Efficacy of insecticide treated hammock nets (ITHNS) on forest malaria control in Vietnam

Background: Forest malaria is one of the challenges faced by the Malaria Control Program in Vietnam. Objectives: (1). To evaluate the malaria prevalence among forest goers, (2). To study the efficacy of insecticide-treated hammock net (ITHNs) in malaria prevention for forest goers. Subject and method: The descriptive epidemiological intervention study on the effect of ITHNs in forest malaria control has been carried out in Ninh Thuan in 2005 \ufffd?2006. Results: Malaria prevalence among forest goers was very high: Clinical malaria: 15.5%, enlarged spleen: 7.0%, confirmed cases: 13.3% and asymptomactic cases: 74%. Age, sex, ethnic, low educated levels, low income, less use of mosquito-nets and poor house condition were considered as risk factors in malaria infection, especially for people who spent much time in the forest. ITHNs were effective in prevention of malaria infection, the malaria morbidity was decreased after 2 years of application (reduced from 31 % to 14% for prevalence, and from 274/1000 population to 161/1000 population for incidence), and the morbidity rate was lower than that in the group of people who did not use ITHNs. Conclusion: For the entomological survey, it is found that Anopheles density reduced in the group of people prevented by ITHNs. The residual of insecticide on the hammock net was decreased after 2 years utilization.\r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'

Low awareness of malaria among the raglai ethnic minority group living in the mountainous province of Ninh Thuan, Vietnam

Background: The vulnerability to contract malaria was researched among the Raglai ethnic minority population living in the mountainous areas of Ninh Thuan province, South-central Viet Nam, one of the areas with highest incidence rates in the country. Objective: To investigate the bed net use, risk perception of contracting malaria in Raglai ethnic minority. Subject and Method: The study used qualitative and quantitative method and was carried out in Ninh Thuan from 8/2005 to 8/2006. Result: Raglai exposure to malaria was related to farmers' forest activity and forest sleep which were directly related to the combination of sleeping and living in a government supported home in newly established villages along the road with a second home or reduced plot hut near fields in the forest to meet work requirements during the labor intensive malaria transmission and rainy season. In this context, access to health care, bed net use, risk perception of contracting malaria and health seeking behavior were researched. Conclusion: The results of the study do not only show the vulnerability of an impoverished ethnic minority population but as well the urgent need to better understand ethnic minorities' social context and culture to improve malaria control strategies.

Study on "Information - Education and Communication (IEC)" and "knowledge - attitude and practice (KAP)" of community on malaria and its control after intervention of health education

Background: Since 1991-2000, the prevalence of malaria is reduced remarkably in Vietnam. The malaria related mortality reduced 98%. Objective: To evaluate effect of health education in malaria control for ethnic minority people. Subject and Method: The study was carried out in 4 districts: Hoang Su Phi and Quan Ba (Ha Giang); Ia grai and K'Bang (Gia Lai). Qualitative and quantitative method was used in this study. Results: The findings of the study after 2 years showed that the Information - Education and Communication (IEC) is increased in 2007. The proportion of the households have radio, TV, leaflets/pictures is higher than year 2005: 39.1 %, 60.0% and 6.3%. The number of people were communicated about malaria is increased by 61%. The most information channel that the people received is from health staff (93%); from radio and TV: 22.5 and 25.6%. People know the right cause and its prevention of malaria is increased 55% in 2005 to 80% in 2007. The proportion of bed net coverage among community is increased, the number of bed net per households is 2.8 and number of people per bed net is 2.2. Conclusion: Almost people in this study site desired to utilize bed net: 99%. About 88.3% (2005) and 87.5% (2007) of people utilized the public health service when they get sick. After two years of health education intervention, the malaria morbidity in the study site is reduced remarkably by 45 - 50%.

Evaluation of the malaria control program in Vietnam in the period 2000-2007

Background: National malaria preventive and control program is rather successful, but the special result has not been accurately analyzed.\r\n', u'Objectives: to evaluate of the malaria situation for the period of 2000-2007 in Viet Nam.\r\n', u'Subjects and methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from malaria information system.\r\n', u'Results: On annual average, about 140.000 to 150.000 patients are diagnosed as malaria. Annual malaria morbidity is greatly reduced from 6.91/1000 in 2000 to 2.21/ 1000 population in 2007. The deaths in children accounted for 30 to 40% of the total malaria deaths of the whole country. The annual average number of malaria cases treated is about 150.000 to 160.000 and it is decreased by year. Artemisinine based Combination Therapy (ACT) for P.falciparum cases is 18 - 20% of the total patients. \r\n', u'From 2000 to 2007, on average, about 1.5 to 2 million of people in the malaria endemic, high risk areas were protected by Indoor Residual Spray (IRS) annually. The coverage of protected population tends to be reduced from 6.7% to 5.9 % of population at risk of malaria. \r\n', u'The annual average number of population protected by Insecticide Treated Bed Nets (ITNs) is from 8.5 to 11.5 million and the coverage of ITNs is increasing from 23.6% to 31.0% of population in malaria endemic areas. . \r\n', u'Conclusion:From 2000 to 2007, the malaria in Vietnam continues to be decreased in term of morbidity and mortality.\r\n', u'