Academic literature on the topic 'Gabonese Women'

Helminth infections are common in sub-Saharan Africa. Besides direct clinical effects, a bias towards a T helper type 2 (Th2) cell immune response is observed. The consequences of parasite infection during pregnancy for the mother and particularly for the fetus and the newborn can be severe and may include impaired immune response during acute infection and vaccination. Here, we present data of immune responses to vaccines given within the expanded program on immunization (EPI) of infants born to helminth infected or non-infected mothers. The study was conducted in Lambaréné and surroundings, Gabon. Maternal helminth infection was diagnosed microscopically using the Kato-Katz method for soil-transmitted helminths (STH), urine filtration for Schistosoma haematobium infections and the saponin-based method for filarial infections. Plasma antibody levels to different vaccine antigens were measured in mothers and their offspring by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at different timepoints. We found 42.3% of the mothers to be infected with at least one helminth species. Significantly lower anti-tetanus toxoid immunoglobulin (Ig) G was detected in the cord blood of infants born to helminth infected mothers. Following vaccination, immune responses of the infants to EPI vaccines were similar between the two groups at nine and 12 months. Even though infection with helminths is still common in pregnant women in Gabon, in our setting, there was no evidence seen for a substantial effect on infants’ immune responses to vaccines given as part of the EPI.

BackgroundMalaria remains a public health issue particularly in sub-Saharan Africa with special features of seriousness in young children and pregnant women. Older children and adults reported to have acquired a semi-immune status and therefore show low parasitaemia and less pronounced symptoms if any. We aim to explore parasitaemia and symptoms in adolescents and adults with malaria compared to younger children in the Lambaréné area.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in CERMEL for a month in 2018. Adults and children were screened for malaria at health facilities in Lambaréné and Fougamou and their respective surrounding villages in the central region of Gabon. Malaria infection was determined either by rapid diagnostic test (RDT) or by thick blood smear (TBS). Body temperature, history of fever, age, sex, haemoglobin level, and location were collected.ResultsFrom 09 January to 09 February 2018, a total of 596 patients were screened and 280 (47%) belonged to the adult population. Plasmodium falciparum infection in adults was diagnosed based on the detection of P. falciparum in thick blood films. Prevalence among the adults was 56% (n=141); 34% of adult patients had a parasite count between 1015–116,079 pf/µl. Fever was found in 31% of adults and several symptoms were reported by the same patient. Vomiting, loss of appetite, and fatigue were significantly more present in the adult population than in children.ConclusionThis study shows a high rate of Plasmodium falciparum infection in adults associated to clinical symptoms and high level of parasitaemia. Adults seem to become an at-risk population, suggesting that malaria programmes should consider including adults in the implementation of a malaria prevention programme.

AbstractThis essay examines the reasons why some young Fang men supported Presbyterian missionary Robert Milligan's crusade to establish a Protestant community of converts at the turn of the twentieth century. Milligan presented his work as an example of heroic and muscular Christianity that transformed young Gabonese men. However, his methods of attracting followers appear very similar to those used by local big men: creating kinship networks, providing military support, sharing imported goods and providing access to women for marriage. Fang men and Milligan shared a flexible vocabulary of fatherhood that placed obligations on converts and missionaries alike. Eventually, Milligan's efforts came undone because of problems with other missionaries, but young Fang men continued to turn to missionary patronage, in part to cope with gender tensions and struggles over status.

In many developing countries, mothers’ awareness remains a challenge despite the scaling up of antenatal care and programs preventing mother-to-child (MTC) HIV transmission. The present study was done in Libreville, Gabon where all antenatal care (delivery included) is free of charge. Here we assessed the timing of antenatal antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis initiation, HIV-exposed infants’ age at their first postnatal HIV check visit and investigated the association between mothers’ awareness or knowledge on their ARV therapy and infants’ HIV infection. We interviewed HIV-positive mothers on their first and subsequent laboratory visits to investigate infants’ HIV status and tested infants for HIV RNA and antibody between 2012 and 2014. We established that (1) of 718 HIV-positive mothers, only 6% were fully aware and knew what ARV treatment they were on during pregnancy; (2) half of the women (54%) start their antenatal ARV prophylaxis initiation during the second trimester of pregnancy; (3) 64% of HIV-exposed infants had their first HIV infection screening between birth and three months of age; (4) the overall prevalence of HIV infection in infants born from infected mothers was 8.9%; and (5) infants born from mothers uncertain about taking prophylactic ARV therapy were 13.3 times more likely to be infected by HIV than infants born from mothers certain about taking prophylactic ARV therapy. In conclusion, the study showed that despite free antenatal care, early access and adherence to components of MTC, HIV transmission preventive care remains unsatisfactory.

Introduction: Anaemia remains a major cause of poor health in children and pregnant women living in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria is one of the main causes of anaemia in endemic countries. At the time of decreasing Plasmodium falciparum infection prevalence among children, it was essential to analyze the evolution of anaemia and severe malarial anaemia (SMA), the most frequent clinical manifestation of severe malaria, in Gabon. Methodology: Yearly recorded haemoglobin levels of febrile children aged below11 years, who benefitted from microscopic malaria diagnosis, were retrospectively analyzed to determine the evolution of anaemia and SMA prevalence throughout a nine-year period between 2000 and 2008. Results: Anaemia prevalence remained high both in P. falciparum-infected children (between 87.6% and 90.7%) and in uninfected children (between 73.5% and 82.6%). Although the risk of developing severe anaemia ranged between 1.9 [0.9-3.8] in 2000 and 3.0 [1.3-6.5] in 2007, SMA prevalence did not significantly change during the study period, varying from 6.0% to 8.0%. From 2001, the frequency of SMA was comparable between children younger than five years of age and children older than five years of age. Conclusions: The decreasing malaria prevalence previously observed in Gabon between 2000 and 2008 was not associated with a significant reduction of anaemia and SMA burden among children. Furthermore, other factors such as nutritional deficiencies, which may not be negligible, must be investigated in this vulnerable population

Widely consumed forest fruits in Gabon were analysed for nutrient and bioactive compositions and their potential contributions to meeting the nutrient requirements of consumers. Edible pulps of Panda oleosa Pierre, Gambeya lacourtiana (De Wild.) Aubrév. & Pellegr. and Poga oleosa Pierre contained substantial amounts of bioactive compounds; flavonoids (13.5–22.8 mg/100 g), proanthocyanins (2.4–7.6 mg/100 g), polyphenols (49.6–77.3 mg/100 g) and vitamin C (6.7–97.7 mg/100 g). The highest content of β-carotene (76.6 µg/100 g) was registered in fruits of Pseudospondias longifolia Engl. The fruits of P. oleosa had the highest essential minerals Fe, Zn and Se. If a child aged 1 to 3 years consumed about 200 g or if a non-lactating and non-pregnant woman consumed 300 g of Panda oleosa, Afrostyrax lepidophyllus Mildbr., G. lacourtiana, P. longifolia and Poga oleosa, they could obtain substantial DRI ranging between 20–100% for energy, vitamins C and E, iron, magnesium, iron and zinc. Forest fruits can considerably contribute towards the human nutrient requirements. Based on the results of this study, forest foods should be considered in formulating policies governing food and nutrition security in Gabon.

Les représentations et les identités des femmes d'ascendance africaine du Pérou et des femmes gabonaises dans la littérature est une étude comparée sur la condition de ces femmes dans leurs sociétés respectives. En effet, s'intéresser à ces deux genres de femmes est tout simplement tenir compte de leur place de femmes, en étudiant leur vie et le rôle, spécifique ou non, qu'elles jouent dans leurs sociétés. Au Pérou, les femmes d'ascendance africaine se retrouvent enfermées dans de nombreux stéréotypes et préjugés. Il nous intéresse de savoir les formes que ceux-ci prennent dans la littérature péruvienne contemporaine. Ainsi, l'analyse des personnages féminins dans les textes littéraires que nous avons choisis constitue un premier pas vers une démarche où il est question d'interroger cette stéréo-typification mais aussi les tentatives de sa « déconstruction » à partir des œuvres Canto de sirena, Crónica de músicos y diablos et Cuatro cuentos eróticos de Acarí de Gregorio Martínez.Au Gabon, par contre, la condition des femmes gabonaises, leur place dans la société et les discriminations auxquelles elles sont sujettes sont plutôt dues au poids des traditions dans l'univers traditionnel et de la misogynie dans la société moderne. Dans les romans Histoire d'Awu et Féminin interdit de Justine Mintsa et d'Honorine Ngou, les personnages féminins apparaissent comme des victimes de la société traditionnelle à cause de leur absence de liberté. Face à certaines coutumes, les femmes sont opprimées, tyrannisées, « on fait tout pour les occulter, les refuser, les rendre inopérantes ». Ainsi, le fait d'être femmes apparaît comme pesant pour les personnages féminins car les héroïnes semblent transporter avec elles toute la souffrance féminine.Mots clés : Représentations-Identités- Femmes afro-péruviennes - Femmes gabonaises - Littérature
Representations and identities of African descent in Peru and Gabonese women in literature is a comparative study on the status of women in their respective societies. In either society, one cannot fully grasp the experience of these two categories of women without looking into their social status, their life and the role (specific or not) that they play in their different communities. In Peru, women of African descent are constantly hobbled by many stereotypes and prejudice. We are interested to know the forms they take in contemporary Peruvian literature. That is why the analysis of female characters in the literary texts selected for this study represents a crucial step toward questioning this stereotyping dynamics. More importantly, attempts to “deconstruct” this social malady by Gregorio Martínez through such works as Canto de sirena, Crónica de músicos y diablos and Cuatro cuentos eróticos de Acarí were also analized.In Gabon, on the other hand, women's condition, their social status and the discrimination that they have to face is mainly due to the dual effects of traditions and misogyny in the modern society. In such novels Histoire d' Awu (“The Story of Awu”) and Féminin interdit (“No females”) by Justine Mintsa and Honorine Ngou, the characters are portrayed as the victims of traditional society because of their lack of freedom. Because of certain customs, women are oppressed, and abused; “they are constantly silenced, denied humanity and made nonfunctional”. Thus, women being seen as a heavy burden for female characters because they usually seem to be tasked with carrying the suffering of all womankinds.Key words: Representations - Identities - Afro-peruvian women - Gabonese Women - Literature

Aborder le roman féminin sous l‟angle d‟un énoncé discursif nécessite raisonnablement que l‟on prenne en compte, le contexte social, culturel et linguistique de production, les stratégies d‟énonciation, le champ de signification et les instances réceptrices qui déterminent ce discours. L‟approche sociopragmatique nous autorise pour ce faire à cette lecture plurielle qui, selon nous, mène incontestablement à une lisibilité optimale des textes. D‟abord, en tant que communication, le roman féminin implique des techniques discursives basées sur un environnement culturel et linguistique qui influence incontestablement le fonctionnement des énoncés en ce qui concerne les activités de production. Ensuite, la particularité des discours que nous étudions c‟est leur langage multiforme fait de paroles, d‟actes à valeur énonciatives, et d‟autres types de manifestations communicatives. C‟est un langage allégorique par essence, fait de sous-entendus, de diverses tournures imagées et aussi de silences parlants qui permettent d‟exprimer sans vraiment dire. Cette mise en scène théâtralisée du discours confère à l‟expression romanesque féminine un statut artistique particulier où la langue s‟enrichit d‟" accessoires linguistiques " d‟origine ethnique, régionale ou nationale. Enfin, la réception elle-même est fonction d‟un ensemble d‟éléments nécessaires à sa réalisation à savoir un espace, un temps, une orientation de réception intentionnellement glissée par l‟auteur. Ces éléments mis ensemble correspondent à ce que Kleiber nomme la "mémoire discursive" de l‟énonciateur et les "savoirs partagés" entre l‟émetteur et le récepteur