Sahel terrorist crisis and development priorities: case of financial allocations for the control of non-communicable diseases in Burkina Faso

In Africa, nearly 46% of all mortality will be attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 2030. While the cost of inaction far exceeds the cost of action against NCDs, global funding for the prevention and control of NCDs is minimal. The objective of this was to explore the Ministry of Health budget allocations for NCDs from 2010 to 2020 as well as the effect of the terrorism crisis on these allocations. The methodology was based on the budget tracking tool developed by the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement. Twenty-nine budget lines related to the prevention and/or control of NCDs have been identified. About 29.9 million USD were allocated to the fight against NCDs with an absorption rate of more than 98%.There is an upward trend of allocated budget characterized by an exponential increase from the development of the national integrated strategic plan for the fight against NCDs (2016-2020). In 2017, an increase of 184% compared to 2016 was observed. However, the efforts were challenged by the emergence of the terrorist threat which triggered in January 2016, leading to a drastic reduction in allocations for NCDs in favor likely of defense and security priorities as well as addressing the needs of internally displaced persons. A trend analysis suggests that the NCDs budget significantly decrease as the country global terrorist index increase. Further analysis is needed to better understand the implication on NCD incidence, and identify advocacy opportunities for mitigating the negative impact of the terrorist treat on NCDs and other development issues.

Effects of early extra fluid and food intake on breast milk consumption and infant nutritional status at 5 months of age in an urban and a rural area of Burkina Faso

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of early extra fluid and food intake on breast milk consumption and the effects of food intake on 5-month-old infant nutritional status.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional surveys. Infants were selected by random choice.

SETTINGS

Urban and rural Burkina Faso.

SUBJECTS

A total of 97 urban and 69 rural infants were recruited, but 67 and 51, respectively, completed the surveys. Infant selection criteria were: age (5 +/- 0.5-month old), thriving, breastfed, having Burkinabè parents in study area for a year, study conditions accepted by parents.

INTERVENTION

Surveys were conducted respectively in January and February 2001 (urban), and 2002 (rural) during the cool season. They were performed by home visit. With the help of health workers and traditional midwives, families were informed of the studies' objectives and gave agreement. Food intakes were estimated by test-weighing for breast milk and precise weighing techniques for other foods. Socioeconomic status of households, anthropometry of infants and mothers were also recorded. Breast milk samples were collected from each mother's breast and analysed for lipid and fatty acid concentrations.

RESULTS

Daily breast milk intake did not differ between urban (776 +/- 262 g) and rural areas (835 +/- 265 g). Porridge intake was, respectively, 128 +/- 105 and 96 +/- 49 g. Median extra fluid intake was, respectively, 79 and 122 g. In both areas, porridge and fluid intake had no effect on breast milk consumption. In urban areas, infant nutritional status at 5 months was better than at birth.

CONCLUSION

Breast milk intake and nutritional status of predominantly breastfed infants at 5 months of age, living in both urban and rural settings, were not affected by the consumption of extra fluid or food intake.

Seasonal and environmental effects on breast milk fatty acids in Burkina Faso and the need to improve the omega 3 PUFA content

AIM

To determine the Burkinabè breast milk lipid content and fatty acid composition and to compare these values with the recommended adequate intakes.

METHODS

The study comprised four cross-sectional surveys conducted in urban and rural Burkina Faso at two different times of the year: during a period of food shortage (lean season) and during a favourable food availability period (post-harvest season). The subjects were apparently healthy mothers nursing 5-mo-old infants. A total of 70 urban and 52 rural mothers and 100 urban and 98 rural mothers, respectively, during the post-harvest season and the lean season, completed the surveys. The surveys were conducted in January-February 2001 (urban) and 2002 (rural) corresponding to the post-harvest season, and in April-May 1998 (urban) and 1999 (rural), which is the lean season, and were carried out during home visits. The families were informed of the objectives of the study and gave their consent to participate. Breast milk samples were collected from each mother and analysed for lipid and fatty acid concentrations.

RESULTS

Noticeable breast milk characteristics were: low lipid content (30-35 g/L), high C6:0-C14:0 saturated fatty acids (27%-33% total fatty acids), high linoleic acid (15%-20% total fatty acids) and unbalanced linoleic/alpha-linolenic acid (20:1 to 53:1) and long-chain omega6/long-chain omega3 (3.6:1 to 4.9:1) polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios. In all life conditions and food availability, linoleic acid was in excess of and alpha-linolenic was below the recommended adequate intakes. Over 80% of breast milk samples had linoleic/alpha-linolenic acid and long-chain omega6/omega3 polyunsaturated ratios well above the recommendations.

CONCLUSION

Improvement in breast milk omeag3 PUFA seems to be recommendable in Burkina Faso, where breastfeeding is the primary infant feeding practice.