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Copyright of Politique Africaine is the property of Karthala Editions Diffusion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Cahiers Agriculture is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Cahiers Agriculture is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revue Tiers Monde is the property of Librairie Armand Colin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The raw earth is a natural material originating from the slow decomposition of rocks and stones. It can be used as a construction material as cob, daub, wattle, adobe, moulded bricks, rammed earth or compressed earth blocks. The use of a specific technique depends on the vernacular habits and also on the climate to which the building will be submitted or on the intrinsic properties of the earth. In this paper, we study the thermal and mechanical properties of compressed earth blocks (CEB) made of raw earth from Benin. In order to improve the mechanical properties of this brittle material, especially the tensile stress, kenaf fibers are incorporated into the mix. To determine the influence of the fibers on the various properties of CEB, the fiber content and the fiber length was varied. The results show a strong influence of these parameters on the porosity and as a consequence on the thermal and mechanical properties (compressive and tensile strengths). The increase in the porosity of the material yields a decrease in the mechanical strengths whatever the fiber content, except for long fibers. This seems to demonstrate combined effects of the porosity decrease and of the resistance to traction efforts due to the fibers. The addition of fibers also induces a decrease in the thermal conductivity of the material mainly due to the increase in the porosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the ways in which evangelical movements appropriate space, this article analyses the current dynamics of Christian expansion in Cotonou (Benin). Religious actors use all the opportunities the city off ers in terms of space, as they invest more and more sites with evangelical symbols. A double process is at play: on the one hand, the dynamics of these highly volatile and scattered sites, which are overrun by religious manifestations and give the impression that the whole city is being proselytized and, on the other, the valorisation of sites of worship as symbols of permanency and settlement for religious entrepreneurs. e paper concentrates on three processes: the centrality of sites of worship as the main framework of religious activity; the fragmentation of sites of proselytism which results in the presence of Christian actors in places that have no worshiping dimension and that were initially dedicated to other types of social activities; finally, the dilution of spaces of proselytism leading to the occupation of collective sites as well as the private sphere (squares, streets, concessions). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Societe et Environnement is the property of Les Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of African Crop Science Journal is the property of African Crop Science Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Présence Francophone is the property of College of Holy Cross, Department of Modern Languages & Literatures and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of VertigO is the property of La Revue Electronique en Sciences de l'Environnement VertigO and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Cahiers Agriculture is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Cahiers Agriculture is the property of EDP Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revue Tiers Monde is the property of Librairie Armand Colin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tropicultura is the property of Agri-Overseas asbl and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article seeks to highlight the role played by a country's colonial past in the development of the popular imagination in Brazil and Benin. This pinpointing of the cases of two countries that share a common history allows the genealogy and natural development of modern-day means of heritage portrayal commemorating the Slave Trade to be viewed in an new light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coverage of immunization against avoidable disease in the Republic of Benin as in other West African countries, is declining nowadays. To sustain the government effort, National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAG) were created technically and funded by the West African health organization (WAHO) and Preventive Medicine Agency in countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) including the Republic of Benin. The variation in experts’ methods of analyzing evidence sometimes results in risk error and lack of statistical power. This situation does not allow for the comparison of the scientific validity of certain recommendations made to policy makers, due to the lack of a rigorous framework. The aim of this paper is to design an improved framework to be used in the Republic of Benin in order to encourage a more harmonized approach based on evidence used by expert consultative committees. This framework shows four fundamental scientific steps including a Ministerial referral procedure, recommendation framework, evidence-based data collection, model analyses appropriate for expert advice on vaccines and child immunization, as well as three administrative steps including scientific discussion and work meetings without forgetting ethical aspects.

Introduction: This paper is based on two observations. First, despite multiple health programmes, access to services and quality of obstetric care remain inadequate in Africa. Secondly, although several qualitative studies have described the poor quality of admission facilities, violence during delivery and neglect of the poorest women, the reasons behind these behaviours have not been elucidated.This survey, conducted in Benin and Burkina Faso, examined midwives' experiences of their job, their obstetric practices and their lives.By including the emotional, sensorial, linguistic and social elements, this paper shows important discordances between the proposals made by programmes (installation in rural areas, strict financial management) and midwives' social and emotional duties and economic roles. It highlights the importance of gender relations in the careers of these professionals.The study also shows that the attitudes of midwives are related to the fact that childbirth is considered to be a moral act and their mistreatment behaviour corresponds to constant shifts between technical skills (fertility) and value judgements concerning expression of pain, sexuality and desire. On the other hand, midwives justify their violent practices by the urgency of the situation, especially during childbirth.The provision of care and effective implementation of programmes cannot be improved without taking into account these forms of justification and without constructing dialogues enabling midwives to develop a reflection about their social and emotional constraints, their relation to sexuality, and the reasons for their actions.

This paper presents the overview of the legal and institutional frameworks of research with human beings in sub-Saharan Africa, in particular in Benin, Cameroon and Nigeria. Concerning the methodology, a literature review focused on the regulations of institutional frameworks was done. Then, 28 semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of ethics committees to assess their composition and their mode of operation. Finally, we describe the existing courses in research ethics included in programs of first, second and third cycles in major universities from concerned countries.Concerning structures, all countries have normative and functional ethics committees concerned with the basics of ethics in health research. However, these ethics committees face several challenges including the lack of funding, deficiencies in the training of their members and the application of the ethical evaluation to qualitative and mixed researches.

Introduction: Buruli ulcer (BU) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Benin, one of the most severely affected countries, notified 365 cases in 2012. This article presents the results of a psychosocial and behavioural survey conducted in the context of a health promotion (HP) project with community participation. This paper describes the diagnosis, prevention, behaviours, as well as perceptions and experiences related to BU., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two villages (Azonme, Houedota) of Benin Atlantic department. From 15 May to 19 June 2011, a volunteer survey was conducted with 15 former patients and 15 new patients, selected by purposive sampling and 30 randomly selected healthy individuals. Encoding and data analysis were performed with SPSS and Excel., Results: Respondents were aged 11 to 100 years with a mean age of 36.63 years and 55% were men. More than 96% of respondents were aware of BU (symptoms, mode of transmission, prevention and treatment). % were familiar with the mode of transmission, but were not aware of preventive measures. Twenty-none of the 30 patients or former patients were treated in hospital. The attributed and perceived (including non-medical) causes of the disease were water (52), bacteria (17), bad luck (5). 92% of respondents were satisfied with the services of health professionals but proposed changes (46) concerning hospital accessibility and cost of care., Discussion: These results show similarities and differences compared to those reported in the literature on the subject. These surveys were the basis for health promotion interventions with the participation of two communities.

This paper questions the current highlighted question of "fake drugs" in the media and through institutional speeches. After a brief reminder of the expressions used previously in France and in the French-speaking countries of West Africa, the realities which recover various phenomena will be discussed as well as the hotchpotch often made between them: the phenomenon of counterfeit drugs, that of substandard medicines and the recently legally defined in Europe phenomenon of falsified drugs. Then, the data of an anthropological study led from 2005 till 2007 about the informal market of pharmaceutical in Benin will allow to underline the differences which exist between this phenomenon and that of counterfeit drugs as well as that of falsified drugs. Finally, the political and economic stakes which recover these questions will be highlighted and will explain why "fantasized" speeches are often given about them. The conclusion will stop on the problem of substandard medicines and some of the ways to solve it will be sketched.

Impregnated bednets can be considered a major tool for reducing Anopheles bites, malaria morbidity and overall mortality. The resistance of Anopheles gambiae to pyrethroids used to impregnate bednets and curtains has already been noted in the urban area of Cotonou in Benin (18, 21). In this study, we wished to find out if the resistance observed in Cotonou is localized only in this town or is already extensive throughout Benin. In this case, such resistance would be a handicap to the promotion of impregnated bednets in Benin. The study was carried out in 15 localities throughout the different ecological zones of Benin. The study has also taken into account environmental factors favouring the emergence of resistance. We did susceptibility tests with WHO test kits for adult mosquitoes using impregnated papers. The papers were impregnated with permethrin 0.25%, deltamethrin 0.025% and lambdacyhalothrin 0.1%. We also tested DDT 4% to find out if there was a cross resistance between DDT and the pyrethroids. Two mosquito species were tested: An. gambiae and An melas. In northern Benin, where farmers use insecticides against cotton pests, vectors are susceptible to deltamethrin and lambdacyhalothrin and resistant to permethrin. In the south, An. gambiae is resistant to deltamethrin and permethrin. This resistance is high in the urban zone of Cotonou, in the coastal and lagoon areas and at Kraké, a frontier viliage with Nigeria. The resistance observed in southern Benin is confirmed by the lengthening of the knock-down time of mosquitoes which were exposed for 1 hour to insecticide in impregnated WHO test tubes, and by a reduction of permethrin and deltamethrin remanence effect.

The HIV/AIDS threat continues in African countries, including the Republic of Benin, during this period of economic crisis which is accentuated by the devaluation of the currency. National statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate a progression of the number of cases seropositive for HIV and the number of cases developing AIDS. Concomitantly, we observe a decrease of the number of teenagers fearing HIV infection and a spread or risky sexual behavior, such as unprotected sex. Despite the weak prevalence of HIV infection in Benin, the increase of the number of cases with AIDS remains a serious social problem. This paper describes the epidemiological pattern of AIDS and its social, demographic and economical implications as they affect the current national program to increase the awareness of the problem. We obtained scientific information on the epidemiological chain of AIDS morbidity from prior research results, data from the disease control centers and interviews with the parents of some patients. Quantitative data was collected from twenty selected disease control centers of the national program against AIDS from 1986 to 1995. We compared these data with data obtained by the WHO from 1986 to 1992 from the neighboring countries of Benin. We observed an exponential growth of the cumulative number of AIDS cases, from one declared case in 1985 to 1,280 cases in 1995, including twenty thousand cases seropositive for HIV in 1991. The majority of cases were people between 20 and 49 years old and were predominantly males. Heterosexual (73%), homosexual (0.8%), and mother to child vertical transmission were the principal modes of transmission registered for carriers of HIV-1, HIV-2, or both. The qualitative study revealed a social situation dominated by verbal violence against infected women, absenteeism at work of the patients' family and, friends and a psychological impact on the children of the patients. An evaluation of the direct costs of AIDS was estimated to be $217,600 (US $) for the 1,280 reported cases. We suggest further reinforcement of the program to raise the awareness of the young people in the urban and rural areas of the country.