Sociolinguistic Groups Research Articles

Sea turtles of the Benin coast: Pressure and ethnozoology

Sea turtles are threatened by factors associated with overfishing. To identify these factors, we investigated the fishing pressure and the ethnozoological knowledge of turtles along the Benin coast. A questionnaire-based field survey was undertaken in 48 villages on the Atlantic coast through structured interviews. In total, 479 fishermen and 15 traditional healers were interviewed between July and August, 2020. The Use Value in terms of the types of utilisation of the body parts of the turtles, and the frequency of citation, were calculated. More than eighty percent of the interviewees confirmed the use of turtles for food, medicine, and artisanal purposes. Communities demonstrated nonspecific preference for the four-known species – leatherback turtle, Olive Ridley turtle, green turtle, or hawksbill turtle --within the research area. The flesh is the most used body part (Use Value = 1.5 for food). Body parts of turtles such as the fat, bones etc. are used to treat several diseases, particularly asthma, fever, hypertension, cough, colds, epilepsy, brittle bones in children, and paralysis. The test used shows that the Use Values of sea turtles vary significantly at the 5 % threshold from one sociolinguistic group to another. Our research indicates that integrating traditional ecological knowledge on animal-based food and medicines could be extremely useful when developing strategies for sustainable management and conservation of marine species, and in particular sea turtles.

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Yi people in Mile, Yunnan, China

BackgroundThe Yi people are a sociolinguistic group living in Mile City, which is their typical settlement in southeastern Yunnan, China. Over the long history of using medicinal plants, the Yi people have accumulated and developed a wealth of traditional medicinal knowledge, which has played a vital role in their health care. However, only a few studies have been performed to systematically document the medicinal plants commonly used by the Yi people. This study provides fundamental data for the development and application of ethnomedicine as well as supports the conservation of the traditional medical knowledge of the Yi people.MethodsThis study was conducted from May 2020 to August 2022 and involved five townships in Mile. Information regarding medicinal plants was obtained through semistructured interviews, key informant interviews, and participatory observation. The collected voucher specimens were identified using the botanical taxonomy method and deposited in the herbarium. Ethnobotanical data were analyzed using informant consensus factor, relative frequency of citation, and fidelity level.ResultsIn total, 114 informants distributed in five townships of Mile were interviewed. The Yi people used 267 medicinal plant species belonging to 232 genera and 104 families to treat various diseases. Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, and Fabaceae were the most commonly used plant families by the Yi people. In addition, herbs were most commonly used by the Yi people. Whole plants and roots were the preferred medicinal parts. Decoctions were the most common method of herbal medicine preparation. There are 49 different recorded diseases treated by Yi medicinal plants, and among them, respiratory diseases, rheumatism, traumatic injury, fractures, and digestive system diseases have the largest number of species used. A quantitative analysis demonstrated that plants such as Zingiber officinale, Lycopodium japonicum, Aconitum carmichaelii, Panax notoginseng, Cyathula officinalis, and Leonurus japonicus played crucial roles in disease prevention and treatment.ConclusionTraditional knowledge of medicinal plants is closely associated with the social culture of the local Yi people. The medicinal plants used for health care in the study area were diverse. Local healers were skilled at using medicinal plants to treat various diseases. Their treatment methods were convenient and unique, exhibiting distinctive regional characteristics. However, the inheritance of their traditional medicinal knowledge and protection of wild medicinal plant resources are facing serious challenges, including the decreasing number of local healers, aging of healers, lack of successors, and excessive harvesting of medicinal plant resources. This ethnobotanical survey provides a useful reference for the sustainable utilization and protection of medicinal plant resources in Mile and the inheritance of traditional medicinal knowledge of the Yi people.

Farmers’ perceptions of bovine brucellosis in Benin

Background and Aim: Cattle are the main source of meat in Benin. To improve the attitudes and practices of cattle breeders in relation to bovine brucellosis, a study has been carried out in Benin according to different agroecological zones. This study aimed to assess farmers’ knowledge and practices concerning bovine brucellosis to generate essential information for control programs and public health interventions. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted from February to May 2022, during which 608 farmers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire that provided information on socioeconomic characteristics, knowledge, and practices related to bovine brucellosis. Analysis of variance , Poisson regression, and the proportion comparison test were used to compare these characteristics in the different agroecological zones. At the end of the surveys, three distinct and homogeneous groups of perceptions (hierarchical classification of Multiple Correspondence Analysis components of R software) of bovine brucellosis were identified (these groups only consider farmers who declared knowledge of the disease). Groups were formed by applying the multiple correspondence analysis function of the FactoMineR library in R software, followed by a hierarchical ascending classification using the hierarchical clustering on principal component function of the same software (Agrocampus Rennes, France). Results: Only 38% of respondents were aware of brucellosis. Knowledge of brucellosis was not related to sex or education level but was higher among farmers in agroecological Zones 1 and 4. Ethnic Dendi herders (62.16%) had better knowledge of the disease than those from other sociolinguistic groups (Somba: 50%, Fulani: 40.91%, Baribas: 26.97%, and others: 8.82%). Reduced milk production (98.29%), presence of hygroma (87.18%), and abortion (56.84%) are the main signs reported by herders familiar with the disease. All three groups had good knowledge of the disease and its zoonotic nature. Groups 1 (96% of breeders) and 2 (2.14%) were aware of the risk factors (contact with affected animals, the consumption of raw milk, the handling of runts, and reproductive rejection). In the case of Brucella, they prefer to treat animals rather than sell them and use both traditional and modern medicines. Group 3 (1.71%) did not know the risk factors and preferred to sell animals in the event of illness. Conclusion: Pastoralists need to be made aware of the mode of transmission of bovine brucellosis, its clinical manifestations, its impact on animal health, and the zoonotic nature of the disease (impact on public health) so that bovine brucellosis can be rapidly detected in herds. Keywords: Benin, brucellosis risk factors, public health, knowledge.

Deaf perceptions about treatment for alcohol use and mental health

IntroductionRecent research suggests that alcohol use disorder may be more prevalent in the Deaf community, a diverse sociolinguistic minority group. However, rates of treatment-seeking among Deaf individuals are even lower than in the general society. This study used the Theory of Planned Behavior to identify Deaf adults' beliefs about treatment that may prevent their treatment-seeking behaviors. MethodsThis study conducted elicitation interviews with 16 Deaf adults. The study team recruited participants from across the U.S. and conducted interviews on Zoom. Participant ages ranged from 27 to 67 years (M = 40, SD =10.8). Seventy-five percent of the sample was male, 75 % were White, and 12.5 % were Hispanic/Latine. The study conducted interviews in American Sign Language, subsequently interpreted into English by a nationally certified interpreter, and transcribed for data analyses. The study analyzed transcripts using the Framework Method. The study team coded the interviews in groups and assessed for saturation (≤ 5 % new themes) of themes throughout the analysis. This study reached saturation in the third group (six total groups). ResultsIdentified themes followed the Theory of Planned Behavior constructs. The study identified nine Behavioral Beliefs with four advantages and five disadvantages of seeking treatment, four Normative Beliefs with one support and three oppositions to seeking treatment, and thirteen Control Beliefs with five facilitators and eight barriers to seeking treatment. Overall, the Deaf participants reported several unique beliefs based on their cultural and linguistic perspectives, including a concern about unqualified providers, experiencing stress in treatment with hearing providers, stigma within the Deaf community, less access to cultural information about alcohol and mental health, less encouragement of traditional treatment in marginalized communities, and additional barriers (e.g., communication, limited Deaf treatment options, discrimination, etc.). ConclusionsA thorough understanding of individual beliefs about treatment is necessary to develop interventions that may increase treatment-seeking behaviors. Previous research has demonstrated that individual beliefs may be modified using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to increase treatment-seeking behaviors among hearing individuals. Similar interventions may be useful with Deaf individuals; however, they must consider the unique cultural and linguistic perspectives of the community.

Determinants of farmers’ willingness to pay for improved cultivars of Macrotyloma geocarpum (harms) Maréchal and Baudet in Benin and Togo

IntroductionQuality seed is essential to satisfy food demand. This is also true for neglected crops especially those that are economically valuable such as Kersting’s groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum), which holds the potential to improve farmers’ livelihoods. In this study, we assessed the attributes that drove Kersting groundnut farmers’ willingness to pay for improved seeds.MethodsA total of 567 respondents were selected in the Northern Guinea and Southern Sudanian production zones in Benin and Togo using chain referral sampling, and they were then interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire. Classification and regression trees, Ordinary Least Squared, and Tobit regression were combined to assess the relationship between the socio-demographic variables and farmers’ Willingness to Pay (WTP) and Amount they are Willing to Pay (AWTP).Results and discussionResults suggested that more than 90% of respondents involved in the production of Macrotyloma geocarpum were willing to access its improved seeds, including those who had already abandoned the cultivation of this crop due to constraints such as the very low seed yield of current cultivars, the difficulty to access seeds, and the cultivation practices. The factors which affected the amount farmers are willing to pay included the following: the low yield of current cultivars used by farmers, the expected yield of the improved variety, which should be higher than 1 ton per ha (1 t.ha−1), the socio-linguistic group affiliation, and the adoption level of improved agricultural technologies. The average amount fixed by seed companies that farmers were willing to pay for 1 kg of the improved seed was USD 5.35 but they have freely proposed to pay the average amount of USD 4.63 to access 1 kg of improved seed. The white-seeded cultivar was the most appreciated by farmers and was the most cultivated in the Northern Guinean Zone whereas the cultivation of the colored-seeded (e.g., black-seeded) cultivars was mainly noted in the Southern Sudanian Zone. Furthermore, the respondents indicated seed yield improvement and disease management as their main research needs to help increase the production of the crop. The findings of this research will help refine Macrotyloma geocarpum improvement programs to release farmer-needed varieties.

Diversity and traditional knowledge of medicinal plants used by Shui people in Southwest China

BackgroundThe Shui are a small Chinese sociolinguistic group living in Sandu Shui Autonomous County, south of Guizhou Province. The Shui people have accumulated and developed rich traditional medicinal knowledge, which has played a significant role in their healthcare. Traditional ethnic herbal medicines, like Shui ethnomedicine, have become an important resource of rural development in Guizhou Province. However, not much research has been conducted to document the medicinal plants traditionally used by the Shui people. This study’s aims are (1) to record the current use of medicinal plants in Sandu County and associated traditional knowledge, including the medicinal plant species used and the types of diseases treated by local healers and any unique aspects of their preparations; (2) to analyze the most important medicinal plant species using relative frequency of citation (RFC); and (3) to provide useful information and data for possible future development and application of ethnomedicine and promote the conservation and preservation of Shui traditional medicinal knowledge.MethodsField surveys were conducted between July 2015 and August 2022 in Sandu County. A total of 15 local healers as key informants were interviewed. An additional 132 informants from villages and local markets were also interviewed through semistructured interviews and focal group discussions. Local Shui healers were followed during their collection of medicinal plants in the fields and recorded the medicinal plants’ names, uses, and parts used. An ANOVA was used to evaluate the number of medicinal plants recognized by local healers across age-groups and townships, and relative frequencies of citation values were determined for the recorded medicinal plants.ResultsIn this study, data collected from 15 Shui healers and 132 other informants were analyzed. The healers used fresh or dried parts of 505 plant species as medicine to treat a wide range of conditions and diseases. These plants belong to 405 genera from 156 families, with Fabaceae being the highest represented plant family. The Jiuqian township had the highest distribution of per capita healers (pch); only one local healer was in Zhonghe. Of the 15 local healers, only two were younger than 40 years of age. There is a major concern that traditional medicinal knowledge may be lost if there are not sufficient trainees or suitable successors. Among the common medicinal plants, most are herbaceous and the Shui typically use the whole plant in their medicines. There are 85 different recorded diseases treated by Shui medicinal plants, and among them, rheumatism and bone fractures have the largest number of species used. Three medicinal plant species, Isodon amethystoides, Asarum insigne, and Acorus tatarinowii, are the most commonly used ethnomedicines by the Shui people.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that Shui people have extensive knowledge of a diverse range of medicinal plants, many of which had not been systematically recorded before the current study. Further research on the chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of Shui medicinal plants will be useful for developing functional foods or pharmaceutical products, particularly those of Isodon amethystoides, Asarum insigne, and Acorus tatarinowii. Additionally, as a result of rapid economic growth, fewer young people in Shui communities pursue traditional medicinal studies. Only 15 traditional Shui healers remain in the county, and only two of them are below the age of 40 years. Therefore, to conserve Shui’s traditional medicinal knowledge, initiatives and policies are required to regenerate, strengthen, and promote Shui medicinal knowledge.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION AND THE MANAGEMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS IN THE COMMUNITY OF ZOGBODOMEY

Citizen participation in city governance is essential to the democratic functioning of urban society. Local government is the level of government closest to residents, and it is here that many important decisions are taken that have a direct impact on residents' quality of life. The aim of this study is to analyze citizen involvement in municipal management in Zogbodomey. Data were collected through individual interviews with 350 people belonging to sociolinguistic groups. The population of Zogbodomey has a good understanding of the concept of participatory governance, highlighting citizen participation options, communication, and inclusion in the design of development action programs, mutual trust and legislation on citizen participation. For them, the idea of participation is an inclusive process for building and carrying out development actions. According to the respondents, participation offers a number of opportunities. The investigations showed that the public was partly aware of the wide range of opportunities for civic participation. These include community media, opinion forums, development associations, professional associations, etc., taking into account the traditional councils of chiefs, etc. It should also be noted that traditional chiefdoms are involved in community development in a number of ways.

Folk taxonomical distinction between Irvingia gabonensis and I. wombolu (Irvingiaceae) in the Volta Forest region, West Africa

Description of the subject. Irvingia gabonensis and I. wombolu produce edible kernels, with their fruit pulp tasting sweet and bitter, respectively. The overlap of their morphological and ecological traits creates taxonomic uncertainty. Objectives. This study assessed the efficiency of folk classification system for the separation between I. gabonensis and I. wombolu, in the Volta Forest region (Togo), where both species co-occur. Method. Interviews were conducted with 114 respondents of the five main sociolinguistic groups in the Volta Forest region, in order to identify distinctive traits between both species. Field reconnaissance and confirmation test were used to identify I. gabonensis and I. wombolu trees, which were evaluated against ecological features in folk classification system. Results. Variations existed within each species but were not botanically delimited. The folk classification system was mostly based on fruit pulp taste and some ecological traits. Old local residents only trusted fruit taste to separate these species. Only young Akposso men additionally considered ecology and leaf shape in classification. The reconnaissance survey confirmed the consistency of their folk classification system. Dendrometric parameters of I. gabonensis depended on environmental factors, while land use system and soil geomorphology significantly influenced the occurrence of I. wombolu. Conclusions. Fruit pulp taste and flowering seasons were widely used to distinguish between species, while young men used ecological and botanical features. This demonstrates their recent contact with these taxa. It is also likely that domestication is narrowing differences between I. gabonensis and I. wombolu.

Traditional uses of Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr. (Fabaceae) and potential for its valorisation as fuelwood

Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr. is a common multipurpose small tree species of Sudanian and Sudano-Guinean savannahs with high potential for use as fuelwood but little valued in forestry programs. The present study aimed at assessing the current local uses of D. microcarpum, factors determining its use as fuelwood and determine the geographical areas with the socio-cultural groups which is most suitable for its integration into fuelwood programs. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted among 1074 people selected randomly. Factors determining D. microcarpum use as fuelwood were identified through a binary logistic regression. Factorial Correspondence Analysis established the relationship between socio-cultural groups and the use of D. microcarpum parts or organs. A total of 62.47% of respondents know and use at least part of D. microcarpum. The trunk and branches are the most used organs (35.12%), primarily as fuelwood. The determinants of D. microcarpum use as fuelwood are the phytogeographic district (a proxy for the resource availability), gender, sociolinguistic group, and educational level. D. microcarpum is more used as fuelwood by women. The use of D. microcarpum as fuelwood is more pronounced in about 63% of the national territory. This study confirms the potential of D microcarpum as fuelwood to be promote.

English

The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphological diversity of plantain accessions from three main plantain growing districts in Benin Republic. Sixteen descriptors were used including 5 quantitative. Overall, 31 cultivars were identified and associated with various names depending on the sociolinguistic groups. Results indicated the presence in each district of the three types of inflorescences (male rachis appearance) that describe the plantain subgroup. False horn is the most represented with 19 accessions, followed by French type with 10 accessions and True horn with only two accessions. All plantains were giant cultivars with pseudostem greater than 3 m, except hybrid L5449, which averaged 2.89±0.06 m. The collection was dominated by accessions having slightly oblique or sub-horizontal bunches (83.87%). Quantitative variables were submitted to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) which led to the separation of all the accessions into four clusters having specific traits that can be harnessed diversely in a breeding program. The presence of the three types of inflorescences confirmed plantain phenotypical diversity, with “False horn” type dominating plantain cultivars. Moreover, the occurrence of genetic erosion of white pulp cultivars is due to consumer preferences. Key words: Accession, collection of bananas, biodiversity, phenotypical variability.

Traditional knowledge and phytochemical screening of plants used in snakebite prevention in Benin

BackgroundSnake envenomation is a public health problem that has caused many deaths, disabilities and significant physical, psychological and socio-economic losses worldwide. In many rural communities, some plants have been utilized for preventing snake envenomation. The present study aims to document the knowledge of traditional medicine specialists on the plants used to prevent snakebites or repel snakes in Benin. A survey was conducted between January 2020 and September 2020 to this end. A total of 238 traditional healers and 56 hunters of different socio-cultural groups were interviewed using snowball sampling technique. Survey data were analyzed using Relative Citation Frequency. The diversity of antisnake bite plants was assessed using the Shannon diversity index, Piélou equitability, the Bray–Curtis similarity index and a Factorial Correspondence Analysis. Finally, qualitative phytochemical screening was performed on aqueous extracts following standard methods based on staining and/or precipitation reactions.ResultsA total of 74 plant species belonging to 36 families and 70 genera were identified. The most frequently encountered families were Leguminosae (27.3%), Euphorbiaceae (8.1%), Arecaceae, Asteraceae and Cucurbitaceae (4.5% each). Annona senegalensis, Securidaca longipedunculata, Piliostigma thonningii, Chenopodium ambrosioides and Cymbopogon citratus were the most cited species. The analysis of the intra-community diversity of antisnake bite plants from socio-cultural and sociolinguistic groups showed a high diversity and strong equi-representativeness of the plants used in the prevention of snakebites in Benin. Preliminary qualitative analysis of the bioactive compounds in extracts of the most cited antisnake bite plants revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponosides, mucilages, reducing compounds and triterpenoids.ConclusionsIn-depth pharmacological and phytochemical studies would make it possible to rationalize on the effectiveness of the identified medicinal plants as well as provide insights of the compounds responsible for their antisnake bite activity.

Nutritional potential of edible Russula species from Alédjo Wildlife Reserve (AWR)

In order to contribute to the valorisation of wild fungi whose nutritional potential, although considerable, is not sufficiently known in some countries such as Togo, a study has been carried out on Russula species. The diversity of Russula species from Alédjo Wildlife Reserve has been assessed using a focused inventory in woodlands dominated by Isoberlinia doka Craib & Stapf, Isoberlinia tomentosa (Harms) Craib & Stapf, Monotes kerstingii Gilg, Uapaca togoensis Pax and gallery forests dominated by Berlinia grandiflora (Vahl) Hutch & Dalz and Uapaca guineensis Müll. Ethnomycological surveys have been carried out among Tém and Kabyè, two riparian ethnic groups that are mainly represented. Biochemical analyses have been carried out using the AOAC method. Fifteen (15) taxa of edible Russula species are commonly used by Tém and Kabyè people living along the Alédjo Wildlife Reserve among which thirteen (13) taxa have been identified up to species level. R. oleifera is eaten by all interviewed people in both sociolinguistic groups (Fr = 100%) followed by R. compressa (Fr = 92.31%), R. ochrocephala (Fr = 87.18%) among Tém people and R. ochrocephala (Fr = 91.67%), R. compressa (Fr = 83.33%) among Kabyè people. Five (05) new species of edible Russula have been identified for the first time in Togo. The Russula species analysed have been rich in macronutrients with contents ranging from 2.88 g/100 g of dw for fat to 65.83 g/100 g of dw for total carbohydrates. In addition, these Russula species have shown a relatively high mineral content with contents ranging from 405.70 mg/100 g of dw for Ca to 2784 mg/100 g of dw for K. Furthermore, the results have revealed that Russula species analysed are a source of energy with 309.50 Kcal/100 g of dw. The edible Russula species analysed can thus contribute to food security in Togo.

Socioeconomic correlates, typology and characterization of indigenous guinea fowl (Numida meleagris, Linnaeus) farming in Benin, West Africa

The role of agriculture in Benin, Western Africa cannot be overemphasized, where livestock production is a major occupation among the rural population as it serves as a means of livelihood and sustenance. This study was carried out to examine the socio-economic correlates of guinea fowl production status in Benin and to characterize their management practices. 165 farmers across 10 regions in Benin were selected using the non-probabilistic snowball sampling method. Information on farmers’ socio-economics, management practices and constraints to optimum production were elicited with the aid of a structured questionnaire and subjected to analysis. The results showed that across all the 10 regions surveyed, guinea fowl farming was the dominant occupation, particularly among men (81.0%) irrespective of sociolinguistic groups, religion and level of education. About one-third (34.5%) of the farmers had no formal education. In terms of characterization, four clusters of guinea fowl farmers were identified based on geographical location, educational level, management technique and farming experience. The constraints to guinea fowl production were slow growth and high mortalities as a result of diseases (40.7%) and predators (29.1%). Improvement in feeding (30%) and veterinary care (33.9%) were part of suggestions made by farmers to increase the productivity of the birds. The study concluded that adequate technical support and scientific research are inevitable in this sector as this will considerably improve the rural populations living conditions through enhanced income and therefore constitute a real lever for rural development.

How to Share Research about Education and Employment with the Deaf Community

The U.S. Deaf community is a sociolinguistic minority group of at least 500,000 individuals who communicate using American Sign Language (ASL).1 ASL is fully distinct from English – i.e., it is not “English on the hands.” ASL is a natural, formal language with its own syntax, morphology, and structure. Members of the Deaf community identify as members of a cultural minority group with shared language, experience, history, art, and literature. This tip sheet focuses on best practices for sharing research findings with culturally Deaf individuals who primarily use ASL. However, many of the strategies described below align with principles for universal accessibility and will, therefore, apply to a diverse range of hearing people and people with hearing loss.

Food and medicinal uses of Annona senegalensis\xa0Pers.: a country-wide assessment of traditional theoretical knowledge and actual uses in Benin, West Africa

BackgroundThe growing interest for more natural products in food and health industries has led to increasing research on traditional knowledge related to plants. While theoretical knowledge (TK) on the uses of a species informs on the wide spectrum of potential uses of that species, actual uses (AU) highlight their potential being actually used. Distinguishing between the two is important when reporting ethnobotanical studies. However, studies often equated AU and TK, sometimes misleading conclusions, and decision-making. This study assessed TK, AU, and difference between TK and AU of Annona senegalensis and how each is related to factors such as age, sex, sociolinguistic group, and main activity in Benin republic.MethodsData were collected through semi-structured individual interviews (n = 755) and analyzed using among others, relative frequency of citation (RFC), and use-value (UV).ResultsA total of 168 theoretical uses were recorded but only 92 were “actually” practiced, of which four were food and 88 medicinal uses. TK and AU were positively correlated. As expected, TK was also significantly higher than AU, indicating that some potential uses of the species are still not valued. Sociolinguistic group and main activity, not age and sex, were the main factors influencing TK, AU, and difference between TK and AU. The highest TK was found with Bariba sociolinguistic group and the highest AU with Otamari. Fruits (100%) and flowers (10%) were the most used organs for food, while leaves (40%) and roots (7%) were mostly used for medicinal purposes. The most common food uses were consumption of the ripe fruits (100%), and food seasoning with flowers (10%). The most cited diseases were malaria (28%) and intestinal worms (8%).ConclusionsThe study illustrated the importance of differentiating between TK and AU. It documented the wide range of the uses of A. senegalensis, while highlighting its most common uses, and the need to better valorize and sustainably manage the species.

English

Ricinodendron heudelotii is a wild oil tree species native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is also found in Benin. Its oil is rich in the essential fatty acids (Omega 3, 6), fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) and trace elements, essential for human health. Currently, few people know about this oil, likely explaining its almost total absence in rural markets in Benin. The species is also neglected, as little scientific data is available on it in Benin, particularly regarding knowledge on its uses where it occurs. With the aim of filling this gap, ethnobotanical surveys were undertaken to assess the uses of the species, identify factors explaining the variation of its ethnobotanical value, and determine its availability and accessibility for local people. Data were analysed using the relative frequency of citation and generalised linear models. In total, eight uses were enumerated, of which six were for medicinal uses and one for cosmetic and handcraft respectively, and mainly based on its stem. The stem of R. heudelotii was mainly used for handcraft by Nagot and Holli socio-linguistic groups and mainly by men from the Pobe phytodistrict. Although individuals of R. heudelotii were absent in southern Benin, its kernel is mainly used for cosmetics and medicine by people from the Fon socio-linguistic group in this region. Field data suggest that the kernels and oil of R. heudelotii in this region mainly come from Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire. The distance travelled to access the species at the time of this study is two times higher than 30 years before and positively correlated with the use-value (r=0.66, P-value<0.001). Our findings suggest that R. heudelotii is marginally used in Benin, and this might be a threat for its conservation and related knowledge.   Key words: Commercial value, ethnobotanical value, phytodistrict, seed oil, kernel, use-value, West Africa

Making virtual health care accessible to the deaf community: Findings from the telehealth survey

Introduction To reduce COVID-19 exposure risk, virtual visits became widely adopted as a common form of healthcare delivery for the general population. It is unknown how this affected the deaf population, a sociolinguistic minority group that continues to face communication and healthcare barriers. The survey's objective was to describe the deaf participants’ experiences with telehealth visits. Methods A 28-item online survey, available in American Sign Language and English, was developed and disseminated between November 2020 and January 2021. Ninety-nine deaf participants responded. Descriptive statistics were performed to assess the participant's virtual health care use, experiences, and communication approaches. Results Seventy-five percent of respondents used telehealth at least once in the past 12 months (n = 74; age = 37.6 ± 14.5 years). Of those who used telehealth, nearly two-thirds experienced communication challenges (65.3%; n = 49). Half of the participants reported having to connect via a video relay service that employs interpreters who maintain general certification instead of a remote interpreter with specialized health care interpreting certifications for video visits with their health care providers (n = 37) and a third of participants reported needing to use their residual hearing to communicate with their providers (n = 25). Conclusion Standard protocols for health care systems and providers are needed to minimize the burden of access on deaf patients and ensure virtual visits are equitable. It is recommended these visits be offered on Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant platforms and include multi-way video to allow for the inclusion of remote medical interpreters and/or real-time captionists to ensure effective communication between the provider and the deaf patient occurs.

Morphotype Classification Criteria and Influence of Sociocultural Factors on Perceived Shea Tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn) Natural Variation across Parklands in Benin.

Trait diversity is crucial in undertaking the domestication of useful species such as Vitellaria paradoxa which makes a significant contribution to the rural household economy in Africa. This study aims to document the criteria farmers use to distinguish shea trees; how they vary according to age, education level and sociolinguistic group; and their perception of trees’ abundance and production. We surveyed 405 respondents across shea parklands in Benin using a semi-structured questionnaire. We used the Kruskal-Wallis test to evaluate the influence of sociodemographic attributes on relative criteria citation frequency and principal components analysis to characterize farmers’ perception on morphotypes’ abundance, fruits, and butter yields. The five most cited criteria were fruit size (55.5%), tree fertility (15.40%), bark colour (10.51%), timing of production (5.38%), and pulp taste (3.42%). The citation frequency of criteria varied significantly depending on the sociodemographic factors considered. Trees having small fruit (‘Yanki’) were reported to be widespread and high fruit/nuts and butter producers. Farmers perceived five important traits with variable importance depending on the sociocultural factors studied. This finding is a key step toward the development of a shea improvement program that could focus on the morphotype Yanki reported to potentially be a high fruit and butter producer.

Mass Media as a Tool for Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities: Thematically Universal and Specialized Editions (on the Example of Deaf-Press)

The study examined the role of national press in the process of social inclusion and integration of deaf community. We found that in the light of the problems of social inclusion, it is necessary to address the characteristics of certain groups of people with disabilities, in particular, specific needs of people with hearing impairments. Different life practices of people with hearing disabilities make it important to study this particular segment of population and various communication strategies that facilitate the process of their social integration. Russian academic community does not consider people with hearing disabilities as a separate cultural and sociolinguistic group but as a part of a bigger group of people with different kinds of disabilities. The present study described the differences between the concepts of “socialization”, “adaptation”, “integration" and "inclusion", and also highlighted the importance of studying the process of inclusion. Additionally, the authors described the features of the deaf community and approaches to study this particular segment of population. The article presents statistical, documented and theoretical sources to be used as the basis for empirical research. In order to get the most complete picture of the role of the press in matters of social inclusion, the authors considered both socio-political press and specialized press directly targeting deaf community. Identifying drawbacks of current media coverage the authors explored and showed different ways to improve it. A content analysis of socio-political and specialized publications was implemented, which made it possible to form a basis for the formation of recommendations for domestic media.

English

Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir, a spontaneous species from Guinean savannahs of West Africa, functions as socio-economic and cultural livelihood in rural areas of Benin. This study improved the knowledge of people about the uses of P. erinaceus organs connected to the sociolinguistic diversity in Benin, intending to enhance the pathways of conservation and sustainable management of the species. A total of 506 respondents from nine big sociolinguistic groups were interviewed using a survey questionnaire. To show the diversity of the organs/parts used as well as the categories of uses, principal component analyzes were performed to matrices including the relative frequencies of citation grouping the socio-demographic factors and the categories of uses, together under the packages FactoMineR and factoextra. The results revealed the use of all P. erinaceus organs in various forms of use for various purposes and make it an important species of livelihood for the local people. Sixty-four diseases, symptoms, or pathologies are cured by using P. erinaceus organs. These various uses of P. erinaceus varied among the sociolinguistic groups. The results of the study suggest the need to define conservation strategies for the natural stands of P. erinaceus to ensure sustainable management of the species.   Key words: Forest livelihoods, traditional uses, ethnomedicinal knowledge, conservation, principal component analysis, West Africa.