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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 9, No. 4
Publication Date: April 25, 2022
DOI:10.14738/assrj.94.12041. Compaore, J. (2022). Role of Communication in the Process of a Better Socio Sanitary and Environmental Supervision of Artisanal
Dyeing and Textile Activity in Burkina Faso: Case of the Craft Industries of Arrondissement Number 6 in the Commune of
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(4). 223-235.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Role of Communication in the Process of a Better Socio Sanitary
and Environmental Supervision of Artisanal Dyeing and Textile
Activity in Burkina Faso: Case of the Craft Industries of
Arrondissement Number 6 in the Commune of Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso
Dr COMPAORE Jérôme
Senior researcher
CNRST-Institut de l’Environnement et de la Recherche Agricole (INERA)
03 BP 7192 Ouagadougou 03
ABSTRACT
The current study was about the issue of the role that communication plays in the
frame of a better organization of the socio-sanitary and environment sector of craft
industry and textile in Burkina Faso, and which served the study object in
arrondissement number 6 of the commune of Ouagadougou. This study aims at
showing that the implementation of management mechanisms contributes to the
use of efficient communication tools system. That one can help bringing up with a
good organization in the processing chain of the dyeing activity, by protecting
women and men working in the domain, and considering environment’s protection
and our living area.
Key words: Communication, Textile, Dyeing, Craft industry, Environment, Commune of
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
INTRODUCTION
West Africa, best white gold producer in Africa. More than 2.3 millions of tons of cotton-seeds
are produced every year. Therefore, 95% of that production is destined for exportation without
any added value, to the detriment of local transformation ((BOAD, 2015). For that production
to better favor local economies, governments should raise the value chains. That’s why, west
African countries that produce cotton target to the development of industry and textile craft of
which fabric spinning and weaving.
In Burkina Faso, this political will is expressed by the decree 2017-057 PM/CAB of the 29th
November 2017 about hand-hoven fabric “Faso Dan Fani” promotion and value. The
implementation of this decree exacerbated the passion of populations and fashion creators for
the ‘’Faso Dan Fani’’. From that moment, to meet the increasing demand, weavers regroup into
cooperatives, associations or, individually, to work into the making of the fabric in big towns as
Ouagadougou. The dyeing of the textile fiber is an important step in the process of hand hoven
fabric ‘’Faso Dan Fani’’ confection. For this, huge quantity of dye, most of it synthetic is used in
the dyeing workshops. Indeed, according to Mansour and al. (2009), world synthetic dye
production is estimated at 800 000 tons per year. 17% of that production is rejected into the
environment during the dyeing steps of the textile fiber.
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Therefore, those dyes are toxcic for the human being and the environment considering their
composition and their utilization modes. Indeed, the discharge of textile effluents without
treatment is responsible of soil and available water ressources (surface and underground
water) pollution, the natural ecosystems’ damage (Boeglin, 1999). For example, dyes are optic
limiters that interfere in the light transmission into water, inhibiting the photosynthesis of
aquatic plants (Willmott and al., 1998). Also, the dyes toxicity and their metabolism for the
human being is not a recent fact. In 1895, a study had shown that the incidence of bladder
cancer observed to some employees of the textile industry was due to a long exposition to dyes
(Rehn, 1895). Recently, others studies, also confirmed that synthetic dyes are chemical
substances, likely to induce carcinogenic manifestations into human being and the animal
(Brown and Devito, 1993; Chen, 2006; Combes et Haveland, 1982; DEPA, 2000; IARC, 1982;
Medvedev and al, 1988; Percy and al, 1989; Tsuda and al, 2000).
With regards to all those risks due to the handling of dyes in the dyeing process. The
misinformation of dyers about the dyeing good practices increases the vulnerability of the
populations’ health, and environment. The contribution of behavior change communication of
dyers becomes an emergency.
The objective of the current study is to contribute through communication, to the control of
sanitary and environmental risks linked to the artisanal dyeing. It was specifically about (i)
establishing a diagnosis of the knowledge, the attitudes and the dyers practices in their job, (ii)
proposing a communication strategy in order to minimize the sanitary and environmental risks
related to the artisanal dyeing.
METHODOLOGY
The study took place in arrondissement 6 of the commune of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso,
precisely in the Cissin and Kouritenga districts, located respectively in sectors 25 and 29. The
study area covers an area of approximately 1,107 Ha. It is bounded to the north by
arrondissement 1, to the south by arrondissement 7, to the east by arrondissement 12 and to
the west by sectors 26 and 28 of arrondissement 6 of Ouagadougou (see figure 1).
Hydrographically, Cissin and Kouritenga districts are located in the watershed of the mogho
naaba canal (7.1 km long), where the ground water rises in the rainy season (MHU, 2015).
Ouagadougou Dam number 2 is the outlet of the mogho naaba Canal. Downstream of dam
number 2 there is the dam number 3 and the Bangr-weogo urban park which provides a base
for several protected species. Beyond the park, the course of the flow continues in the Massili
which is one of the tributaries of the Nakambé River at 12 km from the city (Konaté, 2008).
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Compaore, J. (2022). Role of Communication in the Process of a Better Socio Sanitary and Environmental Supervision of Artisanal Dyeing and Textile
Activity in Burkina Faso: Case of the Craft Industries of Arrondissement Number 6 in the Commune of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Advances in
Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(4). 223-235.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.94.12041
The socio-economic configuration of the study area mirrors that of the city of Ouagadougou. It
presents a planned habitat with 97,359 inhabitants, 51% of whom are women; the average
population density is 76 inhabitants/ha (INSD, 2012). The informal sector dominates the
economic activity. Craft industry, including the making of hand-woven loincloths “Faso Dan
Fani” is the main activity of most women; This is evidenced by the number of 348 and 179
weavers identified respectively in sectors 29 and 25 of arrondissement 6 (survey source).
Notwithstanding the weaving of “Faso Dan Fani” fabrics, each weaver is a potential dyer. The
step of dyeing the textile fibers is essential in the process of making ''Faso Dan Fani''. However,
it should be noted that the family concession also serves as a dyeing and weaving workshop.
The assessment of the knowledge, skills and practices of the dyers linked to the health and
environmental risks represented by their profession, was possible through interviews and
observations in the field. The survey method consisted of a semi-structured interview between
a surveyor and a respondent. During this exchange, the interviewer asks specific questions
formulated in a pre-established order. The respondent must answer by choosing from among
several answers presented to him or by making brief comments (Fenneteau, 2015). The simple
random sampling (EAS) method enabled us to constitute a sample of 46 interlocutors for the
interviews. The interlocutors were made up of actors involved in the artisanal dyeing industry,
in particular weavers-dyers, sellers of dyeing reagents (dyes, caustic soda, hydrosulphite and
calcium hypochlorite) and an association in the study area which accompanies the dyers. The
Figure 1: map of the study area
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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal (ASSRJ) Vol. 9, Issue 4, April-2022
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level of education, knowledge of the dangers associated with dyeing reagents and the
appropriate communication channels to find out about them, the precautions taken to guard
against the dangers, the management of dyeing effluents and the communication strategy
adapted to better information about the risks associated with artisanal dyeing were the items
addressed during the interviews.
The Sphinx software was very useful in carrying out this study; because it was used for the
design of the collection tools, the processing and the analysis of the data.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Knowledge of the dangers of artisanal dyeing for health and the environment
Dyeing reagents as a whole are toxic to humans and the environment due to their composition
and the way they are used. Indeed, permanent exposure to dyeing reagents for the ennobling
of textile fibers can lead to pathological manifestations in dyers. In particular through the
inhalation of dust and gas or by skin contact during fiber dyeing operations. Thus, the
appearance of acute or chronic respiratory pathologies (asthma), cancer of the urinary tract or
lungs, conjunctivitis, skin allergy, etc., can be frequent among dyers (Mansour et al., 2009). In
addition, most of the artisanal dyeing units visited do not have a wastewater treatment system.
So, once discharged, these effluents contribute to the damage of the environment (surface and
underground water, soils and even vegetation). However, even if the risk is real, are the dyers
aware of the dangerousness of dyeing reagents?
In fact, only 61.7% of respondents said they were aware of the risks associated with handling
dye reagents (Figure 2). However, there are disparities if we consider the level of education of
the respondents. About 52% of those who affirmatively answered they know the dangers
associated with dyeing reagents, have at least primary school education. This reminds once
again that the level of education predisposes to less vulnerability to factors influencing health.
Moreover, the 38.3% of respondents, who say they are unaware of the risks linked to the
handling of dyeing reagents, show that communication on the dangers of artisanal dyeing must
be a prerequisite for any intervention in this sector. Indeed, if we ultimately want to control the
professional and environmental risks associated with the dyeing, it will first be necessary to
bring professionals in the field to become aware of the risks of their profession.
Figure 2: Knowledge about the dangers related to dyeing reagents
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227
Compaore, J. (2022). Role of Communication in the Process of a Better Socio Sanitary and Environmental Supervision of Artisanal Dyeing and Textile
Activity in Burkina Faso: Case of the Craft Industries of Arrondissement Number 6 in the Commune of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Advances in
Social Sciences Research Journal, 9(4). 223-235.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.94.12041
In addition, the health of dyers is most often threatened in their professional activity. Indeed,
the majority of the respondents declared having presented at least once the signs of
pathologies, which they believe to be linked to their professional activity.
Indeed, we observe in Figure 3 below that 35.3%, 32.9% and 23.5% of the respondents
answered that they had had skin, respiratory and eye problems respectively during their
professional activity.
The pathological manifestations declared by most of the respondents are due to the nature of
the reagents and processes implemented in the dyeing of textile fibers. In fact, to dye yarns, the
yarn is first bleached in a concentrated solution of chlorine, then rinsed and dried before the
color ennobling stage. Then the dye solution is prepared with boiled water in which the powder
of the desired color, caustic soda and sodium hydrosulphite are mixed. Finally, there is the step
of immersing the yarns (see figure 3). However, caustic soda is very corrosive, contact with the
skin causes burns. Sodium hydrosulphite and chlorine in solution cause gas fumes, the
inhalation of which can cause respiratory problems (Kaboré, 2015).
Figure 3: Pathological manifestations during the professional activity
a b c
Figure 4: reagent of the dye (a); dye preparation (b); yarns immersion(c)