BackgroundUrban areas in West Africa are not immune to undernutrition with recent urbanization and high food prices being important factors. School children often have a poor nutritional status, potentially affecting their health and schooling performance. Yet, generally school children do not benefit from nutrition programs. The objective of the study was to assess the anthropometric and micronutrient status of children from state schools in the Dakar area.MethodsSchool children (n = 604) aged from 5 to 17 y (52.5% girls, 47.5% ≥10 y) were selected through a two-stage random cluster sample of children attending urban primary state schools in the Dakar area (30 schools × 20 children). The prevalence of stunting (height-for-age<−2 z-scores) and thinness (BMI-for-age<−2 z-scores, WHO 2006, and three grades of thinness corresponding to BMI of 18.5, 17.0 and 16.0 kg/m2 in adults) were calculated from weight and height. Hemoglobin, plasma concentrations of ferritin (FER), transferrin receptors (TfR), retinol binding protein (RBP), and zinc, and urinary iodine concentrations were measured. Correction factors were used for FER and RBP in subjects with inflammation determined with C-reactive protein and α1-acid-glycoprotein.Results4.9% of children were stunted, 18.4% were thin, 5.6% had severe thinness (BMI-for-age<−3 z-scores). Only one child had a BMI-for-age>2 z-scores. Prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia was 14.4%, 39.1% and 10.6% respectively. 3.0% had vitamin A deficiency, 35.9% a marginal vitamin A status, and 25.9% zinc deficiency. Urinary iodine was <50 µg/L in 7.3% of children and ≥200 µg/L in 22.3%. The prevalence of marginal vitamin A, zinc deficiency, high TfR was significantly higher in boys than in girls (P<0.05). Height-for-age and retinol were significantly lower in participants ≥10 y and <10 y respectively.ConclusionUndernutrition, especially thinness, iron and zinc deficiencies in school children in the Dakar area requires special targeted nutrition interventions.

No abstract

L’Afrique de l’Ouest, avec 37,2 % du cheptel caprin continental, est l’un des principaux bassins d’élevage de cette espèce au rôle socio-économique parti­culièrement important. La chèvre est élevée dans des zones agroécologiques et dans des systèmes variés, mais elle est surtout présente dans les régions les plus arides où elle joue un rôle de subsistance et de sécurisation des systèmes agraires de premier plan. Les systèmes d’élevage sont surtout traditionnels (pas­toral, agropastoral et sédentaire) et accessoirement périurbains. La productivité des élevages caprins est faible. L’âge à la première mise bas est en moyenne de 15,3 mois pour un intervalle entre mises bas moyen de 295,8 jours et une prolificité de 1,46. Celle-ci est cependant plus élevée chez la chèvre naine où elle peut atteindre 1,85. La mortalité présevrage des chevreaux est très élevée et constitue l’une des principales contraintes de l’élevage caprin en Afrique de l’Ouest. Elle est due aux pneumopathies, en particulier à la peste des petits ruminants, et aux parasitoses gastro-intestinales. Les performances de croissance sont également faibles avec des poids moyens à 12 mois d’âge ne dépassant 20 kg que chez quelques rares types génétiques. Pour améliorer la productivité en élevage caprin il a été proposé : a) de réduire la mortalité présevrage en met­tant un accent particulier sur la lutte contre les parasitoses gastro-intestinales, b) de mettre en place une complémentation stratégique basée sur une utilisa­tion digestive optimale d’aliments grossiers, et c) de développer des programmes d’amélioration génétique faisant appel à la gestion communautaire de base dans un contexte socioprofessionnel renforcé.

To assess the association between periodontal diseases and cardiovascular diseases in dental patients in Cameroon, a prospective observational study was carried out in 3 hospitals in Cameroon from January 2013 to December 2015. Data on general condition, age, gender and lifestyle were collected during medical history taking. The Dutch Periodontal Screening Index assessed periodontal health during oral examination. The Wilcoxon test, the Fisher test and logistic regression analysis were performed. 558 patients (53.9% women) were included in the study. The mean age was 44±13 years (30 to 85). In terms of overall health, 161 (28.9%) had cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and 73 (13.1%) had diabetes. Hypertension accounted for 87.6% of CVD. In terms of periodontal diseases (PD), 431 (77.2%) patients had PD, the break-down by PD was 347 (62.2%) gingivitis and 84 (15%) periodontitis. Statistical associations were found between CVD and gingivitis [OR=4.30 (1.85-10.00), P=0.001], and CVD and periodontitis [OR=2.87 (1.04-7.93); P=0.04].

No abstract