Epidemiological Study of Ametropia at the CHU-BSS of Kati

Introduction: Ametropias or refractive errors are pathologies commonly encountered in ophthalmology characterized by the projection on the retina of a blurry image. There are several types of ametropia and each of them has a specific means of correction. In the literature, numerous data have been reported on the issue through studies that were mostly carried out on infant populations. To better treat ametropia in a more formal way, it is important to know their general characteristics within a larger population, hence the present investigation, the aim of which is to carry out an epidemiological study of ametropia at the Kati University Hospital-BSS. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out at Kati University Hospital-BSS between January 1 and December 31, 2022 and included 663 ametropic patients of all ages. Results: During the study period, 663 cases of ametropia were diagnosed out of 1678 new consultations, representing an incidence of 39.51%. Patients aged between 21 and 40 years were more affected. Depending on the type, these ametropias were dominated by compound astigmatism with 68.75% followed by isolated hyperopia and isolated astigmatism. Visual fatigue was the most mentioned reason for consultation. The female gender was in the majority with 70.9%. Low ametropia (Discussion: The growing visual needs of young people, especially with new information and communication technologies, would push them to consult the ophthalmologist more, and therefore to want optical correction in the event of a refractive anomaly, which would partly explain their high frequency in this age group. Conclusion: It is important to know the general characteristics of ametropia in the general population in order to improve the quality of life of patients affected by it through efficient therapeutic solutions.

Occurrence of Extreme Rainfall and Flood Risks in Yopougon, Abidjan, Southeast Côte d’Ivoire from 1971 to 2022

Yopougon, located in the western part of the Autonomous District of Abidjan, is the most heavily populated municipality in Côte d’Ivoire. However, this area is prone to floods and landslides during the rainy season. The study aims to assess recent flood risks in the municipality of Yopougon of the Autonomous District of Abidjan. To achieve this objective, the study analyzed two types of data: daily rainfall from 1971 to 2022 and parameters derived from a Numerical Field and Altitude Model (NFAM). The study examined six rainfall parameters using statistical analysis and combined land use maps obtained from the NFAM of Yopougon. The results indicated that, in 67% of cases, extreme rainfall occurred mainly between week 3 of May and week 1 of July. The peak of extreme rainfall was observed in week 2 of June with 15% of cases. These are critical periods of flood risks in the Autonomous District of Abidjan, especially in Yopougon. In addition, there was variability of rainfall parameters in the Autonomous District of Abidjan. This was characterized by a drop of annual and seasonal rainfall, and an increase of numbers of rainy days. Flood risks in Yopougon are, therefore, due to the regular occurrence of rainy events. Recent floods in Yopougon were caused by normal rains ranging from 55 millimeters (mm) to 153 mm with a return period of less than five years. Abnormal heavy rains of a case study on June 20-21, 2022 in Yopougon were detected by outputs global climate models. Areas of very high risk of flood covered 18% of Yopougon, while 31% were at high risk. Climate information from this study can assist authorities to take in advance adaptation and management measures.

Physico-Mechanical Characterization of Clay and Laterite Bricks Stabilized or Not with Cement

This study focuses on the valuation and optimization of local materials to meet the challenge of sustainable development. Faced with climate change and the preservation of the environment, research into eco-materials is necessary to reduce the energy bill while ensuring comfort and safety. The objective is to make a comparative characterization of the physico-mechanical properties of compressed earth bricks made from local materials: clay, laterite and sand. These are, on the one hand, bricks made from clay and laterite, reinforced with a percentage of sand varying between 20% and 30% in steps of 5%., were made. On the other hand, these same mixtures stabilized with 5% cement (CEM II-32.5) are also used to produce bricks. A characterization of the raw materials was made before studying the physico-mechanical properties of the bricks themselves. This involved evaluating the water absorbency and compressive strength of stabilized and unstabilized bricks. The results show that the absorptivity of stabilized clay bricks is acceptable up to 25% sand because it is less than the 15% maximum value set by Cameroonian standard NC-104: 2002-06. However, that of stabilized laterite bricks is higher than the maximum value set by the standard. The compressive strengths, for clay bricks stabilized with 5% cement and for laterite bricks with 0% sand added, are all greater than 2 MPa and therefore are acceptable. In addition, clay bricks with 20% sand and stabilized with 5% cement are recommended because they have the most optimal physico-mechanical properties.