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In the framework of assessment policies aimed at reducing the vulnerability of risks’ subjected territories, the concept of representation is an essential component for understanding the population's attitude towards risks. This representation is influenced by socio-spatial factors. Thus, this study examines the representations of the risk of flooding by the sea in the coastal commune of Port-Gentil, the economic capital of Gabon. To this end, a geo-localised questionnaire survey was conducted among 771 heads of household in their homes. In this study we sought to examine how the inhabitants of Port-Gentil represent the risk of flooding by the sea, as well as the socio-spatial factors influencing this representation in this African city with multiple risks. The results of the study show that (1) the risk of flooding from the sea does not seem to be the main concern of the inhabitants; (2) the representation of the feeling of exposure to the main declared risks is significantly influenced by residential factors such as the time spent in the commune, whether they own a dwelling or not and the standing of the dwelling; (3) spatially, the location of the household is a determining factor in the representation of the risks. Our results suggest that the representations of inhabitants must be taken into account in the implementation of risk management policies in Port-Gentil. They allow us to direct the discourse towards populations that tend to ignore their exposure to risks, particularly to risks that are not very obvious, such as flooding from the sea.

The inhabitants of the city of Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, suffer significant damage every year due to floods, which constitute a major risk for the country. To mitigate the impact of these phenomena, a good understanding of the criteria involved in the vulnerability of populations is necessary. This article sets out to analyse the populations of Ouagadougou’s vulnerability to floods, with the objective of drawing up and spatially representing the social vulnerability profile of populations. It is part of phase 2 of the Raincell Africa project, which aims to understand the social vulnerability of Sahelian populations to the risks of urban flooding. The study is based on a quantitative approach developed by means of a socio-demographic survey of 2137 households in the city of Ouagadougou. Statistical processing of the survey data using factor analysis and Hierarchical Agglomerative Clustering revealed eight vulnerability profiles in the city. The spatial distribution of these profiles indicates greater vulnerability in the margins of the city, characterized by unplanned settlements. This high exposure of informal settlements to flooding is linked to socio-demographic characteristics such as the level of education, risky behaviours in terms of urbanization and the populations’ false perception of danger. These elements must necessarily be taken into account for better flood management.

The particular concern of HIV health care policies is with the transmission of the virus from mother to infant, from delivery until cessation of breastfeeding. PMTCT care seeks to help women reduce the risk by providing suitable services. In Burkina Faso, the authorities have chosen to bring health care facilities physically closer to HIV-positive women by increasing provision and thereby reducing the distance of access to them. Our purpose is to define the area in which these health care practices take place and the factors that determine them. 30 women were monitored for this study, from pregnancy until the infant reached six months of age, in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. The results show the women’s active involvement in attending PMTCT services. They travel long distances in a difficult physical environment, often using precarious means of transport. But the relationship between the distances from place of residence and health care is unexpected. The observations are at variance with research studies which show that the distance from health care facilities is not a criterion of attendance. While urban studies present distance as a neutral factor in the context of the use of care health services, our research shows distance as a criterion for attendance. Regardless the means of transport used, women travel long distances for PMTCT follow-up, as opposed to usual care.

Industrial accidents are a major risk in many countries. Despite this observation, effective preventive action is not being developed and studies of the behaviors of vulnerable populations remain under-explored. According to safety instructions, residents must take shelter and remain indoors but other behaviors may be observed such as: running away from the affected area, panicking, or following people around. In order to assess the attitudes of people and the effects of local contingencies that could interfere with official advice in the event of a toxic cloud, a specific agent-based model called TOXI-CITY has been developed. The aim of this explorative model is to determine whether a minimum number of well-informed agents (i.e. those who follow the emergency protocol) can save a maximum number of uninformed and impressionable ones. Simulations indicate that the initial number of agents and the spatial configuration of the grid strongly influence final survival rates. A non-linear pattern emerged: survival rates increase when well-informed agent rates are low (below 30%) while increasing the percentage of informed agents (from 70%) seems to improve only slightly the chances of survival.