Seasonal evaluation of fine and coarse culturable bacterial aerosols from residences within a rural and an urban city in Egypt.

Non-complaint Egyptian homes were examined to determine the residential culturable airborne bacterial concentrations so that these could be used as comparisons in indoor air quality investigations. Concentrations of airborne bacteria were investigated in 26 urban flats across Cairo and 17 rural flats in the Dakahlia governorate. Air samples were collected using a two-stage viable cascade impactor sampler, dividing particles into coarse (>8 µm) and fine (<8 µm) sizes. For urban flats, the year's median indoor and comparison site concentrations were 9133 CFU/m(3) and 9423 CFU/m(3), respectively. For rural flats, the year's median indoor and comparison site concentrations were 15,915 CFU/m(3) and 10,859 CFU/m(3), respectively. The median indoor bacterial concentrations increased in winter and spring compared to autumn and summer. Winter months had the greatest median concentration for coarse indoor organisms, whereas spring had the largest for the fine indoor organisms. Fine bacterial concentration composed more than 60% of the indoor bacterial fraction.

The use of illustrated story mapping to enhance focus group discussion.

Key informant interviews and focus groups assist in eliciting qualitative data from the community in order to develop educational programs. This article describes how an additional methodology, illustrated story maps, are used to obtain context-specific information on what African American and Hispanic men need to know to make an informed decision about prostate cancer screening. These maps are created as a result of key informant interviews and implemented during focus groups. Twenty focus groups are conducted using the story maps, which depicts scenarios of how men make medical decisions, possible influences on medical decisions, and potential consequences of these decisions. The illustrated story maps prove to encourage directed discussion during the focus groups, while still allowing for open sharing of personal experiences. The authors recommend the use of maps when adapting and planning communication and educational programs, particularly where participant dialogue is central to success of the endeavor.

From isolation to connection: understanding a support group for Hispanic women living with gender-based violence in Houston, Texas.

Little is known about the benefits of support groups to prevent gender-based violence in Hispanics. The article describes a Houston area community-based organization that assists immigrant Hispanic women exposed to gender-based violence and/or abuse. Internal documents, participant observation, and in-depth interviews were used to examine the support group. Thirty interviews were conducted with support group participants. Interviews were analyzed to identify common themes relating to the women's experiences. Overall, the women enjoyed the benefits of the support group and its offerings. Women were taught to manage situations and emotions, as well as to become less dependent on the abuser. The women also became aware of their selfworth and value, and most are making progress toward achieving self-sufficiency. Given the positive response from the women, this and other programs should continue to reach out into the community and offer a safe haven for immigrant Hispanic women living with gender-based violence and/or abuse.