West African Cities Research Articles

Linking research, capacity building, and policy dialogue in support of informal irrigation in urban West Africa

AbstractInformal irrigation is receiving increasing attention in West Africa. In particular, irrigated urban and peri‐urban agriculture (UPA) is thriving with significant benefits for farmers and the urban populations, though it is often handicapped by water pollution which threatens public health and prevents authorities from appreciating its advantages. To integrate UPA in sustainable urban development, a multi‐stakeholder (MS) process has been implemented since 2005 in a stepwise approach in six West African cities. Accra, Ghana, was the first Anglophone city where the MS process tried to facilitate strategic partnerships for an improved research‐policy dialogue. The process was supported by capacity building of local stakeholders, e.g. in participatory processes management, action planning and research, and monitoring and evaluation. These activities facilitated the official recognition of the role and benefits of UPA in Ghana in various ways. An internal lesson learnt was that there are many reasons why local partners might not give every project the expected priority and that related capacity‐building efforts might consequently not provide the expected incentive for partner commitment. Moreover, flexibility is required to link research, capacity building and policy dialogue through an MS process as its dynamic can vary from city to city and thus cannot follow set theoretical standards. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Colonial Legacy and Changes of West African Cities - Comparative Studies between Bamako and Segou Cities, Rep. of Mali -

The modernization of African cities, shifted toward decentralization in the early 90s, with state commitment to creating a platform for human resource development and poverty alleviation.The urbanization of West African cities occurred through transformations of socio-cultural structures resulting from colonial practices, leading to a rupture between tradition and modernization. This paper seeks to clarify the essence of changes that affect the spatial and social core of West African cities. Our research focuses on the transformation of Bamako and Segou and consists of (1) a comparative study of city forms, (2) a linguistic study of city words rooted in an historical assessment of spaces, and (3) a comparison of regional development between Bamako and Segou. Our results clarified the different ways in which the breakdown in communication between planning authorities and the proponents of local tradition have influenced the process of urban space.

The Emergence of Gated Communities in a West African Context: Evidence From Greater Accra, Ghana

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the global expansion of gated communities has become an increasingly important part of the residential geography of many cities. The gated community phenomenon has not been researched in West African cities, and the extent of these communities' formation and convergence or divergence with global trends is unknown. This article provides the first-ever analysis of their formation in Greater Accra, Ghana. The analysis suggests that the globalization of real estate markets and Diaspora living are important aspects in the residential geography of Accra. The concept of "transnational houses" is employed to explain aspects of the local property market that are being globalized and differentiated from local housing. Transnational houses add another layer of diversity to the contemporary urban geography of Greater Accra.

Institutional and legal aspects of urban agriculture in French-speaking West Africa: from marginalization to legitimization

Although urban agriculture has long been marginalized or ignored on the assumption that it is not an appropriate urban activity, it is attracting increasing interest among public authorities, civil society and researchers. This paper reports on research and city consultations in seven West African cities, which examined the institutional aspects of urban agriculture, including the constraints it faces. The paper discusses the growing interest by public authorities in urban agriculture, and the fact that this has failed to lead to its effective consideration in the institutional and legal provisions of most West African countries. Moreover, decentralization processes in the region have not led to a commitment by city governments to support urban agriculture. The uncertain legal status of urban agriculture contrasts with the multiplicity of actors who intervene directly or indirectly in its promotion and development. Despite problems of coordination between various sectors and levels of government, and a failure to achieve the necessary functional complementarity (for instance, between land management, agriculture and water, and waste management) the multiplicity and diversity of actors involved in urban agriculture are the expressions of its added value in both social and economic terms.

Distribution of causes of maternal mortality during delivery and post-partum: results of an African multicentre hospital-based study

<h2>Abstract</h2> <i>Objective:</i> To assess the maternal mortality ratio in maternity units of reference hospitals in large west African cities, and to describe the distribution of complications and causes of maternal deaths. <i>Study design:</i> Prospective descriptive study in twelve reference maternities located in three African countries (Benin, Ivory Coast, Senegal). Data (clinical findings at hospital entry, medical history, complications, type of surgery, vital status of the women at discharge) were collected from obstetrical and surgical files and from admission hospital registers. All cases of maternal deaths were systematically reviewed by African and European staff. <i>Results:</i> Of a total of 10,515 women, 1495 presented a major obstetric complication with dystocia or inappropriate management of the labour phase as the leading cause. Eighty-five maternal deaths were reported, giving a global hospital-based maternal mortality ratio of 800/100,000. Hypertensive disorders were involved in 25/85 cases (29%) and post-partum haemorrhage in 13/85 cases (15%). Relatively few cases (14) of major sepsis were reported, leading to three maternal deaths. <i>Conclusion:</i> The results of this multicentre study confirm the high rates of maternal mortality in maternity units of reference hospitals in large African cities, and in addition to dystocia the contribution of hypertensive disorders and post-partum haemorrhage to maternal deaths.

Distribution of causes of maternal mortality during delivery and post-partum: results of an African multicentre hospital-based study

Objective: To assess the maternal mortality ratio in maternity units of reference hospitals in large west African cities, and to describe the distribution of complications and causes of maternal deaths. Study design: Prospective descriptive study in twelve reference maternities located in three African countries (Benin, Ivory Coast, Senegal). Data (clinical findings at hospital entry, medical history, complications, type of surgery, vital status of the women at discharge) were collected from obstetrical and surgical files and from admission hospital registers. All cases of maternal deaths were systematically reviewed by African and European staff. Results: Of a total of 10,515 women, 1495 presented a major obstetric complication with dystocia or inappropriate management of the labour phase as the leading cause. Eighty-five maternal deaths were reported, giving a global hospital-based maternal mortality ratio of 800/100,000. Hypertensive disorders were involved in 25/85 cases (29%) and post-partum haemorrhage in 13/85 cases (15%). Relatively few cases (14) of major sepsis were reported, leading to three maternal deaths. Conclusion: The results of this multicentre study confirm the high rates of maternal mortality in maternity units of reference hospitals in large African cities, and in addition to dystocia the contribution of hypertensive disorders and post-partum haemorrhage to maternal deaths.

Land management and urban development projects: A comparison of experiences in French-speaking and English-speaking West Africa

Fieldwork carried out in Bamako and Accra has provided material for this analysis of past and changing land management in West African cities. It considers long-term constraints inherited from colonial rules and post-colonial speculative practices which still affect land markets, but also a planning strategy more recently introduced into urban projects with international financial support. In both Mali and Ghana, globalised models of urban management are applied to structural adjustment and to the fight against poverty. In this respect, they emphasise various techniques for improving land registration and market rationalisation, as well as local and community participation in decentralised urban operations. However, the paper points out a number of differences between Bamako and Accra, rooted in their historical backgrounds, the sharp conflicts arising from access to land, market actors, political involvement and their varying levels of urban fragmentation.

The Occupation of Public Space through Religious and Political Events: How Senegalese Migrants Became a Part of Harlem, New York

AbstractDuring the last twenty years, Senegalese migration has shifted from West African cities to France, from France to its European neighbour countries and finally towards the United States of America. Whereas the secular French state discourages religious display, especially within public space, the more community-oriented USA is far from opposed to religious expression in the public sphere. In this article, I analyze how Senegalese migrants who have grown up in secular states (Senegal and/or France) use American public space to demonstrate their political and religious identity through the organization of special events. Even though the migrants, notably the political and religious activists, take into consideration the cultural and political differences between their different places of residence, they follow continuous strategies across their translocal spaces. Special events like the Murid Parade in July or the Senegalese presidential election campaign in spring 2000 provide rich empirical data for the analysis of the complex interaction between Senegalese inside and outside their country, their translocal networks and their connections to the local situation in New York City. The latter includes the different inhabitants of Harlem and the local geographical setting, the representatives of the state and the politics of migration, as well as the Mayor and his political program. The recently opened House of Islam, founded by members of the Murid Sufi order in Harlem, shows how deeply the Senegalese in the US are already rooted. However, the annual religious event organized by the Murids is only one demonstration of identity politics. In order to illustrate the diversity of the community, I show how the events organized during the Senegalese presidential election campaign in 2000 in New York City take into consideration the complexity of the religious, political and economic identities of the American Senegalese.

Dystocia: a study of its frequency and risk factors in seven cities of west Africa

Objectives: To determine the incidence of dystocia in seven west African cities, to attempt to discover what, if any, factors at the prenatal visit might identify women at risk of dystocia, and to assess the utility of such screening. Method: This prospective population study of 20 326 pregnant women in west Africa (MOMA) analyzed risk factors for dystocia on the basis of deliveries in health care facilities. Results: Incidence of dystocia was 18.3%. In the multivariate analysis, the risk factors were small stature, previous cesarean, and nulliparity. As screening tools these factors have inadequate positive predictive values, either singly or combined. Conclusion: It is almost impossible to predict the occurrence of dystocia before the onset of labor. Therefore, labor must be carefully monitored, and there must be health care facilities available that can manage complications, especially cesarean deliveries. If such facilities are not accessible, an effective referral system must be established.

Obstetric fistulae: incidence estimates for sub-Saharan Africa

Obstetric fistulas are a direct consequence of an unclever obstetrical intervention or most often of an obstructed labor or cephalopelvic disproportion that have not received adequate care. In developing countries especially in sub-Saharan Africa the extent of obstetric fistulas is unknown. This paper evaluates the incidence of obstetric fistulas based on a prospective study carried out in six major West African cities. The study involved 19342 women who were followed up until the postpartum period. The results noted that of 19342 women 2 cases of vesicovaginal fistula occurred (an incidence rate of 10.3/100000 deliveries). The major cities had an incidence rate of 0/100000 deliveries and the rural areas had an incidence of 123.9/100000 deliveries. Based on the incidence rate found in the Kaolack Region and its application to the number of deliveries in rural areas it is found that the minimum annual estimate of the incidence of obstetric fistulas in rural sub-Saharan Africa is 33451 cases. This estimated annual number of cases is huge considering the lack of adequate facilities that will take care of women that are in need of specialized surgical interventions and social and psychological support.

A simple method for estimating thermal response of building materials in tropical climate

This paper develops a simple method for estimating the thermal response of building materials in the tropical climatic zone using the basic heat equation. The efficacy of the developed model has been tested with data from three West African cities, namely Kano (lat. 12.1 ºN) Nigeria, Ibadan (lat. 7.4 ºN) Nigeria and Cotonou (lat. 6.4 ºN) Republic of Benin, by considering a reference building with a flat ceiling option. Results show that the interior air temperature obtained as a direct response to the fluctuations of the outside air temperature indicate daily temperature reductions of varying magnitudes, depending on the building insulation, material thickness used and also on property value of the material adopted. It is concluded from the model's estimates that interior temperatures for thermal comfort can be realized through the appropriate application of passive systems. Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences Volume , No 1 January (2001) pp. 161-166 KEY WORDS: Thermal Response, Heat equation, Flat ceiling option, Building insulation, Passive systems.

Gender and Education Impacts on Employment and Earnings in West Africa: Evidence from Guinea

This study examines the determinants of labor force participation for men and women in Guinea for three sectors and for earnings. Employment includes self-employment private wage employment and public wage employment. Data were obtained from a survey of 1725 households in the capital city of Conakry in 1990. Labor force participation (LFP) was 40% for women aged 15-65 years and almost 100% for men aged 30-50 years. Men were engaged almost equally in all three sectors while women were mostly engaged in self-employment. Self-employed women tended to come from low-income households. All public sector employees were well-educated (about 10-12 years). Average levels of education among the self-employed were very low (2-3 years). In the private wage sector men averaged 5 years and women averaged 9 years of schooling. 47% of men and 59% of women in the public sector were in professional or managerial jobs. In the private sector over 50% of women were in professional managerial or clerical jobs compared to only 16% of men. Few women in the private sector were engaged in skilled trades or unskilled work. Most self-employed women and only 50% of men tended to work in retail trade. Migration during the past 5 years was positively associated with mens entry in self-employment and the private sector and negatively associated with their public sector employment. Determinants of womens self-employment included residence near commercial areas of the center city electricity in the house and work activity during the rainy season of April-September. Fulani and Malinke women were less likely to be self-employed. For women the benefits of education and experience declined after a certain level. Returns to schooling were high for both genders. Men earned more than women. There is a need to increase educational and employment opportunities for women.

Legal Intervention in Planning Regulations: Cooper v Wandsworth in a West African Context

One of the most important problems facing many West African cities in recent times is rapid and seemingly uncontrollable urbanization '. The enormous pressure which these developments have had on public systems in general - sanitation, sewage, housing, health care and transport, has forced many cities to think of innovative ways of handling these crisis. Planning departments with substantial expertise in urban problems, are being set up or are being re-organized to meet these new challenges. The powers that planning departments have, and their impact on the lives of ordinary citizens cannot be over-estimated. To prevent abuse of power and to make them responsive to the needs of citizens, several methods are used to control them. Judicial review of administrative actions is the legal method used to control many public bodies in English speaking West African countries. In this article, I shall argue that in spite of its strengths, there is a general tendency to use judicial review to protect common law values like individual proprietary rights against the claims of state institutions. In West Africa, because of the weakness of public institutions, the intervention of the law, while protecting important private rights may hamper administrative effectiveness. Anticipating the use of the leading English case, Cooper v Wandsworth2 in reviewing planning decisions in West Africa, I shall conclude that such a position may not only diminish administrative effectiveness, but it may also diminish property rights.KEY WORDS: Planning, Administrative Effectiveness, Common Law in West Africa, Cooper v Wandsworth, Statutory Interpretation.

Acceptability of interventions to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 in west Africa.

Would HIV-1-positive pregnant African women use interventions of AIDS testing, medication (oral or vaginal), and vaginal disinfection to reduce the likelihood of HIV-1 transmission to their child? In this pilot study in two west African cities (Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire and Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso), social workers gave a native-language questionnaire to 607 pregnant women at four Maternal and Child Health Centers. The women were asked about their perception of the HIV test; consequences of testing and counseling; choice of medical intervention to protect the future child; and feelings about being in a randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Most accepted the principle of an AIDS test, said they wanted the agreement of their regular partner before being tested, and would use interventions to reduce the risk of vertical transmission. The researchers concluded that although concepts of informed consent, randomization, and placebo are difficult to understand, the study results are promising and encourage the evaluation of clinical trials to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 in Africa.

Legal Intervention in Planning Regulations: Cooper v Wandsworth in a West African Context.

One of the most important problems facing many West African cities in recent times is rapid and seemingly uncontrollable urbanization. The enormous pressure which these developments have had on public systems in general - sanitation, sewage, housing, health care and transport, has forced many cities to think of innovative ways of handling these crisis. Planning departments with substantial expertise in urban problems, are being set up or are being re-organized to meet these new challenges. The powers that planning departments have, and their impact on the lives of ordinary citizens cannot be over-estimated. To prevent abuse of power and to make them responsive to the needs of citizens, several methods are used to control them. Judicial review of administrative actions is the legal method used to control many public bodies in English speaking West African countries. In this article, I shall argue that in spite of its strengths, there is a general tendency to use judicial review to protect common law values like individual proprietary rights against the claims of state institutions. In West Africa, because of the weakness of public institutions, the intervention of the law, while protecting important private rights may hamper administrative effectiveness. Anticipating the use of the leading English case, Cooper v Wandsworth2 in reviewing planning decisions in West Africa, I shall conclude that such a position may not only diminish administrative effectiveness, but it may also diminish property rights.

What is the situation of human T cell lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) in Africa? Origin and dissemination of genomic subtypes.

Human T cell lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) and its two genomic subtypes, A and B, which differ by 3 to 6% at the nucleotide level (depending on the gene studied), were until recently considered to be endemic only in certain Indian tribes in the Americas and were therefore considered mainly as a "New World virus." First, the evidence of HTLV-II antibodies and later characterization of isolates from sex workers or individuals living in large West and Central African cities suggested that HTLV-II subtype A could have been imported recently in Africa. However, the findings of HTLV-II infection in two Pygmy populations living in remote areas of Zaire and Cameroon suggest that HTLV-II might have been in Africa for a very long time. Furthermore, the discovery of HTLV-II subtype B virus in some of these Pygmies, but also in other individuals from Zaire and within a family in Gabon for three generations, confirms the hypothesis of a very ancient presence of this HTLV-II subtype B on the African continent Recent data indicate also that there exist in Central Africa specific HTLV-II divergent strains including an HTLV-II B variant strain in Gabon. In the context of recent evidence for interspecies transmission in Central and West Africa of HTLV-I/simian T cell lymphotropic virus type I (STLV-I) strains, leading to the two major HTLV-I African subtypes, we would like to suggest that some STLV-II (closely related to HTLV-II subtype B) still exist or might have existed in Central/East Africa. The recent finding of quite divergent primate T cell lymphotropic viruses (PTLVs) in several Pygmy chimpanzees of Zairian origin (PTLV-PP1664 and STLV-PP) and in wild-caught baboons in Eritrea, Ethiopia (PTLV-L), also supports the complementary hypothesis of a yet to be discovered new HTLV-II-related virus in humans. Careful study of the indeterminate Western blot patterns present in some populations in Central Africa strongly suggests that such an exciting possibility exists, thus opening new avenues of research on both the history of primate retroviruses and that of early human groups.

Cultivating biological and cultural diversity: urban farming in Casamance, Senegal

AbstractAt the present time, urban agriculture—that is, the growing of food crops in backyard gardens, unused city spaces and peripheral zones—is an economically viable alternative for many African migrants. Although previously ‘invisible’ to most developers and economists, urban farming is now recognised as playing a crucial subsistence role in the household economies of lower-income people living in major West African cities. But the practice does more than feed the urban poor. Using the example of Ziguinchor in Casamance, Senegal, it is argued that growing crops in peri-urban and intra-urban zones, on otherwise neglected or half-built-up land, also protects and enriches the city environment while increasing the primary productivity of the inhabitants. Directly, or in more subtle ways, the practice strengthens bonds of friendship, and promotes inter-ethnic co-operation while at the same time helping to maintain biological complexity in interesting and previously unexplored ways. City farming may provide a context through which the urban poor can relate to debates about biodiversity.

House and Dwelling, Family and Household: Towards Defining Housing Units in West African Cities

House and Dwelling, Family and Household: Towards Defining Housing Units in West African Cities

Public Health in U.S. and West African Cities, 1870–1900

(1994). Public Health in U.S. and West African Cities, 1870–1900. The Historian: Vol. 56, No. 4, pp. 685-698.

Fears of aids in Nigerian students: Dimensions of the Fear of Aids Scale (FAIDSS) in West Africa

A study based on a sample of 2500 individuals aged 18 years and over in six west African cities was undertaken for the purpose of determining the cross-cultural consistency and replicability of fears about AIDS. A factor analysis of the data obtained confirmed a similar factor structure to that reported in Australia. Implications for the prevention of HIV transmission in Nigeria and other west African countries is discussed. Our findings showed that the fear of AIDS Scale (FAIDSS) is a reliable index of fear of aids and is readily scaleable. Other implications for health education are considered.