Décrue agriculture in Mali

The hydrology of the central delta of the Niger River is extremely complex, but the local cultivators have developed a remarkably sophisticated agriculture in order to deal with it. Crops, varieties and cultural practices are sensitively adjusted to variations in the height of the flood, soil texture, storage hazards, bird damage, nutritional needs and food preferences.     

Night life in southern urban Mali: being a Muslim maquisard in Bougouni

Alcohol has been part of local culture in southwest Mali since precolonial times. In the last century, when Islam spread into the region, it became a ‘haram’ (forbidden) substance; therefore its consumption moved to the margins of society. Based on an ethnography of night life in discreet bars called ‘maquis’ where power, wealth, and alcohol become juxtaposed during the night in the small town of Bougouni, this article explores how Muslims handle their participation in forbidden activities from within a local Muslim community. Analysing the social significance of the darkness of the night in relation to a public Islam based on sight, it illustrates how forbidden activities are handled through strategies of diurnal conformity and nocturnal discretion in urban Mali. Exploring the fact that a Muslim can at the same time be known as a respectable member of the local community and a suspected drinker during the night, this analysis aims to demonstrate that the interplay between display and secrecy is an important component of morality in urban Mali, while the wealth and power of m?g?baw (big men) often work as veils that cover their forbidden activities. Besides studying the ways Muslims strive to be pious, this article finally stresses the need to explore also the field of haram as an integral part of a Muslim life so as to develop a humanly wider and more complete understanding of Islam's relationship to contemporary Muslim societies.     

Human settlement and baobab distribution in south-western Mali

Aim Human settlement establishment and reproduction of the baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) appear spatially and temporally dependent because baobabs are abundant in many settlement sites in Africa. This paper tests the spatiotemporal relationship between baobab and settlement distribution. Location South‐western Mali. Methods In an area of 183 km², 1240 baobabs were located and mapped, their diameters measured, and habitat characteristics recorded for each individual. All occupied (n = 9) and abandoned (n = 84) settlements were located and mapped, and occupation dates were determined through interviews. Chi‐squared analysis indicated baobab habitat preferences, and bivariate point‐pattern analysis tested baobab–settlement spatiotemporal independence. Results Baobabs and human settlements are positively spatially associated at most distances and for all baobab size‐class–settlement age‐class pairs. However, positive spatial association is significant only at distances < 500 m, and young settlements and large baobabs are not significantly associated. Positive association between small and large baobabs is marginally significant at <300 m, but observed significance is less than that for baobab–settlement positive association. Baobab abundance is not evenly distributed across the range of habitats it occupies; recruitment is strongest in settlements and fields, and on cliffs, while mortality is highest on cliffs. Ethnographic observations suggest that human settlement practices and fruit use are the main human factors contributing to baobab–settlement positive spatial association. Main conclusions There are three main conclusions: (1) Human settlement and baobab recruitment are spatially dependant because settlement leads directly and indirectly to the development of baobab groves at settlement sites. (2) The lower than expected abundance of mature individuals in natural habitats, and the habitat preferences of the observed population, suggest that baobabs were introduced to south‐western Mali, probably centuries ago. (3) Human mobility over decadal time‐scales is necessary to maintain baobab population structure in landscapes dominated by shifting land use, where baobabs are not purposefully planted. Baobab population processes in such landscapes occur at the scale of human settlement.     

A molecular map of chloroquine resistance in Mali

Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance (CQR) transporter point mutation (PfCRT 76T) is known to be the key determinant of CQR. Molecular detection of PfCRT 76T in field samples may be used for the surveillance of CQR in malaria-endemic countries. The genotype-resistance index (GRI), which is obtained as the ratio of the prevalence of PfCRT 76T to the incidence of CQR in a clinical trial, was proposed as a simple and practical molecular-based addition to the tools currently available for monitoring CQR in the field. In order to validate the GRI model across populations, time, and resistance patterns, we compiled data from the literature and generated new data from 12 sites across Mali. We found a mean PfCRT 76T mutation prevalence of 84.5% (range 60.9–95.1%) across all sites. CQR rates predicted from the GRI model were extrapolated onto a map of Mali to show the patterns of resistance throughout the participating regions. We present a comprehensive map of CQR in Mali, which strongly supports recent changes in drug policy away from chloroquine.     

Farmer Choice of Sorghum Varieties in Southern Mali

In southern Mali and throughout the semiarid tropics, small-scale family farmers are faced with the challenge of producing adequate harvests in difficult biophysical and socioeconomic environments. Professional plant breeders have had much difficulty developing modern varieties that outperform farmers’ traditional varieties in these environments, in part because of an incomplete understanding of why farmers choose the varieties they grow. Improved understanding of farmers’ varietal choices can contribute to collaboration between farmers and formal plant breeders. Based on a 15-month field study in Dissan, Mali, we examine farmer's choices among their traditional sorghum varieties in terms of one or more than one variety, and short-cycle or long-cycle varieties, and the interaction between these two choices. Results support our general hypothesis that farmers choose varieties to optimize outputs in the face of variation in the growing environment and in human managed inputs such as labor and tools.     

Nutritional status of adults in rural Mali.

An anthropometric assessment was conducted of 441 adults from six rural villages in southern Mali. As is typical for human populations, females are shorter and lighter than males. Both females (N = 320) and males (N = 121) are shorter and lighter than their U.S. counterparts. Mean weight in the sample is 53.4 +/- 8.5 kilos for females and 58.8 +/- 6.5 kilos for males. Mean height is 160.4 +/- 5.7 cm for females and 171.3 +/- 6.6 cm for males. The data for height in males are very similar to those reported from other surveys in Mali, and show no evidence for a positive secular trend in height. Mean body mass index (BMI) is 20.8 for females and 20.0 for males. These are lower than U.S. averages, but well above suggested cutoff points for malnutrition in adults. Average arm circumference is 26.5 cm for females and 26.4 cm for males. Females have relatively large arm circumferences due, in part, to the heavy manual labor they perform. Average head circumference is 53.0 cm for females and 54.8 cm for males. For both sexes, these values are more than 1 standard deviation (SD) below the U.S. means. Adult values for anthropometric measurements reflect childhood stresses of malnutrition and disease, and a lifetime of accommodation to a high-carbohydrate, low-protein diet, and hard physical labor. Females are significantly closer to the U.S. standards than males for weight, height, BMI, and arm circumference; these findings support the idea that females are buffered from environmental stresses relative to males. In addition, females exhibit significantly more variability than males for weight, arm circumference, and head circumference, but not for height, suggesting that variability in adult height does not reflect the presence or absence of female buffering or the level of environmental adversity.     

Risk factors for severe malaria in Bamako, Mali: a matched case-control study

The aim of this case-control study was to identify epidemiological risk factors for severe malaria among children living in Bamako, a malaria-endemic area. For this, 260 healthy community controls were matched to 130 patients with severe malaria. Conditional multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that all examined independent factors associated with severe malaria are directly related to characteristics of the child's mother, with the exception of the child's own yellow fever vaccination history (odds ratio (OR): 1.93, 95% confidence intervals (CI(95%)) [1.10-3.37]). The following characteristics were all associated with a decreased risk of severe malaria in the child: maternal education (OR: 0.52, CI(95%) [0.31-0.86]), the mother's adequate knowledge about malaria (OR: 0.46, 95% CI(95%) [0.25-0.86]), her use of mosquito bed nets (OR: 0.53, CI(95%) [0.30-0.92]) and breast-feeding for at least 2 years (OR: 0.57, CI(95%) [0.33-0.94]). Conversely, chronic maternal disease (OR: ?3.16, CI(95%) [1.31-7.61]) was associated with an increased risk of severe malaria. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that maternal factors are central to the development of severe malaria in children. Programmes aiming to improve both maternal health and maternal education may reduce the incidence of severe malaria in children and should therefore be advocated in Bamako and in areas with similar epidemiological patterns for malaria.     

Endemic cretinism in a traditional society in Mali: from the collectivity to the individual

The prevalence of endemic cretinism was measured in a village belonging to the Bwa ethnic group in Mali liable to iodine deficiency and suffering from endemic goitre. In this village according to mental and motor handicaps found in cretinism, we used two psychometric tests: the Raven's Progressive Matrice (PM 47) and a "peg test". Using the fiduciary inference method on the two tests associated with a clinical and qualitative approach, we obtained a prevalence of myxedematous cretinism close to 1.2%.     

Radar observations of concentrations of insects above a river in Mali, West Africa

Abstract. 1. Radar observations are reported which demonstrate nocturnal accumulations of insects in the altitude range 30–130 m over some sections of the River Niger.
2. It is shown that on occasions when individual insect tracks were resolved, the accumulations were maintained by positive insect flight manoeuvres, and were not the result of passive response to air movement.
3. The mechanisms by which the insects might perceive the presence of the river are examined and it is deduced that at least some of the insects were able to detect the river boundaries by a visual or radiation sensing mechanism. It is noted that if the insects were using visual perception, their eyes must have been able to function in the absence of moonlight.
4. Evidence is presented which suggests that amongst the insects which contributed to the phenomenon were Ephemeroptera, and also larger insects, the latter becoming concentrated over the river in the course of migratory flight across the area.
5. Reasons why the insects accumulated over the river are discussed and it is suggested that the most probable strategies included the formation of mating swarms by some insects, and the use of the river by others as a linear feature to facilitate their orientation. It is also suggested that the insects may have been responding to differences in infra-red radiation from the river and the bank, or to the warmer, moister air to be expected over the river.     

Growth of nestling Hamerkops Scopus umbretta in central Mali

Data on growth of nestling Hamerkops Scopus umbretta were analysed with respect to year and season of hatching and to hatch sequence. Quantitative growth characters included weight, culmen, tarsus, tail, third outermost primary quill, standard wing-length and wing span. The growth constant K of weight was 0·179 and time t₁₀–t₉₀ was 21·8 days. Least-squares analyses showed differences in weight gain, culmen-length and tarsus-length related to year and month but not to sequence of hatching. Predictive equations for character against age are provided for all linear measurements. Characters which attained apparent asymptotes before fledging were weight and culmen and tarsus-length whilst other characters varied between 80 and 90% of reported adult size. Qualitative indications of growth discussed are crest development, colouration and the disappearance of the egg-tooth. The rainy and post-rains seasons appear to offer the Hamerkop the best chances of successful breeding and maximum growth rates.     

Profil spermiologique des hommes infertiles au Mali

Infertility remains a major sociocultural problem in view of the fact that in Africa, in general, and in Mali, in particular, the main purpose of marriage remains procreation. The birth of a child is a source of joy and contributes to maintenance of a certain harmony in the home. In Africa, infertility is a dramatic problem that is difficult to bear for the couple. It is the leading cause of marital discord or divorce. It is considered to be due to fate, or a curse inflicted on the couple. For the woman, it represents a divine punishment, as it is usually the woman who is blamed for the problem male responsibility is only discovered during assessment of the couple’s infertility. Sperm count and sperm cytology are the basic examinations performed on semen. These examinations constitute key elements to evaluate the quality of semen. In Mali, the Cytogenetics and Reproduction Biology laboratory performs the greatest number of semen examinations in the country. The purpose of this study was to present the sperm profile of infertile men in Mali based on a 5-year retrospective study. Male infertility is a public health problem in Mali. The age-group most frequently affected is between 30 and 39 years. Primary sterility was the predominant form, observed in 70% of the subjects studied. Schistosomiasis plays a predominant role in the infectious history. The sperm count results show that cases of oligoasthenozoospermia and azoospermia represent 49.5% and 23.7% of the study population, respectively.     

Growth of nestling Hamerkops Scopus umbretta in central Mali

Data on growth of nestling Hamerkops Scopus umbretto were analysed with respect to year and season of hatching and to hatch sequence. Quantitative growth characters included weight, culmen, tarsus, tail, third outermost primary quill, standard wing-length and wing span. The growth constant K of weight was 0.179 and time t₁₀-t₉₀ was 21.8 days. Least-squares analyses showed differences in weight gain, culmenlength and tarsus-length related to year and month but not to sequence of hatching. Predictive equations for character against age are provided for all linear measurements. Characters which attained apparent asymptotes before fledging were weight and culmen and tarsus-length whilst other characters varied between 80 and 90% of reported adult size. Qualitative indications of growth discussed are crest development, colouration and the disappearance of the egg-tooth. The rainy and post-rains seasons appear to offer the Hamerkop the best chances of successful breeding and maximum growth rates.     

High Genetic Variability of Schistosoma haematobium in Mali and Nigeria

Schistosoma haematobium is one of the most prevalent parasitic flatworms, infecting over 112 million people in Africa. However, little is known about the genetic diversity of natural S. haematobium populations from the human host because of the inaccessible location of adult worms in the host. We used 4 microsatellite loci to genotype individually pooled S. haematobium eggs directly from each patient sampled at 4 endemic locations in Africa. We found that the average allele number of individuals from Mali was significantly higher than that from Nigeria. In addition, no significant difference in allelic composition was detected among the populations within Nigeria; however, the allelic composition was significantly different between Mali and Nigeria populations. This study demonstrated a high level of genetic variability of S. haematobium in the populations from Mali and Nigeria, the 2 major African endemic countries, suggesting that geographical population differentiation may occur in the regions.     

Women's social power, child nutrition and poverty in Mali

While the macro-level association between poverty and child malnutrition is well-established, the concept of 'poverty' and its operationalization in terms of measures of socioeconomic status shed little or no light on the mechanisms through which malnutrition is created and/or prevented. This paper investigates a woman's social power, one such mechanism that may mediate the impact of poverty on childhood nutrition. This micro-level factor is examined using survey data on 402 children 5 years of age and younger and their 261 Fulbe mothers in rural Mali. A conceptual model of social power is developed and used to test the hypothesis that a mother's social power can predict her child's nutritional status.     

Tree formations in relation with soil and grasses in a dry savanna in Mali, West Africa

The relationship between trees, grass and soil in a dry savanna in Mali was investigated, to identify variables that are most relevant to assess vegetation units. A 65 ha plateau was inventoried using a systematic square grid sampling pattern. Thirteen soil or topography variables, and tree and grass characteristics were measured at each sampling point. Multivariate analysis was used to separately analyse soil, tree and grass data, and to characterize tree–grass and tree–soil relationships. Four units of soils, four units of tree formations, and four units of grass formations were identified. There was a correspondence between these groups, indicative of four vegetation units: thicket, bare land, shrub savanna and tree savanna. Soil depth and soil texture were the soil variables that best related to tree vegetation. A negative correlation was found between tree basal area and grass dry biomass. Finally, vegetation units, as identified from tree species composition, had contrasted diameter structures and densities.     

Growth of nestling Barn Owls Tyto alba in central Mali

Data on growth of 276 young Barn Owls were analysed with respect to the effects of year and month of hatching, hatch order and brood order. Growth characteristics considered were weight; lengths of culmen, tarsus, central tail feathers and quill of third outermost primary; standard wing length; and wing span. For weight the growth constant K was 0151 and time t ₁₀- t ₉₀ was 32-2 days. Least-squares analyses showed that gain in weight and culmen and tarsus length were affected by month of hatching with young hatched in the middle part of the breeding season showing the most rapid growth. Hatch order affected gain in weight. Differences in growth rates of all these characters were not, however, reflected in differences in weight or length at fledging except for the effects of brood on weight with second broods fledging at significantly lighter weights than first ones. Predictive equations for character against age are provided for all linear measurements. All characters examined attained apparent asymptotes before fledging except tail and standard wing length.     

State-space forecasting of Schistosoma haematobium time-series in Niono, Mali

Background

Much of the developing world, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, exhibits high levels of morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases. The incidence of Schistosoma sp.—which are neglected tropical diseases exposing and infecting more than 500 and 200 million individuals in 77 countries, respectively—is rising because of 1) numerous irrigation and hydro-electric projects, 2) steady shifts from nomadic to sedentary existence, and 3) ineffective control programs. Notwithstanding the colossal scope of these parasitic infections, less than 0.5% of Schistosoma sp. investigations have attempted to predict their spatial and or temporal distributions. Undoubtedly, public health programs in developing countries could benefit from parsimonious forecasting and early warning systems to enhance management of these parasitic diseases.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this longitudinal retrospective (01/1996–06/2004) investigation, the Schistosoma haematobium time-series for the district of Niono, Mali, was fitted with general-purpose exponential smoothing methods to generate contemporaneous on-line forecasts. These methods, which are encapsulated within a state–space framework, accommodate seasonal and inter-annual time-series fluctuations. Mean absolute percentage error values were circa 25% for 1- to 5-month horizon forecasts.

Conclusions/Significance

The exponential smoothing state–space framework employed herein produced reasonably accurate forecasts for this time-series, which reflects the incidence of S. haematobium–induced terminal hematuria. It obliquely captured prior non-linear interactions between disease dynamics and exogenous covariates (e.g., climate, irrigation, and public health interventions), thus obviating the need for more complex forecasting methods in the district of Niono, Mali. Therefore, this framework could assist with managing and assessing S. haematobium transmission and intervention impact, respectively, in this district and potentially elsewhere in the Sahel.     

Endogamy among the Dogon of Boni, Mali

This paper examines factors influencing endogamy in a Dogon population in Mali. Situated in Boni district, this population of about 5000 individuals is distributed over fifteen villages located on four independent massifs. This population is strongly endogamous (only 4% of all marriages are contracted with neighbouring ethnic groups), and each massif shows high endogamy. The roles of lineage, residence in the same village, and geographical distance in mating choice are examined. These different factors are successively analysed using log-linear statistical models and the results offer a more precise interpretation of endogamy in this population.