As the impacts of natural disasters have grown more severe, the importance of education for disaster medicine gains greater recognition. We launched a project to establish an international educational program for disaster medicine. In the present study, we surveyed medical personnel and medical/public health students in the Philippines (n = 45) and Indonesia (n = 67) for their awareness of the international frameworks related to disaster medicine: the Human Security (securing individual life and health), the Sphere Project (international humanitarian response), and the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 (international strategy for disaster reduction). In both countries, more than 50% responders were aware of human security, but only 2 to 12% were aware of the latter two. The survey also contained questions about the preferred subjects in prospective educational program, and risk perception on disaster and disasterrelated infections. In the Philippines, significant disasters were geophysical (31.0%), hydrological (33.3%), or meteorological (24.8%), whereas in Indonesia, geophysical (63.0%) and hydrological (25.3%) were significant. Moreover, in the Philippines, leptospirosis (27.1%), dengue (18.6%), diarrhea (15.3%), and cholera (10.2%) were recognized common disaster-related infections. In Indonesia, diarrhea (22.0%) and respiratory infection (20.3%) are major disaster-related infections. Water-related infections were the major ones in both countries, but the profiles of risk perception were different (Pearson's chi-square test, p = 1.469e-05). The responders tended to overestimate the risk of low probability and high consequence such as geophysical disaster. These results are helpful for the development of a postgraduate course for disaster medicine in Asia Pacific countries.

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Introduction.Young adults are more susceptible to HIV infection due to a lack of reliable and timely information about HIV/AIDS prevention and transmission. This study examined the KAPS of college students in Pampanga, Philippines due to high cases of HIV in the region. KAPs is vital in developing effective strategies for HIV intervention.Objective. The study evaluated the knowledge, attitudes, and practices on prevention and transmission HIV/AIDS among college students in Pampanga, Philippines.Method. This cross-sectional, descriptive study used a self-administered questionnaire to assess HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and practices among 565 college students aged 18-24 from three Pampanga higher educational institutions Philippines. A questionnaire was used to gather data on KAPs regarding HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0.Results. Among 565 participants, 239 persons (42%) showed low knowledge of transmission and prevention of HIV/ AIDS, 203 (36%) had moderate level of knowledge, and 121 (21%) had high level. Common misconceptions about HIV transmission included washing genitals could prevent transmission and that transmission was possible through mosquito bites, respiratory fluids, sweat, or urine. Television was the most frequent source of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge among respondents. More than half (63.1%) of those surveyed had a good attitude toward HIV-positive people. Those who answered questions related to the sexual practices said that their last three encounters were with the same person (18.1%). Those who used piercing objects claimed to sterilize them before utilizing them on their bodies (18.6 %). And many participants refused to question related to practices. Conclusion.Participants had a low knowledge of HIV/AIDS, which explains why there were many misconceptions about HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention. More than half of the respondents had a good attitude toward HIVpositive people. Those who answered the practice-related questions engaged in risky behaviour. Providers should implement an intervention program to increase HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in the region.