Ethnobotanical survey on herbal remedies for the management of type 2 diabetes in the Casablanca-Settat region, Morocco.

BACKGROUND: Morocco faces a substantial public health challenge due to diabetes mellitus, affecting 12.4% of adults in 2023. The Moroccan population makes extensive use of phytotherapy and traditional medicine to address the difficulties this chronic condition poses. The aim of this study is to document the use of medicinal plants in traditional medicine for managing type 2 diabetes in the provinces of the Casablanca-Settat region. METHODS: The study employed a semi-structured questionnaire for data collection. A study was conducted between August 1st and September 30th, 2023, and 244 individuals diagnosed with diabetes were invited to take part in the research, all of whom used at least one medicinal plant to manage type 2 diabetes, by visiting primary healthcare facilities in Morocco. The analysis included the use of Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) to scrutinize the data. RESULTS: A total of 47 plant species belonging to 25 families were documented. Notably, the Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, and Fabaceae families were frequently mentioned in the context of treating type 2 diabetes in Morocco. Prominent among the cited plant species were Sesamum indicum L., Lepidium sativum L., followed by Foeniculum vulgare Mill., and Rosmarinus officinalis L. Seeds emerged as the plant part most commonly mentioned, with infusion being the prevailing preparation method and oral consumption being the most frequently depicted method of administration. CONCLUSION: This research underscores the practicality of incorporating traditional medicine into the healthcare framework of the Casablanca-Settat region. The findings not only offer valuable documentation but also have a vital function in safeguarding knowledge regarding the utilization of medicinal plants in this locality. Moreover, they provide opportunities to delve deeper into the phytochemical and pharmacological potential of these plants.

Heterogeneous effects of socio-economic and cultural factors on fertility differentials in Burundi and Morocco during their fertility transition periods: a retrospective, cross-sectional and comparative study.

Introduction: few studies have examined the factors influencing fertility differentials and the variation in their effects in countries with different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds and different fertility transition paces. To address this gap, our study sought to first identify the factors that influenced fertility differentials in Morocco and Burundi during their fertility transition periods, and then to compare the effects of these factors between the two countries. Methods: using data from the 2003-4 Morocco and 2010 Burundi Demographic and Health Surveys, bivariable and multivariable Poisson regression analyses offset by the natural logarithm of the women´s age were performed to identify the socioeconomic and cultural factors that influenced fertility differentials in Morocco and Burundi during their fertility transition. Results: our main findings showed that the total number of children ever born ranged from 0 to 17 with a mean of 2.71 ± 2.89 in Burundi and from 0 to 16 with a mean of 1.88 ± 2.80 in Morocco. In Burundi, both socioeconomic and cultural factors like rural residence adjusted incident rate ratio (AIRR) = 1.159, 95% CI: 1.103 - 1.217, P=0.020), women´s illiteracy (AIRR=1.465, 95% CI: 1.241- 1.729, P <0.001) and agricultural profession (AIRR=1. 332, 95% CI: 1.263 - 1.401, P = 0.004), household poverty (AIRR= 1.381, 95% CI: 1.223 - 1.431, p<0.001), infant mortality (AIRR= 1.602, 95% CI: 1.562 - 1.643, p<0.001), early marriage (AIRR= 1.313, 95% CI: 1.264 - 1.364, p<0.001), lack of knowledge of any contraceptives (AIRR= 1.263, 95% CI: 1.125 - 1.310, p = 0.003) and failure to use modern contraceptives (AIRR= 1.520, 95% CI: 1.487 - 1.611, p<0.001) were associated with high number of children ever born. However, in Morocco socioeconomic factors like residence place, women´s agricultural profession and household poverty were not significant. In this country, women´s illiteracy (AIRR=1.428, 95% CI: 1.315 - 1.551, P <0.001), lack of access to mass media (AIRR= 1.241, 95% CI: 1.108 - 1.375, p = 0.006), infant mortality (AIRR=1.222, 95%CI: 1.184 - 1.361, p<0.001), early marriage (AIRR1.481, 95% CI: 1.435 - 1.529, p<0.001), lack of knowledge of any contraceptives (AIRR1.508, 95% CI: 1.409 - 1.613, p<0.001) and failure to use modern contraceptives (AIRR1.745, 95% CI: 1.627 - 1.863, p<0.001) were associated with high fertility but with different effects than in Burundi. Conclusion: the evidence from this study suggests that interventions to accelerate the fertility transition processes in Burundi and many other countries with slow fertility transitions should be designed and implemented according to each country's local context.

[Perinatal outcome of closely spaced pregnancies: a Moroccan retrospective study]. / Devenir périnatal issu des grossesses rapprochées: étude rétrospective marocaine.

Introduction: the purpose of this study is to provide Moroccan data, study maternal risk factors and identify perinatal complications related to closely-spaced pregnancies. Methods: we conducted a retrospective case-control study at the Provincial Hospital Center in the city of Settat from June 1, 2020 to June 1, 2021. A total of 670 patients were admitted, but only 630 were included in the study. They were divided into 2 groups: a group of patients whose interpregnancy interval was <9 months (N = 443) and a control group whose interpregnancy interval was >9 months (N = 187). Results: prematurity, hypotrophy and anemia p<0.05 were the main complications, the main risk factors for closely-spaced pregnancies were age >35 years (OR =19.079 (4.98; 73.06) p < 0.005), coming from a rural area (OR = 0.468 [0.28; 0.78] p < 0.005), having a low socioeconomic status (OR =3.465 [2.06; 5.81]; p < 0.005); the absence of contraceptive prescription in the postpartum period (OR =15.77 [7.31; 33.99]; p < 0.005); and breastfeeding breaks before getting pregnant (OR = 49.462 [15.78; 155.03]; p<0.05). Conclusion: prevention and specific family planning methods are necessary to avoid perinatal complications.

Prevalence, trend and determinants of adolescent childbearing in Burundi: a multilevel analysis of the 1987 to 2016-17 Burundi Demographic and Health Surveys data.

BACKGROUND: Very little is known about factors influencing adolescent childbearing despite an upward trend in adolescent childbearing prevalence in Burundi, and its perceived implications on the rapid population growth and ill-health of young mothers and their babies. To adress this gap, this study aimed to examine the prevalence, trends and determinants of adolescent childbearing in Burundi. METHODS: Secondary analyses of the 1987, 2010 and 2016-17 Burundi Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHS) data were conducted using STATA. Weighted samples of 731 (1987 BDHS), 2359 (2010 BDHS) and 3859 (2016-17BDHS) adolescent girls aged 15-19 years old were used for descriptive and trend analyses. Both bivariable and multivariable two-level logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the main factors associated with adolescent childbearing using only the 2016-17 BDHS data. RESULTS: The prevalence of adolescent childbearing increased from 5.9% in 1987 to 8.3% in 2016/17. Factors such as adolescent girls aged 18-19 years old (aOR =5.85, 95% CI: 3.54-9.65, p <  0.001), adolescent illiteracy (aOR = 4.18, 95% CI: 1.88-9.30, p <  0.001), living in poor communities (aOR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.03-4.64, p = 0.042), early marriage (aOR = 9.28, 95% CI: 3.11-27.65, p <  0.001), lack of knowledge of any contraceptive methods (aOR = 5.33, 95% CI: 1.48-19.16, p = 0.010), and non-use of modern contraceptive methods (aOR = 24.48, 95% CI: 9.80-61.14), p <  0.001) were associated with higher odds of adolescent childbearing. While factors such as living in the richest household index (aOR = 0.52, 95% IC: 0.45-0.87, p = 0.00), living in West region (aOR = 0.26, 95%CI: 0.08-0.86, p = 0.027) or in South region (aOR = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.10-0.96, p = 0.041) were associated with lower odds of adolescent childbearing. CONCLUSION: Our study found an upward trend in adolescent childbearing prevalence and there were significant variations in the odds of adolescent childbearing by some individual and community-level factors. School-and community-based intervention programs aimed at promoting girls' education, improving socioeconomic status, knowledge and utilization of contraceptives and prevention of early marriage among adolescent girls is crucial to reduce adolescent childbearing in Burundi.

The Determinants of Consanguineous Marriages among the Arab Population: A Systematic Review.

Background: Inbreeding continues to account for a significant proportion of marriages among the Arab populations. Consanguinity is recognized in many studies as a significant factor affecting the health of the individual over several generations and poses a real public health problem. This systematic review was conducted to identify the determinants of consanguineous marriage among the Arab population published in the literature. Methods: This systematic review of the determinants of consanguinity among Arab populations was conducted using databases: PubMed, Medline, Direct Science, Scopus, Web of sciences, Springer, Google scholar between 2000 and 2020. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were set. The selection steps were carried out based on PRISMA guidelines. Disagreements in article selection and data extraction were resolved by discussion or recourse to a third reviewer. Results: Overall, 25 studies were selected. The synthesis of the results concerning the determinants of Arab inbreeding revealed that several economic, socio-cultural and demographic factors seem to be associated with the choice of this type of marriage, such as socioeconomic status, low level of education especially among women, early age at first marriage, place of residence especially in rural areas, and women's status in the labor market. Conclusion: The relationship between consanguinity and economic, socio-cultural, and demographic factors may be country-specific and highly dependent on the cultural context. Public awareness of genetic risks associated with inbreeding is indispensable.

[Consanguineous marriages and their effects on non-communicable diseases in the Moroccan population: a cross-sectional study]. / Les mariages consanguins et leurs effets sur les maladies non transmissibles dans la population marocaine: étude transversal.

Introduction: inbreeding is recognized in many studies as an important factor impacting health across several generations. It poses a real public health problem. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of inbreeding on non-communicable diseases, in particular susceptibility to a range of chronic and complex diseases in the Moroccan population. Methods: we conducted an analytical cross-sectional study based on a survey conducted in two Moroccan communes: BNI hlal and Foum jemaa. The sample studied consisted of 222 individuals. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the probability of having the disease by the inbreeding status. The chi-square test was used to assess the relationship between the categorical variables. A p. value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: a frequency of consanguineous marriages of 43.2% was recorded among respondents vs 41% among their parents. We found that inbreeding between parents increased the chances of consanguineous marriages among offsprings (p = 0.01). The generation of consanguineous parents had a higher risk of developing non-communicable diseases such as cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and chronic renal failure. Conclusion: this study shows an increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases in the consanguineous population. This can confirm the influence of genetic factors upon the entire spectrum of the disease and not just inmendelian disorders.

Determinants of fertility differentials in Burundi: evidence from the 2016-17 Burundi demographic and health survey.

INTRODUCTION: although fertility control remains a major priority for the Burundian government and most of its partners, few studies on Burundi´s fertility determinants are available to guide interventions. To address this gap, our study aims to examine the most factors influencing fertility differentials in Burundi by using the latest Burundi demographic and health survey data. METHODS: using data from the 2016-17 Burundi demographic and health survey, one-way analysis of variance was performed to describe variations in mean number of children ever born across categories of correlate variables. Then univariable and multivariable poisson regression analyses were carried out to identify the most factors influencing fertility differentials in Burundi. RESULTS: in our sample, the total number of children ever born ranged from 0 to 15 children by women with a mean number of 2.7 children (±2.8 SD). Factors such as urban residence (aIRR 0.769, 95% CI: 0.739 - 0.782, p = 0.008), increase in the level of education of both women and husbands (aIRRs of 0.718, 95% CI: 0.643 - 0.802, P<0.001 and 0.729, 95% CI: 0.711 - 0.763, p<0.001 respectively), no history of infant mortality experience (aIRR 0.722, 95% IC: 0.710 - 0.734, p<0.001) and increase in age at first marriage or first birth (aIRRs of 0.864, 95% CI: 0.837 - 0.891, P<0.001 and 0.812, 95% CI: 0.781 - 0.845, p<0.001 respectively) are associated with a low fertility rate while factors such as residence especially in Southern region (aIRR 1.129, 95% IC: 1.077 - 1.184, p<0.001), women and husband´s agricultural profession (aIRRs of 1.521, 95% CI: 1.429 - 1.568, P<0.001 and 1.294, 95% CI: 1.211 - 1.316, p<0.001 respectively), household poverty (aIRR 1.117, 95% IC: 1.080 - 1.155, p<0.001), lack of knowledge of any contraceptive method (aIRR 1.502, 95% IC: 1.494 - 1.564, p<0.001) and non-use of modern contraceptive methods (aIRR 1.583, 95% IC: 1.562 - 1.607, p<0.001) are associated with a high fertility rate. CONCLUSION: the results of this study suggest that actions aimed at promoting education in general especially female education, improving child survival, women´s socio-economic status, agriculture mechanization and increasing number and scope of family planning services, could help reduce Burundi fertility rate.