RÉSUMÉEtude empirique des attitudes envers la violence faite à la femme chez les hommes et les femmes dans sept pays africains subsahariens.This study used data from the demographic and health surveys (DHS) conducted between 1999 and 2001 in Benin, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe, to examine the magnitude and correlates of conditional acceptance of wife-beating among both men and women. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to investigate the independent association between different socio-demographic characteristics and acceptance of wife-beating. The acceptance of wife-beating for transgressing certain gender roles was widespread in all the countries. Men were consistently less likely to justify wife-beating than women. Household wealth and education emerged as strongest and most consistent negative predictors of acceptance of wife-beating among both men and women. Older men and women were less likely to justify wife-beating. Men and women in the polygamous union were more likely to accept wife-beating, though the association was not always significant. With the exception of Uganda, women working for pay were more likely to justify wife-beating than non-working women were. The results indicate that dominant social and cultural norms create images of "ideal" women among both men and women that include definition and widespread acceptance of gender roles as well as sanction use of force to enforce these gender roles. The State and its different institutions may fail to mitigate wife-beating, as sensitivity to objectively address wife-beating may be tellingly lacking. Though education, economic growth, etc, can reduce acceptance of wife-beating, the process may be too slow and too late to make a substantial difference in the near future. Proactive measures may be required to change attitudes towards wife-beating among both men and women. Cette étude se sert des données tirées des enquêtes démographique et de santé (EDS) menées entre 1999 et 2001 à Benin City, en Ethiopie, au Malawi, au Rwanda, en Ouganda et au Zimbabwe afin d'examiner l'ampleur et les corrélats de l'acceptation de violence contre la femme aussi bien parmi les hommes que parmi les femmes. Des modèles de la régression logistique multifactoriels ont été établis pour vérifier l'association indépendante entre les caractéristiques démographiques différentes et l'acceptation de la violence contre la femme. L'acceptation de la violence contre la femme pour avoir transgressé certains rôles basés sur les rôles de genre était bien répandue dans les pays. Les hommes avaient régulièrement moins la possibilité de justifier l'agression contre la femme que les femmes. La richesse domestique et l'éducation comptaient parmi les indices négatifs les plus réguliers de l'acceptation de la violence chez les hommes et les femmes. Les hommes et les femmes plus âgés ont plus la possibilité de justifier la violence contre la femme. Les hommes et les femmes dans l'union polygame avaient plus la possibilité d'accepter la violence d...

-The product. Coconut water (Cocos nucifera L.) is an ancient tropical beverage whose popularity on the international market has been continuously increasing in recent years. Uses. Besides its various traditional uses, this refreshing liquid extracted from the coconut fruit has recently been described as a "sport beverage" and has drawn the attention of manufacturers as a natural functional drink. Composition. Coconut water has a low matter content (2% to 5% wet basis), mainly comprising sugars and minerals. Quality criteria, such as the water per nut ratio, Total Soluble Solids (TSS), total sugar per nut, and [reducing sugars / total sugars] ratio, are good indicators for estimating the suitability of coconut cultivars for the production of coconut water. Regarding these criteria, dwarf varieties are the most suitable cultivars to obtain a tasty product. Properties. The quality of coconut water can not only be attributed to sugars and minerals because it also has a typical flavour and some original properties. Although many authors have cited medicinal uses or growth-promoting activities, only a few publications have clearly identified the components responsible for these properties. Discussion. Results of former and recent investigations are discussed. Finally, suggestions are made for further research to increase our knowledge of this original tropical juice. Résumé -Le produit. L'eau de coco (Cocos nucifera L.) est un ancien breuvage dont la popularité est grandissante sur le marché international des boissons. Usages. Au-delà de ses usages traditionnels, ce liquide rafraîchissant extrait de la noix a été décrit comme une « boisson de réhydratation pour sportif ». Des industriels ont ainsi mis en exergue ses propriétés fonctionnelles naturelles. Composition. L'eau de coco a une faible teneur en matière sèche (2 % à 5 % en base humide), constituée de sucres et minéraux. Des critères comme le poids de l'eau par noix, les solides solubles totaux, la quantité de sucres totaux par noix, le rapport [sucres réducteurs / sucres totaux] sont de bons indicateurs pour sélectionner les cultivars adaptés à la production d'eau de coco. Au regard de ces critères, les variétés naines sont souvent les mieux adaptées à la production de cette boisson. Propriétés. La qualité de l'eau de coco est aussi liée à une flaveur typique et recherchée ainsi qu'à certaines propriétés spéci-fiques. Bien que plusieurs auteurs aient attribué à l'eau de coco des propriétés médicinales et aient prouvé son effet positif sur la croissance des cellules, peu de publications identifient clairement les molécules responsables de ces actions. Discussion. Pour la première fois, les recherches sur l'eau de coco, des plus anciennes au plus récentes, sont synthétisées et conduisent à proposer des pistes pour améliorer notre connaissance de ce jus de fruit tropical atypique.

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The prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is reducing in almost all countries in which it is a traditional practice. There are huge variations between countries and communities though, ranging from no change at all to countries and communities where the practice has been more than halved from one generation to the next. Various interventions implemented over the last 30–40 years are believed to have been instrumental in stimulating this reduction, even though in most cases the decrease in prevalence has been slow. This raises questions about the efficacy of interventions to eliminate FGM and an urgent need to channel the limited resources available, where it can make the most difference in the abandonment of FGM. This paper is intended to contribute to the design of more effective interventions by assessing existing knowledge of what works and what does not and discusses some of the most common approaches that have been evaluated: health risk approaches, conversion of excisers, training of health professionals as change agents, alternative rituals, community-led approaches, public statements, and legal measures.