Hosehold food shortage and nutritional status of mothers and children in some communes of Quang Tri province 2003

This is a cross-sectional analysis baseline survey in 8 communes belonging to international project Viet Nam-Finance of "Quang Tri Rural Development Programme". Objectives: To assess actual situation and factors affecting the household food and nutrition security in order to recommend feasible intervention measures, which include agricultural production for improving population's dietary intakes. Methods: Subjects were selected from households, mothers and childrren. Combined quantitative-qualitative methods was applied for households. Results: Food insecurity was still experienced by the households; poor infrastructure system, health environment services, personal hygiene and care, especially in Dak Rong. LBW rates and child malnutrition prevalences of 3 forms were high. CED rate of mothers with children under five was not so high, but significantly related to the child underweight. Conclusion: LBW rates and pediatric malnutrition prevalences of 3 forms were very high in Dak Rong and the poor households found more likely to be the consequence of high CED rate of mothers, household food insecurity, poor health-environment services, personal hygiene and care (underlying fators), poor infrastructure system and education level, especially in Dak Rong (basic ones).

Intervention to improve the effective health care for rural reproductive age women

An intervention to promote health workers' ability and EIC for reproductive age women at Cam Chinh commune, Cam Lo, Quang Tri achieved some significant improvements in health care services, reproductive health care, prenatal care, and child feeding practice. Significant improvements were found on utilization of prenatal care including health adequate check-ups and sufficient vaccination for pregnant women. Improvements were also in deliveries were supported by medical professionals, the postpartum medical care, and full utilization of natal and postnatal care.

Testing and evaluation of antimalarial drug quality in Dien Bien, Quang Tri, Dak Lak and Binh Phuoc in 2004

Antimalarial drug samples were collected from different parts of the country for quality investigation in 2004. A total of 129 samples of different batches were collected at three rounds and cross-checked at local, central level and abroad. At the round one, three out of 49 collected samples were found substandard. One of 40 samples of the second round was determined counterfeit (2.5%). The re-analysis of 51 samples at NIDQC revealed two from the first round were substandard and one from the second round was counterfeit

Malaria situation and assocciated infection factors in Thanh commune and malaria comtrol measures

A study on malaria epidemiology was conducted in the Vietnam-Laos border commune of Thanh with the population of 3,264 residents. (Huong Hoa district of Quang Binh province). The malaria in this commune was unstable for long period with malaria outbreak and risk of outbreak occurred (in 1997 and 2001). The first round of the survey showed the prevalence of clinical cases of 2.16% and positive parasite rate of 4.04%. A death malaria case was reported in June 2004. The malaria situation has become stable after six month continuous application of malaria control intervention. The survey made in November 2004 showed the lower prevalence of clinical cases (1.97%) and positive parasite rate (2.19%)