. coli)and Salmonella speciescontinue to be food-borne pathogens and contribute to the growing resistance to the antimicrobial agents. There is limited information on these pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern in Maroodi Jeh region, Somaliland. Therefore, this study was designed to isolate, characterize and evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli and Salmonella species from indigenous chickens in live-bird markets in the Marodi Jeh region, Somaliland. In a cross-sectional study, a total of 384 cloaca swab samples were collected from Chickens of both sexes, from two live-bird markets (Waheen and Xisbi), and were grouped into growers and adults. The samples were screened using cultural, biochemical, and Gram staining techniques to isolate and identify E. coli and Salmonella species. The antimicrobial sensitivity testing was conducted on all the positive isolates using disk diffusion method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square at p < 0.05. The prevalence of E. coli was 19.5%, while that of Salmonella species was 8.9%. E. coli and Salmonella specieswere more frequently isolated from adults (68%, 70.6%), females (72%, 58.8%), and from the Waheen market (70.7%, 94.1%). Totally, 98.6% of the isolates showed resistance to different combinations of antibiotics. The highest resistance was recorded against chloramphenicol (66.6%), tetracycline (45.3%), gentamycin (20%), and ampicillin (17.3%). E. coli isolates were sensitive to one antibiotic (44%) or between two to four antibiotics (54.7%), while Salmonella isolates, were sensitive to one antibiotic (35.3%) or between two to four antibiotics (64.7%). In conclusion, the present study showed a higher colonization rate of E. coli than Salmonella species in the cloaca of chickens with most of the isolates being resistant to multiple antibiotics.

Rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) is the most harmful virus that affects irrigated and lowland rice in Africa. The RBe24 isolate of the virus is the most pathogenic strain in Benin. A total of 79 genotypes including susceptible IR64 (Oryza sativa) and the resistant TOG5681 (O. glaberrima) as checks were screened for their reactions to RBe24 isolate of RYMV and the effects of silicon on the response of host plants to the virus investigated. The experiment was a three-factor factorial consisting of genotypes, inoculation level (inoculated vs. non-inoculated), and silicon dose (0, 5, and 10 g/plant) applied as CaSiO3 with two replications and carried out twice in the screen house. Significant differences were observed among the rice genotypes. Fifteen highly resistant and eight resistant genotypes were identified, and these were mainly O. glaberrima. Silicon application did not affect disease incidence and severity at 21 and 42 days after inoculation (DAI); it, however, significantly increased plant height of inoculated (3.6% for 5 g CaSiO3/plant and 6.3% for 10 g CaSiO3/plant) and non-inoculated (1.9% for 5 g CaSiO3/plant and 4.9% for 10 g CaSiO3/plant) plants at 42 DAI, with a reduction in the number of tillers (12.3% for both 5 and 10 g CaSiO3/plant) and leaves (26.8% for 5 g CaSiO3/plant and 28% for 10 g CaSiO3/plant) under both inoculation treatments. Our results confirm O. glaberrima germplasm as an important source of resistance to RYMV, and critical in developing a comprehensive strategy for the control of RYMV in West Africa.

This study assessed socio-economic characteristics and lifestyle of selected forest based communities in Omo Biosphere Reserve, Ogun state in southwest Nigeria. The study aim was to explore the influence of socioeconomic factors on their lifestyle, quality of life and implications for forest environment. A sample of 180 respondents from three enclaves was selected using simple random sampling. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 20 and presented as Tables and charts. The results showed that 86.11 per cent of them were adults between ages 31years and 70years who have families, responsibilities to cater for and have capacity to further expand their land into the forest. Only 2.2 per cent of the respondents have no formal education indicating a great decline in illiteracy. About 75.56 per cent have incomes ranging between 500,000 to 1,000,000 yearly. 58 per cent respondents have a household size ranging between 6-10 persons. 7.22 per cent have farm size less than 3 Ha while the rest have more up to 10 Ha. 83 per cent of the respondents were involved in cocoa farming while the remaining 17 per cent shared kola, palm and plantain crops farming. The type of constraints affecting the livelihood strategy often influences the mitigation measures undertaken by farmers in the study area. On health, malaria is the most prevalent disease experienced by 73.3 per cent respondents. However, the health care facilities are far from residents and also inadequate. As a result, about 95.6 per cent resorted to self-medication using herbs in case of illness. Younger and active age groups have their resultant socio-economic implications for forest environment but the obvious is its negativities in respect of exploiting more lands for farming hence, government should ensure increase awareness aimed at protecting the forest in order to prevent further forest encroachers. &#x0D; Keywords: Socioeconomic, Lifestyle, Communities, Forest