Disease discourses, African knowledge systems, and COVID-19 in Senegal

Too often African knowledge systems are excluded from formal discussions surrounding public health, as they are often perceived traditional mechanisms that operate outside the sphere of mainstream science and medicine. Yet with the diffusion of COVID-19 across the globe, new conversations have emerged in relation to Africa's community-based successes in responding to the virus and its impacts. This chapter employs a geographical analysis of Senegal in order to highlight the ways in which Senegalese have approached the diffusion of COVID-19 and successfully controlled its spread. Using maps and qualitative data, this chapter underscores the ways in which global public health experts can draw from the expertise of African nations given the complex ways they have responded to both this pandemic and previous health emergencies. Findings indicate that science and community-based response systems are the key to Senegal's management of coronavirus. This chapter aims to subvert dominant discourses, which suggest that African states somehow stumbled upon their pandemic-related successes. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023. All rights reserved.

Unintended consequences of implementing non-pharmaceutical interventions for the COVID-19 response in Africa: experiences from DRC, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic is one of the most terrifying disasters of the twenty-first century. The non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented to control the spread of the disease had numerous positive consequences. However, there were also unintended consequences-positively or negatively related to the nature of the interventions, the target, the level and duration of implementation. This article describes the unintended economic, Psychosocial and environmental consequences of NPIs in four African countries. METHODS: We conducted a mixed-methods study in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda. A comprehensive conceptual framework, supported by a clear theory of change was adopted to encompass both systemic and non-systemic interventions. The data collection approaches included: (i) review of literature; (ii) analysis of secondary data for selected indicators; and (ii) key informant interviews with policy makers, civil society, local leaders, and law enforcement staff. The results were synthesized around thematic areas. RESULTS: Over the first six to nine months of the pandemic, NPIs especially lockdowns, travel restrictions, curfews, school closures, and prohibition of mass gathering resulted into both positive and negative unintended consequences cutting across economic, psychological, and environmental platforms. DRC, Nigeria, and Uganda observed reduced crime rates and road traffic accidents, while Uganda also reported reduced air pollution. In addition, hygiene practices have improved through health promotion measures that have been promoted for the response to the pandemic. All countries experienced economic slowdown, job losses heavily impacting women and poor households, increased sexual and gender-based violence, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages, increased poor mental health conditions, increased waste generation with poor disposal, among others. CONCLUSION: Despite achieving pandemic control, the stringent NPIs had several negative and few positive unintended consequences. Governments need to balance the negative and positive consequences of NPIs by anticipating and instituting measures that will support and protect vulnerable groups especially the poor, the elderly, women, and children. Noticeable efforts, including measures to avoid forced into marriage, increasing inequities, economic support to urban poor; those living with disabilities, migrant workers, and refugees, had been conducted to mitigate the negative effects of the NIPs.

Infection à Covid-19 en gériatrie au Sénégal

Objectives: While the elderly incurred high mortality during the Covid-19 pandemic, the geriatric particularities remain little known. The objective of this work was to determine the geriatric specificities, in particular epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic, of this infection in Senegal. Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive, observational study over a period of 13 months (beginning of August 2020 to end of August 2021) conducted in a population of individuals aged 65 years and older admitted to the only university geriatric department in Senegal. Patients infected with COVID-19 confirmed by a positive RT-PCR (Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction) and nasal or pharyngeal swabs were included. Results: During this period, out of 215 hospitalized patients, 40 tested positive for Covid-19, a proportion of 18.6%. The mean age of the patients was 79 years (+/-7), predominantly male (65%). Most patients (45%) came from the hospital emergency department. Frailty concerned 67.5% of the patients and 25% had a chronic loss of autonomy.Clinical signs were dominated by alteration of the general state and pulmonary condensation syndrome, each affecting half of the patients, followed by fever (40%), anorexia (35%), dyspnea (32.5%) and transit disorders (25%). The geriatric syndromes were mainly loss of functional autonomy for 77.5% of the patients, malnutrition for 67.5%, confusional syndrome for 25% and depression for 25%. On the thoracic CT scan, the extent of the lesions was severe for half of the patients with extensive forms for 25% of the patients, severe for 22.5% and critical for 2.5%.All patients received antibiotic therapy based on azithromycin and 57.5% received amoxicillin-clavulanic acid while only 7.5% received hydroxychloroquine. Non-drug treatments were mainly motor rehabilitation for 80% of the patients, nutritional management for 77.5%, supportive psychotherapy for 50% and temporo-spatial reorientation protocols for confusion for 30%. Complications were dominated by acute renal failure (47.5%), ionic disorders (42.5%) and bacterial superinfections (22.5%). The mortality rate was 20%. Conclusion: This study, in addition to confirming the atypical nature of the symptomatology and the severity of the pulmonary involvement, has above all highlighted the multidimensional particularities of the geriatric management of Covid-19.

Émergence des vulnérabilités de soignants en première ligne au cours des urgences sanitaires. De l'épidémie d'Ebola à la COVID-19 au Sénégal

Based on results of ethnographic study about social construction of trust, this article describes experiences of the Ebola Virus Disease epidemic. The author describes how, on the front line of the disease, response to an unpredictable epidemic in a country with limited resources such as Senegal, relies on the capacities of health workers not very visible, who have a precarious status, and who are not considered to be health personnel but who provide essential "ordinary" care on a daily basis through "tasks delegation". The article describes the patient's care itinerary, contact case identification modalities and the profile of the caregivers considered as "contacts". The author describes their experiences, the social and financial effects of home assignment, which reinforces their double professional and social vulnerability as well as their suffering. Locked in a "health subsystem" at the entrance of the health pyramid, these invisible caregivers are the most exposed, the least protected or supported. In context of a country with a fragile health system, this analysis should contribute to a sociological understanding of the usual role of caregivers in the public health system and in epidemic situations, but also to understand contours of an "organized" and institutionalized invisibility that compromises epidemic responses.Alternate :Basado en los resultados de un estudio etnográfico sobre la construcción social de la confianza, este artículo describe las experiencias vividas durante la epidemia de la enfermedad viral del Ébola. Muestra cómo, en primera línea ante los enfermos, los dispositivos para responder a una epidemia imprevisible en Senegal dependen de las capacidades de los agentes sanitarios poco visibles, con estatus precario, que no son considerados como miembros del personal de salud pero que aseguran de manera cotidiana lo esencial de la asistencia sanitaria «rutinaria». El artículo presenta el itinerario de la atención del paciente, las modalidades de identificación y el perfil del personal sanitario considerados como «contactos». La autora describe su vivencia, los efectos sociales y financieros de la asignación en domicilio, la cual refuerza la doble vulnerabilidad profesional y social, así como sus padecimientos. Confinados en un «subsistema de salud» en la base de la pirámide sanitaria, ese personal sanitario invisible es el más expuesto, el menos protegido o apoyado. Este análisis contribuirá al conocimiento sociológico del rol habitual y en situación de epidemia del personal sanitario en el sistema de salud pública, y por otra parte permitirá comprender los contornos de una invisibilidad «organizada» e institucionalizada que compromete la respuesta a las epidemias.Alternate :Basé sur les résultats d'une étude ethnographique sur la construction sociale de la confiance, cet article décrit les expériences vécues lors de l'épidémie de la maladie à virus Ebola. Il montre comment, en première ligne face aux malades, les dispositifs de réponse à une épidémie imprévisible au Sénégal reposent sur les capacités des agents de santé peu visibles, au statut précaire, qui ne sont pas considérés comme faisant partie des membres du personnel de santé, qui assurent au quotidien l'essentiel des soins « ordinaires ». L'article décrit l'itinéraire de soins du patient, les modalités d'identification et le profil des soignants considérés comme des « contacts ». L'auteure décrit leur vécu, les effets sociaux, et financiers de l'assignation à domicile qui renforce la double vulnérabilité professionnelle et sociale ainsi que leurs souffrances. Enfermés dans un « sous‑système de santé » à l'entrée de la pyramide sanitaire, ces soignants invisibles sont les plus exposés, les moins protégés ou soutenus. Cette analyse devrait permettre, d'une part, de contribuer à une connaissance sociologique du rôle habituel et en situation d'épidémie de ces soignants dans le système de soins publics, et, d'autre part, d'appréhender des cont ur d'une invisibilité « organisée » et institutionnalisée qui compromet les ripostes épidémiques.

Outbreaks of different viral etiologies amidst COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected public health system and surveillance of other communicable diseases across the globe. The lockdown, travel constraints and COVID phobia turned down the number of people with illness visiting to the clinics or hospitals. Besides this, the heavy workload of SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis has led to the reduction in differential diagnosis of other diseases. Consequently, it added to the underlying burden of many diseases which remained under-diagnosed. Amidst the pandemic, the rise of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases was observed worldwide and reported to the World Health Organization i.e., Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (2022, Iraq;2021 India), Nipah virus (2021, India), Zika virus (2021, India), and H5N1 influenza (2021, India), Monkeypox (2022, multicountry outbreak), Ebola virus disease (2022, DRC, Uganda;2021, DRC, Guinea;2020, DRC), Marburg (2022, Ghana;2021, Guinea), Yellow fever (2022, Uganda, Kenya, West and Central Africa;2021, Ghana, Venezuela, Nigeria;2020, Senegal, Guinea, Nigeria, Gabon;2020, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda), Dengue (2022, Nepal, Pakistan, Sao Tome, Temor-Leste;2021, Pakistan), Middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (2022, Oman, Qatar;2021, Saudi Arabia, UAE;2020, Saudi Arabia, UAE), Rift valley fever (2021, Kenya;2020, Mauritania), wild poliovirus type 1 (2022, Mozambique), Lassa fever (2022, Guinea, Togo, Nigeria;2020, Nigeria), Avian Influenza (H3N8) (2022, China), Avian Influenza (H5N1) (2022, USA), H10N3 influenza (2021, China), Hepatitis E virus (2022, Sudan), Measles (2022, Malawi, Afghanistan;2020, Burundi, Mexico), Mayaro virus disease (2020, French Guiana), Oropouche virus disease (2020, French Guiana). All these diseases were associated with high morbidity and burdened the public health system during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this critical public health menace, majority of the laboratory workforce was mobilized to the SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis. This has limited the surveillance efforts that likely led to under diagnosis and under-detection of many infectious pathogens. Lockdowns and travel limitations also put a hold on human and animal surveillance studies to assess the prevalence of these zoonotic viruses. In addition, lack of supplies and laboratory personnel and an overburdened workforce negatively impacted differential diagnosis of the diseases. This is especially critical given the common symptoms between COVID-19 and other pathogens causing respiratory illnesses. Additionally, the vaccination programs against various vaccine preventable diseases were also hampered which might have added to the disease burden. Despite these challenges, the world is better prepared to detect and respond to emerging/re-emerging pathogens. India now has more than 3000 COVID-19 diagnostic laboratories and an enhanced hospital infrastructure. In addition, mobile BSL-3 facilities are being validated for onsite sampling and testing in remote areas during outbreak situations and surveillance activities. This will undoubtedly be valuable as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves as well as during future outbreaks and epidemics. In conclusion, an increase in the emergence and re-emergence of viruses demonstrates that other infectious diseases have been neglected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lessons learned from the infrastructure strengthening, collaborations with multiple stakeholders, increased laboratory and manufacturing capacity, large-scale COVID-19 surveillance, extensive network for laboratory diagnosis, and intervention strategies can be implemented to provide quick, concerted responses against the future threats associated with other zoonotic pathogens.

Economic and Distributional Impacts of Covid-19 Economic Shocks on Women in Senegal

Like other African countries, Senegal has been hit by Covid-19 and has implemented measures to contain the epidemic. These measures impact men and women differently, mainly via the impacts on the labour market. We simulate the economic shocks in a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to assess the economic impacts. We capture the gendered impact on women's employment by linking the CGE model with a micro-simulation employment module. Furthermore, we assess the impact on poverty and inequality by executing a distributive analysis with a sequential top-down layered micro-simulation households module. The results show that the Senegalese economy suffers from Covid-19 measures with a decrease in gross domestic product by 5% and 7% in the moderate and severe scenarios, respectively. While most sectors are negatively affected, some benefit from the increase in foreign demand (e.g., for certain agricultural products). In terms of employment, unskilled workers are the most affected group. Female workers are relatively less affected than male workers due to the predominant presence of women in the agricultural sectors. Indeed, the increased foreign demand for agricultural products positively affects the agricultural sectors. However, poverty increases at the national level for all households, especially for rural households and households living in urban areas except Dakar. Specifically, the poverty gap and severity for rural households increase more than for urban households © 2022, Maisonnave et al

Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation of the COVID-19 Response in the Africa Region.

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept throughout the world, it created a demand for information to help understand the public health response and its effects. Limited capacity to see and interpret data-"sensemaking" with measures of progress-affects the use of data for quality improvement. The World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) supported partners from the Member States in using a participatory monitoring and evaluation system to document and systematically reflect on the COVID-19 response at the country level. The WHO AFRO's COVID-19 Response Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) team captured and communicated response activities based on available reports from 35 of the 47 member countries. By reviewing reports and communications, the M&E team documented nearly 8,000 COVID-19 response activities during the study period (January 2020 through July 2021). A "sensemaking" protocol was used to support country partners in identifying factors associated with increases or decreases in both new cases and response activities. This report describes this participatory M&E approach and process of shared sensemaking. We illustrate with a country-level case study of the COVID-19 response in the Africa Region.

Socioeconomic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on artisanal fishing in Senegal: Adaptation strategies of actors in the fishing ports of Dakar and Mbour

By considering the economic and social contribution of Senegalese artisanal fisheries to the national economy, this study firstly provides elements of analysis of the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic in the fishing sector. Secondly, it lifts the veil on the adaptation strategies of the actors concerned. The field surveys reveal that the response measures of the authorities have affected the production, distribution, and marketing chains of fisheries products. The results show a remarkable decrease in landings. The landings of pelagic fish species in Ouakam, Hann, Soumbédioune, and Mbour fishing ports have decreased by −10.11%, −61.25%, −9.75%, and −18.98% proportionately. The same downward trend for demersal fish species was observed, except in Ouakam fishing port. The landing increased slightly to 29.28%. Also, significant income losses have been reported, particularly by fish traders, following the closure of the air borders and the decrease in the selling prices of species formerly destined for export. Thus, faced with this problem, the artisanal fishermen have developed site-specific strategies to continue their activities, which have slowed down. However, this pandemic has paralyzed artisanal fisheries activities, demonstrating the need for this study to strengthen the economic resilience of the sector.

The role of staple crop production during the Covid-19 outbreak. Evidence for women small producers in Senegal

The Covid-19 outbreak has negatively affected the agri-food system especially in developing countries where most people rely on agriculture. Using primary data, we study the role of staple crop production as a coping strategy during the Covid-19 outbreak. Using a linear probability model, this article assesses the effect of income and food security deterioration perceived as a consequence of Covid-19 on rice investment propensity among 1320 women rice producers in Casamance, Senegal. Our results show that food security deterioration and especially income reduction due to Covid-19 are significantly and positively related to rice investment propensity. The presence of food retailers and the type of household livelihood, farm or nonfarm, dramatically drive the Covid-19 perception effects on rice investment propensity. While women small producers in villages with food retailers slightly increase their propensity to invest in rice, in remote villages lacking food retailers rice production represents an effective coping strategy for those women living in households that depend to a large extent on the market, i.e. those relying on nonfarm income. These results are supported by the strong correlation between limited physical access to the market, due to movement restrictions, and rice investment propensity, especially among households relying on nonfarm income.

Stress and coping in the face of COVID-19: A qualitative inquiry into early pandemic experiences and psychological wellbeing of health workers in Burkina Faso, Senegal, and The Gambia.

COVID-19 represented an unprecedented challenge for health workers around the world, resulting in strong concerns about impacts on their psychological wellbeing. To inform on-going support and future preparedness activities, this study documented health workers' experiences, wellbeing, and coping throughout the first wave of the pandemic, in Burkina Faso, Senegal, and The Gambia. We collected data from 68 primarily clinical staff from the COVID-19 treatment, maternity, and emergency departments in 13 purposely hospitals and laboratories across the three countries. Following in-depth interviews via zoom (mid-May to September 2020), we regularly followed up via WhatsApp until the end of 2020. We used a mixed deductive and inductive coding approach, and a framework matrix to organize and analyse the material. All respondents initially assessed the situation as stressful and threatening. Major emotional reactions included fear of own infection, fear of being a risk to loved ones, guilt, compassion, and anxiety regarding the future. Many suffered from feeling left alone with the emerging crisis and feeling unvalued and unappreciated, particularly by their governments and ministries of health. Conversely, health workers drew much strength from support and valuation by direct supervisors and team members, and in part also by patients. We observed important heterogeneity between places of work and individual backgrounds. Respondents coped with the situation in various ways, particularly with strategies to manage adverse emotions, minimize infection risk and fortifying health, and find meaning in the adverse circumstances. Coping strategies were primarily grounded in own resources rather than institutional support. Over time, the situation normalised and fears diminished for most respondents. With a view towards emergency preparedness, our findings underline the value of participation and transparent communication, institutional support, and routine training to foster health workers' psychological preparedness, coping skill set, and resilience more generally.

Acceptability of contact management and care of simple cases of COVID-19 at home: a cross-sectional study in Senegal.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a major public health problem. In mid-2020, due to the health system challenges from increased COVID-19 cases, the Ministry of Health and Social Action in Senegal opted for contact management and care of simple cases at home. The objective of the study was to determine the acceptability of contact and simple case management of COVID-19 at home and its associated factors in Senegal. METHODS: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study. We collected data from 11 June to 10 July 2020. We used a marginal quota sampling strategy. A total of 813 individuals took part in the survey. We collected data using a telephone interview. RESULTS: The care of simple cases of COVID-19 at home was well accepted (78.5%). The use of home contact management was less accepted (51.4%). Knowledge of the modes of transmission of the virus and confidence in institutional information were associated with the acceptability of home care for simple cases. Regularly searching for information on COVID-19 and confidence in the government's control of the epidemic were associated with the acceptability of managing contacts at home. CONCLUSIONS: Authorities should take these factors into account for better communication to improve the acceptability and confidence in home-based care for COVID-19 and future epidemics.

Policy Analysis of Low-Carbon Energy Transition in Senegal Using a Multi-Criteria Decision Approach Based on Principal Component Analysis

Senegal has been investing in the development of its energy sector for decades. By using a novel multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) based on the principal component analysis (PCA) method, this paper develops an approach to determine the effectiveness of Senegal's policies in supporting low-carbon development. This was determined using six criteria (C1 to C6) and 17 policies selected from the review of Senegal's energy system. In order to determine the optimal weighting of the six criteria, a PCA is performed. In our approach, the best weighted factor is the normalized version of the best linear combination of the initial criteria with the maximum summarized information. Proper weighted factors are determined through the percentage of the information provided by the six criteria kept by the principal components. The percentage of information is statistically a fit of goodness of a principal component. The higher it is, the more statistically important the corresponding principal component is. Among the six principal components obtained, the first principal component (comp1) best summarizes the values of criteria C1 to C6 for each policy. It contains 81.15% of the information on energy policies presented by the six criteria and was used to rank the policies. Future research should take into account that when the number of criteria is high, the share of information explained by the first principal component could be lower (less than 50% of the total variance). In this case, the use of a single principal component would be detrimental to the analysis. For such cases, we recommend a higher dimensional visualization (using two or three components), or a new PCA should be performed on the principal components. This approach presented in our study can serve as an important benchmark for energy projects and policy evaluation.

Emergency food aid and household food security during COVID-19: evidence from a field survey in Senegal

The effectiveness of food aid in reducing household food insecurity in developing countries has been extensively examined in previous studies. This study explores this issue in the context of COVID-19, using the example of emergency food aid provided by the Senegalese government. Field survey data were collected from 4500 recipients and non-recipients, and the matching method was used to examine whether there was a significant difference between the two groups. Several dimensions of food insecurity were explored through five indicators: the food consumption score and the coping strategies index from the World Food Programme and three indicators of simple, moderate and severe food insecurity based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale of the US Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The results show that government aid has a negative and significant impact on the diversity and nutritional value of beneficiary households' diets. Nevertheless, this programme prevented the use of extreme coping strategies. Furthermore, government aid has a positive impact on food security as measured by negative experiences related to food access. Ultimately, despite low nutritional intake, the programme had a positive effect on recipients' food access compared with non-beneficiaries. Therefore, for future interventions, the government should promote local and more nutritious products to sustainably improve food security.

Analysis and prediction of the COVID-19 pandemic in Senegal using the SIR model

In this study, the mathematical SIR model (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (cured and deceased)) was applied to the case of Senegal during the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, from March 1, 2020, to March 30, 2021, the transmission and recovery rates as well as the number of reproduction were calculated and analyzed for the impact of the decisions taken by the Senegalese government. In both waves, the variation of the basic reproduction number as a function of time, with values below one towards the end of each study period, confirms the success of the Senegalese government in controlling the epidemic. The results show that the solution of mandatory mask-wearing is the best decision to counter the spread of the disease. Indeed, the mean number of reproduction is 2.11 in the first wave, and the second wave has a lower mean value of 1.23, while the decisions are less restrictive during this latter wave. Also, a short-term prediction model (about 4 months) was validated on the second wave. The validation criteria of this model reveal a good match between the results of the simulated model and the COVID-19 data reported via the Ministry of Health, Solidarity, and Social Action of Senegal.

Emergence of BA.4/BA.5 Omicron Sub-lineages and Increased SARS-CoV-2 Incidence in Senegal

Background: The Omicron variant B.1.1.529 has led to a new dynamic in the COVID-19 pan-demic, with an increase in cases worldwide. Its rapid propagation favors the emergence of novel sub-lineages, including BA.4 and BA.5. The latter has shown increased transmissibility compared to other Omicron sub-lineages. In Senegal, the emergence of the Omicron variant in December 2021 characterized the triggering of a short and dense epidemiological wave that peaked at the end of February. This wave was followed by a period with a significant drop in the number of COVID-19 cases, but an upsurge in SARS-CoV-2 infection has been noted since mid-June. Objective(s): The purpose of this brief report is to give an update regarding the genomic situation of SARS-CoV-2 in Dakar during this phase of recrudescence of cases. Method(s): We performed amplicon-based SARS-CoV-2 sequencing on nasopharyngeal swab samples from declared COVID-19 patients and outbound travelers that tested positive. Result(s): Ongoing genomic surveillance activities showed that more than half of recent COVID-19 cases were due to the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-lineages that share two critical mutations associated with increased transmissibility and immune response escape. The circulation of recombinants between Omicron sub-lineages was also noted. Conclusion(s): Despite the lack of proven severity of BA.4 and BA.5 sub-lineages, their increased transmis-sibility causes a rapid spread of the virus, hence a surge in the number of cases. This rapid spread consti-tutes a greater risk of exposure for vulnerable patients. To tackle this issue, any increase in the number of cases must be monitored to support public health stakeholders. Therefore, genomic surveillance is an ever-essential element in managing this pandemic.Copyright © 2022 Bentham Science Publishers.

Economies of Reperformance: Unearthing Racial Capitalism in Dancing at Dusk

As the very first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic ebbed in the United States, a new production of Pina Bausch's The Rite of Spring (1975) appeared online. Performed on Senegal's shoreline, Dancing at Dusk resituates Bausch's choreography within the beach's formative histories of racialized violence, colonialism, and white supremacy. In this context, the performance also prompts considerations of the relationships between the enduring histories of racial capitalism and the futures of choreographic economies. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of TDR: The Drama Review (Cambridge University Press) is the property of Cambridge University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Whatsapp platform as a teledentistry tool in oral and maxillofacial pathologies in Senegal

Objective: To study the contribution of teledentistry, via the WhatsApp application of the "Dentists of Senegal", on the management of oral and maxillofacial pathology. Material(s) and Method(s): This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study took place over a period of 3 months, from 1 October to December 30, 2020. This study was conducted on the WhatsApp group platform of the Senegalese Dentists. A total of 150 communications were included. Result(s): Public sector dentists sent more communications, 88% of the communications. By specialty, general practitioners had sent more communications, 82.7% of communications. For the oral surgery receiver site, 71% of communications were received. 65% of referring dentists had given a diagnosis. Patients with tumours and cysts represented more than half of the sample (53.3%) followed by trauma patients (18.6%). The most common infections were cellulitis (46.66%) and osteitis (33.33%). Oral and maxillofacial surgeons managed 69.33% of the pathology. Conclusion(s): WhatsApp is a fundamental contribution to the remote diagnosis and management of oral and maxillofacial pathologies, especially during the current covid-19 pandemic.Copyright © 2021

Management of odontostomatological emergencies during the covid19 pandemic at the General Hospital Grand Yoff in Dakar

Objective: Describe the sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of the patients received for an emergency, during this period of pandemic, in a service of reference the service of odontostomatology General Hospital Grand Yoff of Dakar. Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study over a threemonth period from March 3 to June 3, 2020. Referred and non-referred patients received for odontostomatological emergencies were included in the study. The data collected were entered in Excel and analyzed using SPSS20.0 software with Chi2 tests performed between certain variables with a significance level set at 0.05. Result(s): Non-referred patients represented 64.9% (n = 131) of the study population and referred patients 35.1% (n = 71). Emergencies were infectious in 74.7% (n = 151) of cases and traumatic in 14.3% (n = 29). Acute apical periodontitis was encountered in 44.6% (n = 90), cellulitis in 16.4% (n = 33) and pulpitis in 9.4% (n = 19) of cases. Therapeutic attitudes were dominated by dental avulsion in 56.4% (n = 114) of cases, pulp sedation in 9.4% (n = 19) of cases and mono-maxillary restraint in 8.4% (n = 17) of cases. Conclusion(s): Despite the risk of contamination and possible dissemination of the covid19 virus, the continuity of oral care must be ensured because of the emergencies that can jeopardize the functional or even vital prognosis of patients. Certain recautions must therefore be taken at the level of the structures of care of these affections.Copyright © 2021

World textile and apparel trade and production trends: Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey

Textile and clothing exports from Egypt shot up by 36.4% in 2021. The rise represented a recovery after exports had declined by 13.4% in 2020—reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were increases in exports in 2021 to most of Egypt's major markets, including Algeria, Canada, China, the EU, India, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, the UAE, the UK and the USA. Furthermore, strong growth was recorded in 2022 in sales of Egyptian textiles and clothing in the EU import market in the first half of the year and in the US import market in the first nine months of the year. Textile and clothing exports from Morocco rose by 25.9% in 2021 following a 17.3% fall in 2020. The rise in 2021 reflected increases in exports to almost all of Morocco's major markets, including the EU, Mauritania, Senegal, Tunisia, Turkey, the UK and the USA. Furthermore, in 2022 there was strong growth in sales of Moroccan clothing in the EU import market in the first half of the year and in the US import market in the first nine months of the year. Textile and clothing production in Morocco rose significantly in 2021 after declining in 2020. It was down in the first quarter of 2022 but was up sharply in the second quarter of 2022. Textile and clothing exports from Tunisia increased by 12.0% in 2021 following a 7.3% decline in 2020, and during January-July 2022 they were up by 20.8%. The increases in 2021 and during January-July 2022 reflected, primarily, trends in clothing exports while, geographically, they reflected trends in sales in the EU, UK and US markets. Production by Tunisian textile, clothing and fur manufacturers, meanwhile, rose by 10.8% in 2021 and during January-September 2022 it was up by 18.5%. Textile and clothing exports from Turkey rose by 26.1% in 2021 and during January-September 2022 they were up by 6.4%. The rise in 2021 reflected increases in exports to almost all of Turkey's major markets, including Belarus, Egypt, the EU, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia, the UAE, the UK, Ukraine and the USA. Furthermore, in 2022 there was strong growth in sales of Turkish clothing in the EU import market in the first half of the year, although growth in sales in the US import market slowed to just 0.8% in the first nine months of the year. Clothing production in Turkey rose by 24.0% in 2021 and was up by 33.4% during January-September 2022. Textile production, meanwhile, increased by 20.5% in 2021 but during January-September 2022 it inched down by 0.1%. © Textiles Intelligence Limited 2022.

Preparing High School Teachers for Teaching STEM Online: Exploration in Senegal

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted more than 1.1 billion (68%) learners worldwide. Schools were partially or fully closed depending on the health restrictions implemented by each government. Online learning was the obvious solution for ensuring education continuity. In developing countries, it was particularly difficult for institutions and instructors to transition to online teaching. Institutions had no infrastructures and practices in place;instructors did not have the required material in digital form and were not trained. The majority of students did not have computers and Internet access. In some cases, electricity was an additional obstacle. Instructors require training not only on mastering tools and practices but also on how to design their courses to adapt to the online format. In particular, they need to be exposed to strategies for interacting with and engaging students. We present our findings related to the obstacles encountered by STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) instructors to transition to online teaching in Senegal. This study is based on a 6-week training for 79 STEM high school instructors. We also explore the potential and shortcomings of leveraging mobile technology for online teaching in this context. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.