Abdoulaye Diop

Global COVID-19 pandemic containment necessitates understanding the risk of hesitance or resistance to vaccine uptake in different populations. The Middle East and North Africa currently lack vital representative vaccine hesitancy data. We conducted the first representative national phone survey among the adult population of Qatar, between December 2020 and January 2021, to estimate the prevalence and identify potential determinants of vaccine willingness: acceptance (strongly agree), resistance (strongly disagree), and hesitance (somewhat agree, neutral, somewhat disagree). Bivariate and multinomial logistic regression models estimated associations between willingness groups and fifteen variables. In the total sample, 42.7% (95% CI: 39.5–46.1) were accepting, 45.2% (95% CI: 41.9–48.4) hesitant, and 12.1% (95% CI: 10.1–14.4) resistant. Vaccine resistant compared with hesistant and accepting groups reported no endorsement source will increase vaccine confidence (58.9% vs. 5.6% vs. 0.2%, respectively). Female gender, Arab ethnicity, migrant status/type, and vaccine side-effects concerns were associated with hesitancy and resistance. COVID-19 related bereavement, infection, and quarantine status were not significantly associated with any willingness group. Absence of or lack of concern about contracting the virus was solely associated with resistance. COVID-19 vaccine resistance, hesitance, and side-effects concerns are high in Qatar’s population compared with those globally. Urgent public health engagement should focus on women, Qataris (non-migrants), and Arab ethnicity.

Global COVID-19 pandemic containment necessitates understanding the risk of hesitance or resistance to vaccine uptake in different populations. The Middle East and North Africa currently lack vital representative vaccine hesitancy data. We conducted the first representative national phone survey among the adult population of Qatar, between December 2020 and January 2021, to estimate the prevalence and identify potential determinants of vaccine willingness: acceptance (strongly agree), resistance (strongly disagree), and hesitance (somewhat agree, neutral, somewhat disagree). Bivariate and multinomial logistic regression models estimated associations between willingness groups and fifteen variables. In the total sample, 42.7% (95% CI: 39.5–46.1) were accepting, 45.2% (95% CI: 41.9–48.4) hesitant, and 12.1% (95% CI: 10.1–14.4) resistant. Vaccine resistant compared with hesistant and accepting groups reported no endorsement source will increase vaccine confidence (58.9% vs. 5.6% vs. 0.2%, respectively). Female gender, Arab ethnicity, migrant status/type, and vaccine side-effects concerns were associated with hesitancy and resistance. COVID-19 related bereavement, infection, and quarantine status were not significantly associated with any willingness group. Absence of or lack of concern about contracting the virus was solely associated with resistance. COVID-19 vaccine resistance, hesitance, and side-effects concerns are high in Qatar’s population compared with those globally. Urgent public health engagement should focus on women, Qataris (non-migrants), and those of Arab ethnicity.

In Senegal, the majority of the regions are not served by the drinking water supply networks. The phenomenon is more pronounced in rural areas, particularly in Sinthiou Maléme commune. For example, communities living in these areas often use well water and borehole. This work has been undertaken to evaluate the physicochemical quality of the water resources consumed by these populations. A total of 24 water samples were taken from the single borehole and 02 publics wells, let be 8 samples per source of water. To assess the quality of these different sources, the physical parameters (electrical conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids and hardness) and chemical parameters (F^-, SO₄^2-, PO₄^3-, Fe and NO₂^-) were analyzed by the photometric method. The results obtained show that, from the physical point of view, drilling water is highly mineralized, slightly hard and has a basic tendency, unlike wells. Chemical analysis shows that well waters are heavily loaded with phosphate ions and nitrites. Based on the parameters analyzed, the quality of the drilling water is chemically acceptable. Studies on the elements of metallic traces will be envisaged to better assess the quality of this drinking water. Au Sénégal, la majeure partie des régions n’est pas desservie par les réseaux d'adduction d’eau potable. Le phénomène est plus accentué en milieu rural notamment dans la commune de Sinthiou Maléme. Ainsi, les communautés qui vivent dans ces zones ont souvent recours à l'eau des puits et des forages. Ce présent travail a été entrepris en vue d’évaluer la qualité physico-chimique des ressources en eaux consommées par ces populations. Au total 24 échantillons d’eaux ont été prélevés de l’unique forage et de 02 puits publics, soit 8 prélèvements par sources d’eaux. Pour apprécier la qualité de ces différentes sources, les paramètres physiques (conductivité électrique, pH, totale des solides dissous et dureté) et chimiques (F^-, SO₄^2-, PO₄^3-, Fe and NO₂^-) ont été analysés par la méthode photométrique. Les résultats obtenus montrent que, du point de vue physique, les eaux de forage sont fortement minéralisées, légèrement dures et présentent une tendance basique contrairement à celles des puits. L’analyse chimique montre que les eaux de puits sont fortement chargées en ions phosphates et nitrites. Sur la base des paramètres analysés, la qualité des eaux de forage est chimiquement acceptable. Des études sur les éléments des traces métalliques seront envisagées pour mieux apprécier la qualité de ces eaux de consommation.

Algae samples from Dakar coast (Senegal) and Galician Rias (Spain) were analyzed by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS) to assess the bioaccumulation of mercury in the two aquatic systems. In this work, the contents of inorganic mercury and total mercury were determined. Simplified analytical procedures (microwave digestion and ultrasonic assisted extraction) were used for sample preparation. A reference material (BCR-60) was used to validate the analytical procedures used for sample preparation. The results of the analysis show that the total mercury contents found in algae samples from the Galician Rias are relatively similar to those found in algae samples from the Dakar coast. However, the inorganic mercury content of the algae from Pontevedra Ria was considerably higher than that found in the algae samples from Vigo Ria. The distribution was observed for inorganic mercury and total mercury, indicating that inorganic mercury is the major mercury species that bioaccumulates in marine algae. The inorganic mercury contents were always approximately equal to those of total mercury in the algae samples and a satisfactory correlation (p <0.0001; r = 0.9997) was obtained between them. Finally, the ANOVA analysis indicates that no significant difference (F = 0.165; p = 0.809) was found between the algae of the two aquatic systems (Dakar coast and Galician Rias).

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine how residents in Qatar, the host country of the 2022 World Cup, interact, socialize and acculturate in order to create a more harmonic society, a critical factor for the event delivery and preparations. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from Qatari nationals and expatriates residing in the country of Qatar using a survey. A stratified random sampling approach was applied using as sampling framework all households having a mailing address with the country’s electric company. In total, 2,398 Qataris were contacted and 1,020 completed the survey. From the expatriate population, 1,852 were contacted and 1,134 completed the survey. Findings: The results showed Qatari nationals were favorable toward Arab and Asian expatriates but not as favorable as Arab and Asian expatriates were toward them. Both groups of residents showed high quality of life (QOL) perceptions, with the locals having slightly higher QOL. Finally, Asian expatriates were more open to socializing with the locals and Arab expatriates. Research limitations/implications: The results of the study shed light into the acculturation process in host societies of mega sport events such as the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Originality/value: This is the first study that examined a mega event’s host country resident’s cultural interactions to identify potential issues that can arise and interfere with the event experience of the 2022 World Cup in a very diverse society.

This study examines Qatari citizens’ attitudes toward migrant workers. While much research has been conducted on citizens’ attitudes toward the abolition, tightening, or loosening of the Kafāla system in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with regard to migrant workers’ residency rights, and on their contribution to the economic development of these countries, little is known about how citizens’ religiosity and social engagement impact their acceptance of migrant workers. In the present study, we address this question by examining the effects of religious and social capital on Qatari citizens’ preferences for having Arab and Western migrant workers as neighbours, drawing on data from two nationally representative surveys in Qatar. The results indicate that, even after controlling for a wide range of socio-demographic attributes, social capital in terms of trust and bridging social ties has a strong effect on the Qatari nationals’ preferences.

Public attitudes play a critical role in shaping policies towards immigration and the status of migrant workers. Facing growing pressure from international human rights organizations, media and other groups, the Gulf Cooperation Council states have begun efforts to reform the current kafala system, which prevails throughout the region. Yet despite these efforts, relatively little is known about what citizens actually think of this policy, let alone their more general attitudes towards foreign workers. In the following paper, we explore this question and focus on the case of Qatar. Recently, the Qatari government promised to reform their sponsorship system in 2015. Whether this reform succeeds will depend on public attitudes towards this new policy and how citizens perceive the role of foreign workers in the country. Drawing on data from a nationally representative survey in Qatar, we use a split sample technique to better disentangle citizens’ varying attitudes towards blue-collar and white-collar workers. The survey results suggest that Qatari citizens are ambivalent about foreign workers’ contributions and overall impact on their country. While they value foreign workers’ positive contribution to the development of their country in general, they have concerns about this population’s impact on economic and health resources. Ultimately, most citizens would prefer to maintain the sponsorship system, or kafala, as it is right now.