The current report was an exploratory case study that utilsed a mixed mehtodology to consider the HIV and Aids wellness context of a South African small to Medium Enterprise (SME), hereafter called company A. This study aimed to investigate company A by observing the knowledge. Attitude and practices (KAP) of emmployees, as well as their reported behaviours on disclosure of HIV status. HIV and AIDS are critical issues, with South Africa, having the highest rate in the world (UNAIDS, 2010). While various projects are in place to promote prevention and decrease infection rate, infection statistics plateaued at a high leve. The situation in South Africa thus needs to be examined from a different perspective, approaching the epidemic as a case study, rather than through the systematic models and interventions used in the past. A KAP survey and open ended questionnaire were used, as they formed the forefront of the assumptions usally in interventions that look at behaviour change model such as the Health belief model (HBM) and social cognitive theory (SCT) and the relationship between knowledge, attitude and practices and dissclosure of HIV status. The research observed that while no clear cut relationships can be found between knowwledge, attitude, practices, and the decisin of whether to dissclose the HIV status, the context and experience of the epidemic is far from straightforward, and needs to be tackled in it`s entiriety. While the intention of policies and interventions may be good, without the requisite investigation of the context, the attempts may not be as successfull as they could be.

BACKGROUND: Malaria in pregnant women continues to be a public health problem in India. The prevalence of malaria in pregnancy is particularly high in the tribal conflict areas of India such as Chhattisgarh. Pregnant women have less acquired immunity protecting them against malaria than non-pregnant women of child bearing age. The decreased immunity results in a much more severe presentation of malaria symptoms, and potential death of both mother and fetus during malaria in pregnancy. Recognizing the need for effective malaria interventions in pregnant women, global and national malaria prevention and treatment guidelines have been established. Practice of these guidelines has been found to be inadequate in the Asian Pacific Region. LITERATURE REVIEW FINDINGS: Qualitative studies on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of malaria interventions have demonstrated that meeting communities at their level of understanding is essential in circumventing malaria spread. In an effort to create a synergy between health care workers, national and global malaria control strategies and pregnant women, there is the need to identify pregnant women’s knowledge, attitudes and practices of malaria interventions. Currently, there is no data on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of pregnant women in the conflict districts of Chhattisgarh, India, where malaria prevalence and related symptoms have been identified to be significantly high. PROPOSED PROJECT: This study seeks to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of malaria prevention and treatment in pregnant women in the conflict areas of Chhattisgarh, India, using a cross-sectional qualitative research design. This study will highlight the understanding of malaria transmission, perceptions of cause, recognition of signs and symptoms, treatment-seeking behaviors, preventive measures and practices of pregnant women who visit the antenatal clinic and those who do not. CONCLUSION: If this study demonstrates knowledge and attitudes that favor customary or unproven methods of malaria interventions as shown in previous studies, then this may explain the present rate of MIP in these districts and hence the need for specific mediations for controlling and preventing malaria in this populace. SIGNIFICANCE: Findings from this study will help inform malaria education programs, health policies and practices that are tailored or targeted towards pregnant women in Chhattisgarh, India.

Selon le World Risk Report publié par United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security, les Philippines occupent la troisième place mondiale pour l’exposition aux risques naturels. L’impact de ses inondations sur la santé publique des communautés en fonction de leur vulnérabilité sociale a été très peu étudié jusqu’à présent faute de données systématiques. La méthodologie est basée sur une évaluation de la connaissance, de l’attitude et des pratiques (KAP) des populations inondées et de leur résilience vis à vis de leur exposition à des pathogènes tels que E.coli, Leptospirosis and la dengue qui peuvent se développer à la suite d’un typhon. Ces indicateurs intègrent le profil socio-démographique, les conditions de logement, l'environnement physique ainsi que la gouvernance locale. Une investigation de terrain a été effectuée dans la ville de Dumaguete, Philippines, de mars 2013 à juillet 2013. Un total de 357 familles réparties dans 12 communautés ont été interrogés. L’analyse de ces données a permis de révéler une vulnérabilité synthétisée dans un indice (IVF) qui s’établit en moyenne à 39,34 %. Le secteur de Barangay Tabuc-tubig présente un indice de 53,39 % et s’avère le site le plus vulnérable. L’indice de vulnérabilité est basé sur 5 composants: hydroclimatique, social, économique, socio-comportementale et politico-administratif. Les résultats démontrent que l'indice de vulnérabilité reste faible malgré des indicateurs d’exposition élevée. Cette recherche, l'indice de vulnérabilité est lié aux variables intervenant dans la caractérisation de la résilience. / According to the World Risk Report released by the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security, the Philippines is ranked third globally in terms of disaster risk. Public health risks and understanding social vulnerability are usually overlooked and very little attention is given. Thus, this research work focuses on. This research was an exploratory step and a rapid assessment of the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of the community people towards flood vulnerability and resilience and their exposure to microorganisms such as E.coli, Leptospirosis and the Dengue Fever mosquito. Appropriate community-based indicators were formulated and developed. Their socio-demographic profile, housing conditions, physical environment and governance were also included. The survey was done from March 2013 to July 2013 to capture the dry and wet season for bacterial sampling. A total of 357 household respondents from the 12 communities and 30 respondents from the LGU and NGO were surveyed. Results of the study revealed an overall Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI) of 39.34%. Barangay Tabuc-tubig (53.39%) topping from all the 12 communities surveyed using the newly developed 36 community-based flood vulnerability indicators with its corresponding 5 major components namely; hydro-climatic, social, economic, socio-behavioral and the politico-administrative. It is interesting to note that FVI remains low in spite that the exposure indicators are high. The low FVI can be attributed to the community’s high resilience in its coping and adaptation strategies. In this research work, the FVI is significantly sensitive to susceptibility and flood resilience variables.