Knowledge and practice of safe pesticide use among flowers planters in My Tan commune, My Loc district, Nam Dinh province

Background: Pesticides safety, plant protection chemicals are widely used around the world, especially in agriculture to protect crops. \r\n', u'Objectives: To describe the real statute of knowledge and practice of safe pesticide use among flowers planters and various other related factors. \r\n', u'Subjects and method: The cross sectional analytic study was carried out in 2006 to evaluate the current situation of knowledge and practice of safe pesticide use in 2 flower planting villages: Hong Ha 1 and Hong Ha 2, My Tan commune, My Loc district, Nam Dinh Province. Results:The results showed that knowledge on determining toxicity levels and the absorption routes of pesticides to the human body through land and water is insufficient. As for pesticide use practice, the percentage of planters fully utilizing safety work clothes and other equipments was low. Multivariate analysis found that there was a significant correlation between good practice and knowledge. In addition, some predictors of good knowledge were: highly educated, male and age. Conclusion: The findings also discovered the priority of improving direct communication on safe pesticide use among planters. \r\n', u'

The use of pesticides and acute pesticide poisoning among flower planters in My Tan commune, My Loc district, Nam Dinh province, 2006

Background: Pesticides have been used widely in not only around the world but also Vietnam; however, their misuse can cause many serious health problems. For this reasons, it is necessary to closely monitor the use of pesticides and their effects on the health of farmers. Objectives: To describe the kinds of pesticides, the symptoms and related factors of acute pesticide poisoning among flowers planters. Subjects and method: A cross-sectional analytic design was applied with a sample of 107 households in the Hong Ha 1 and Hong Ha 2 village of My Tan commune, My Loc district, Nam Dinh province from November 2005 to February 2006. \r\n', u'Results: There were various types of pesticide that were being sprayed in the flower planting villages. Almost all types were moderately hazardous. 85% of farmers experienced at least 1 symptom of acute poisoning after spraying pesticides. The most common symptoms were headache, dizziness, rash (accounting for 45-58%), followed by red eyes and musculoskeletal symptoms (approximate 40%). The effects of pesticides to the farmer\u2019s health were proved with the typical symptoms of toxicity, especially headache, irritation of the face, red eyes. The percentages of self-reported toxicity symptoms were associated with sex, age groups, following manual and pesticide exposure. Conclusion: The results suggested that various interventions is required in order to change the knowledge, attitude and practice of pesticide use among farmers in general and flowers planters in particularly.\r\n', u'

The current situation of food safety practice among housewives in Bavi district, Hatay province

Background: Food poisoning and diseases caused by food are pressing problems in Viet Nam.\r\n', u'Objectives: To contribute towards discovering suitable approaches for preventing food poisoning. \r\n', u'Subjects and methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in 2005 to assess the practice of food safety of 423 housewives in Bavi district, Hatay province. \r\n', u'Results:Almost all of them did not purchase tainted foods. Two thirds of them considered and looked for information on the label when buying tinned or packed foods. 52.2% of subjects reheated cooked foods before eating them. 87.2% of housewives washed their hands before they prepared food for their household. More than 86% of the subjects washed vegetables 3 times before cooking. Percentage of housewives who soak vegetables properly is 51.8%. Chopping board was used for processing both cooked and fresh foods by 55.6%. For containing foods, tools were used separately for cooked and un-cooked food by 98.6%. For preserving foods, dish-covers were used by 74.9%, lids by 72.8%, fridge by 1 % while 1.25% was not preserved by any tools. As for sources of water, deep well accounted for 71.6% while water well and rain water accounted for 18% and 9%, respectively. 88.7% of households have the foundation of kitchen dried. 68.6% of households did not have rubbish bins and 14.7% have daily emptied ones. \r\n', u'Conclusions: Housewives had initial improvements in good practice of food hygiene.\r\n', u'

Some discussion of the anemia situation in pupil of Dong My Primary School, Thanh Tri district, Hanoi in 1997 and 1999

The study aims to investigate whether any change the prevalence of anaemia at primary school. Two cross-sectional studies were conducted on the pupils at Dong my school, Thanh Tri distric of Hanoi suburban in 1997 and 1999. Haemoglobin concentration determination was used by cyanmethemoglobin method. The dietary food intake by 3 days repeated 24 hours recall method. The classification of nutritional anaemia base on the levels of haemoglobin recommened by WHO. The results showed that: the prevalence of nutritional anaemia of the pupils in 1997 was 37.7%, boys 41%, girls 33.3% and 13.1%, boys 15.5% girls 12.2%. The dietary food intake: energy 1,118 +/- 279.9 kcal, protid 41.6 +/- 15.3 g, vitamin C 62.4 +/- 98.6 mg, higher than in 1997 (962+/- 136 Kcal, 34.0 +/- 7.5 g protid and 27.8 +/- 16.5 mg vitamin C). There was no difference of the avarage of haemoglobin concentration between boys and girls group. The average of haemoglobin concentration was statistic significantly higher in 1999 than in 1997 as well as the prevalence of nutritional anaemia in 1998 than 1999.

Preliminary results of the fortification of biscuit with vitamin A and iron

This study was conducted on biscuit had been fortified with vitamin A and iron that was produced at the H¶i Hµ factory during Sep - Oct 1997. Fortified biscuit was analyzed for sensory aspects (color, odor, taste), chemical composition (energy value, protein, fat, carbohydrate, iron and vitamin A contents), level of micro-organism and mould at time of production and after 4 months of preservation. The results showed that 100 g of fortified biscuit contained 6.9 g of protein, 22.4g of fat and 51.2g of carbohydrate, given 434 kcal, 3600 UI retinol and 17.17 mg iron. After 4 months, it remained to contain 3100 UI retinol and 17 mg iron per 100g. The microorganism and mould indices complied with standards. The product had good color, odor and taste and caused no digestive problem after eating. This biscuit product is inexpensive. With only 600 VND, the children will be able receive 5.1mg of elemental iron, 356mcg of vitamin A, 2.1g of protein, 6.7g of fat and 130kcal. (Auth)

Nutritional status and helminthiasis in pupils of 2 primary schools in the suburb of Ha noi

The aims of this study was to assess nutritional status, situation of intestinal helminthic infection and their relationships. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 827 pupils at Dong My of Thanh Tri district and Thuong Cat primary school of Tu Liem district, Hanoi suburban. Nutritional status was assessed by using anthropometry indicators and classification with NCHS reference population. Worm infection was examined by using Kato-Kart method. 1. The prevalence of malnutrition according to weigh for age, height for age and weight for height indicators were 26.8%; 28.3% and 6% at Dong My and 41.4%, 34% and 14.5% at Thuong Cat primary school, repectively. 2. The positive rates of worm infection were 80.2%, Ascaris 65.8%, Trchuris 63.8%, multi-worm infection 49.0% at Dong My and 88.4%, Ascaris 61.7%. There was a significant relationship between the situation of worm infection and nutritional status of pupils.