RESEARCH ON RISKY BEHAVIOUR AND HIV PREVALENCE INFECTION AMONG FISHERMEN IN KIEN GIANG PROVINCE - 2007

Background: There is limited study on risk behavior and HIV in fishermen. Objective: To define risky behavior and HIV among fishermen in Kien Giang. Subject and Method: Cross - sectional survey on 499 fishermen in Kien Giang. Results: The average age was 28.9, and approximately 43.5% were not married. Almost all were educated to primary and secondary level, while the illiterate ones accounted for 9.0%. The average age when people had sex for the first time was 19.7. The rate of drug abuse was 0.8%, but none of them injected drug. The number of people who thoroughly understood about HIV preventions accounted for 79.8%. A majority of people who answered showed positive attitude towards PLWA, 95.1 % of whom implied that they were ready to take care of HIV - infected family members. However there was about 77.8%, people who wanted to keep their infection status confidential. The proportion of people always using condom when having sex with CSWs during the past 12 months was only 65.9%. The rate of people who already had an HIV test was 11.2% and the rate of HIV infection among the target group accounted for 0.6%. Conclusion: Direct communication model with the message on using condoms when having sex and consultation for examination is suggested for prevention on HIV/AIDS in fishermen.

Intestinal helminthiasis in primary school children and its control in Kien Giang province

Mass deworming with mebendazol 500mg was made in three schools in the districts of Tan Hiep, Hon Dat and An Bien. A prior treatment survey showed a cumulative infection rate of helminth of 15.6% in the school children of which a light infection of Ascariasis, Trichuris and hookworm but high rate of mixed infection (23%) were found. The post-treatment survey showed a 10.7% of the cumulative infection and 9.2% of the mixed infection. The density of three species was light reduced. Six months after treatment, in Hon Dat where the treatment was combined with IEC, the infection rate was found 6.4%, and it was 13.3% in Tan Hiep where no IEC was made. Mass drug administration is thought to be a simple, safe and highly effective method of deworming that can be supported by both teachers and parents of school children. Periodical mass treatment will be more helpful if combined with IEC.