The arrival of a newborn in a family brings with it many worries, together with baby-related tasks to keep family members busy, and sometimes paradoxically withdrawal. Funding from UNICEF enabled us to conduct an original anthropological study in five countries of sub-Saharan Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Togo), studying newborn care from birth to the seventh day of life. We focused on the various kinds of care provided to these babies and on their diverse meanings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Chibanis represent the population of aging former immigrant workers who arrived in France in the 1970s in order to take up employment. Most of them still live in immigrant hostels, which are not appropriate for an older population. This anthropological study was conducted on Chibanis living in an immigrant hostel in the 15th arrondissement of Marseille.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn Western countries, blood supply agencies encounter impediments in providing blood groups defined as rare or of interest, notably for sub-Saharan African ancestry (SSAA) recipients. To establish warning levels and anticipate future blood needs, an estimate of the current carriers of rare blood groups, both potential patients or donors, is crucial but complex. Indeed, if the strict needs can be estimated in medical terms, the modalities of blood product collection must be considered from an interdisciplinary perspective, at the interface of biological data and social norms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite a long history of maternal health programs, the quality of obstetric care and access to facility services remain inadequate in West Africa. Although several qualitative studies have described human resource and facility constraints impacting pregnancy care and the violent or disrespectful care of women during labor, the reasons behind these behaviors have not been elucidated. In order to understand midwives' experiences with caregiving, in 2017-2018 we conducted interviews with 24 professional midwives in Benin and Burkina Faso and examined their perspectives on their profession, obstetric practices and personal lives.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF