Ongoing terrorist attacks in the Sahel region call for strengthening the security system by using human DNA identification technology. In this context, public opinion must be considered when establishing solid standards and universal safeguards for one of the most invasive forms of surveillance and profiling. For this purpose, we gathered internet users\' opinions in Burkina Faso (a country located in the Sahel region) on the use of DNA technology to support criminal investigations. The results revealed that 91.7% (431) of the 470 participants believed that this technology is currently necessary for the Burkina Faso\'s criminal justice system. However, the respondents expressed concerns about the custody and management of a national forensic DNA database. In this particular security setting, the public opinion of this study may provide leaders and political policymakers with clues for considering genetic fingerprints and implementing an national forensic DNA database to support criminal investigations in Burkina Faso whilst also considering the ethical implications.

The aim of this study is to provide an empirical answer to the question of whether nexus exists between climate change and sustainable agricultural growth in nine (9) countries within the Sahel region between 1990 and 2020. The study utilized Panel ARDL and Pairwise Dumitrescu Hurlin Panel Causality Tests to arrive at the following conclusions; firstly, the climate change orchestrated by change in rainfall is a very prominent factor causing reduction in sustainable agricultural growth in the Sahel region. One way feedback relationship flows from sustainable agricultural growth to greenhouse gas emission. In the light of the above, this study recommends that, in addressing the adverse effects of change in rainfall on agricultural sustainability, the policymakers in the Sahel region in particular and Africa as a whole should embark on a policy mix by embanking on mitigating policy response towards ensuring sustainable agricultural production via irrigation which is the best mode of water provisions without causing negative spilliovers on the environment. Also, the policymakers should be proactive by embarking on policies and programs that would build the resilience and adaptation of the region ahead of the future adverse effects of agriculturally induced climatic change.

ABSTRACTTransition is the next major hurdle in the field of HIV-infected youth, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. At St Camille Hospital in Ouagadougou, fully informed and compliant patients over 13-years-old were eligible for referral to the adult HIV/AIDS service, after completion of an individualized preparatory process. Transition consisted in at least two consecutive \"joined-service\" appointments in the respective facilities. We retrospectively compared immunological, clinical, and therapeutical data one year before transition, at transition and one year after transition. Between 2008 and 2019 73 patients (34 females, 39 males) were transitioned. All had been previously in pediatric care for at least 1 year and 66 were on HAART. Matched paired analysis of CD4 counts revealed a modest drop in CD4 cells over time (p < 0.05). Clinical data also showed strong fluctuation between WHO clinical stages over the three time points, with a clear trend towards increased severity especially post transfer. This large retrospective 12-year single-center experience from a Sahel country showed a 95.8% retention rate at one year. It demonstrates how a comprehensive plan, carefully implemented, can provide excellent retention, even in a low-resource setting. However, mild immunological decline was associated with a worrisome clinical deterioration, underlining the importance of assessing the latter after transition.

UNASSIGNED: It is necessary to understand religious leaders\' perceptions of modern contraceptive use and their role in influencing fertility behaviour for the successful adoption of family planning, especially in societies where the religious leaders\' opinions can have a significant influence on individuals\' reproductive decisions. This study, therefore, aimed to assess religious leaders\' knowledge of family planning and their involvement in family planning programmes in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso.
UNASSIGNED: This is a qualitative study comprising in-depth individual interviews with twenty-one religious\' leaders in the town of Dori in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso. An interview guide was used for data collection. This interview guide was developed based on the central themes and sub-themes determined for the research, namely, the religious leaders\' knowledge of modern contraception, the inclusion of information on modern contraception during religious activities and the relationship between religious leaders and reproductive health services. All interviews were recorded and transcribed in French using Microsoft Word. The verbatims were then coded for content analysis. The analysis method chosen was that of thematic analysis.
UNASSIGNED: The results of the study showed that religious leaders had good knowledge about family planning including modern contraceptive methods and fertility regulation through birth spacing. Regarding their involvement in family planning programme, religious leaders said they were not involved enough. However, the results of the study showed that leaders are reluctant to promote the use of FP methods.
UNASSIGNED: Although religious leaders are knowledgeable about family planning, they are still reluctant to promote the use of modern contraceptive methods in their communities. To do so, efforts are needed to sensitise and mobilise them in family planning programmes. The cooperation of local religious leaders will help promote family planning and improve Burkina Faso\'s performance on the Sustainable Development Goals through the achievement of the demographic dividend in the country.

Extreme drought events from climate disturbances are weakening livelihood and limiting agriculture and livestock production in the Sahel region. The lack of relevant information to anticipate coping measures has exacerbated impacts leading to climate adaptation failure in most parts. In this regard, the current research paper has collected important datasets with an objective to assess the impact of extreme drought events on household\'s livelihoods for better understanding impacts, local people\'s perception, and the changes on vegetation cover in order to support a robust adaptation strategy to drought. The study conducted a household survey and collected satellite data for comparative analysis. The first survey was conducted in 2013 to collect data from 465 household heads through a structured questionnaire. Supplementary focus group discussions (FGDs) were also conducted in 2018 to collect qualitative information from targeted respondents such as village leaders and members of other key groups including women and youth. Descriptive statistics and correlation coefficient matrix were used to characterize the impact on households\' main livelihoods and logistic regression to predict people\'s perception on pasture depletion over the last 20 years. Satellite data were used to derive spectral vegetation of land covers and unsupervised classification indexes. Both individual survey and focus group discussions identified drought as the main climate constraint which reduced crop production, water and pastures. The logistic analysis revealed that if the respondent\'s major occupation is livestock, the probability to perceive a depletion of pasture will increase by 28%. Concurrently, the satellite image observation in perfect agreement with the field survey showed 6.78% and 6.01% losses of water surface and vegetation cover respectively between 1986 and 2016 in the study area. These findings showed that logistic regression coupled with satellite information can inform on past and future impacts which are extremely crucial for sound adaptation planning in the Sahel region.

BACKGROUND: Despite the efforts of nutrition stakeholders in Burkina Faso to improve infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, the country is still struggling to stem undernutrition. Wasting, or acute malnutrition, is the form of malnutrition that has the most harmful short-term consequences for children. The objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence of wasting in children aged 6-23 months in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso and to identify its associated factors.
METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the 2015 National Nutrition Survey. The factors associated with wasting in the studied population were identified using a logistic regression.
RESULTS: A total of 956 children participated in the study. The prevalence of wasting was 25% (95% CI [22.28, 27.87]) in the Sahel region. Only 24.37% of children received a minimum meal frequency and 13.38% received a minimum dietary diversification the day before the survey. In the multivariate analysis, being male (aOR = 1.99; 95% CI [1.46, 2.72]), breastfeeding the day before the survey (aOR = 2.43; 95% CI [1.13, 5.22]), and having a history of illness (aOR = 2.32; 95% CI [1.67, 3.21]) significantly increased the risk of acute malnutrition.
CONCLUSIONS: In 2015, the prevalence of wasting among children was high in the Sahel region and good IYCF practices were still inadequate. There is an urgent need to implement good IYCF practices and strengthen interventions to improve infant health in this region.

BACKGROUND: Maternal mortality is of considerable magnitude. It is particularly relevant to developing countries, including those in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this work was to study the cases of maternal deaths in the Dori Regional Hospital, Burkina Faso in the Sahel region, by analyzing the epidemiological aspects of these deaths in order to guide decision-making.
METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study which spanned the period from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2016. Cases of maternal death and live births that occurred in the hospital during this period were collected by documentary review.
RESULTS: A total of 141 maternal deaths and 2,626 live births were recorded with a maternal mortality ratio of 5,369 for 100,000 live births. In 99 (72.20%) cases, death occurred in the postpartum. A home delivery had been reported in 33.70% of cases. Direct obstetric causes were found in 72.10% of cases. They were mainly represented by infections (32.40%) and hemorrhages (23%). Anemia was the indirect cause of death in 25 women (17.80%). The delay in health care access and the lack of blood products contributed to maternal deaths in 64.50% and 26.20% of cases.
UNASSIGNED: An intensification of awareness-raising messages about the importance of the rapid use of health care is necessary. Also, systematic audits of maternal deaths in the care environment and in the community would make it possible to clarify the determinants of maternal mortality in the Sahel region and to provide adequate solutions.