Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the health sector from 1991 - 2007

This paper has highlighted some key findings as follows: from 1991 - June 2007, there are 258 projects/programs in the health sector with the total amount of 1.543,07 million USD, in which the Ministry of Health directly manages 137 projects with a total amount of 1.114.93 million USD, accounting for 72.4% of the total ODA for the health sector. The grant aid funding accounts for 57%, loan accounts for 25.6% and mix aid modality account for 17.6%. ODA from bilateral agencies is 43%, from international banks account for 37% and from UN agencies is 20%. Grant aid is declining while the loan is on the rise. As compared with the government budget, ODA accounts for 12.09% -27.78% of government budget in different periods. Priority was given to preventive medicine areas rather than treatment areas. (31.8% compared with 24.5%), in which ODA for HIV/AIDS control is 27.8% in the total amount of ODA for preventive medicine. Some important area has not received anything due to the attention of donors, such as environmental health, tropical diseases control, non communicable diseases. ODA allocation is also not adequate in terms of regional distribution. Disadvantage areas received less than other regions.

Prevalence and risk factors of the limitations in daily activities in the elderly

Background: Limitation of daily activities is the obstacle that prevents the elderly from achieving their desires. Objective: Aim to discover the prevalence and risk factors of the limitation in daily activities in the elderly. Subject and methods: This cross - sectional study was conducted in 4 provinces: Thai Nguyen, Ha Tay, Hue and Can Tho during June to December 2006 among 2.644 people at the age of 60 and above. Results: The overall prevalence of limitation of the elderly is 5.6%, and 4.3% is totally dependent and 1.3% is partly dependent. This proportion increases with age. It happens more in urban areas as opposed to rural and mountainous areas. Those living with their spouse have lower proportion of limitations. Can Tho and Ha Tay has the higher proportion of limitation than Hue and Thai Nguyen. Factors related to these limitations are aging (OR = 1.08; 1.06-1.10), not working at the current time (OR = 0.11; 0.05-0.28), ethnicity (OR = 2.25; 1.45-3.49), lack of physical exercise (OR = 2.24, 1.75-3.85), brain damage (OR = 15.18; 9.47-24.35), dementia (OR = 2.39; 1.62-3.54) and loss of vision (OR =1.32; 1.05-1.65). Conclusion: The limitation in daily activities tremendously affects the quality of life for the elderly. Age, working status, race, physical activity, accident of cerebral vessels, dementia and vision loss are statistic significant related factors for the limitation in daily activities of the elderly

Determination of household direct costs in treatment of Shigellosis in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province

Background: Shigella-induced diarrhea has been considered a major health problem leading to high morbidity and mortality. This disease can lead to dire consequences; however, the true burden of the disease, including the costs and sequalae associated with shigellosis is not yet known. Objectives: (1) To describe the health seeking behavior and the way of payment of population when suffering Shigella; (2) To identify and analyze the direct household costs associated with the treatment of diarrhea due to Shigella. Subjects and method: 290 patients of all ages with positive Shigella diarrhea admitted to public health facilities in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa province in the period from August 2002 to January 2004 were included in the study. The subjects were divided into three age groups, the first 0-5, second 5-18 and the last one was over 18 years old. Patients and their relatives were interviewed at three stages - day 7, day 14 and day 90 - to obtain all the required information. Results: 134 of 290 patients (47%) paid for using the other health care services before admission to the study\u2019s facilities. The average direct cost per episode for the patients at group aged 0-5 was 129,000 VND, group aged 6-18 was 59,267 VND and over 18 years old was 173,531 VND; it was 131.960 VND for three groups. Comparison with the average household expenditure for health care, it was higher in the poorer group and it was lower three times than the richest group. The average direct medical cost per episode was higher the average direct non-medical cost per episode for all groups. Conclusions: The average direct cost per episode of Shigellosis treatment was rather high especially the average direct cost for the treatment at the health facility. It was also high compared with the average expenditure for health per capita so that it becomes large economic burden for households.

Gender issues in health care needs and utilization of curative care at some localities

A household sampling survey at 120 communes, 20 districts, 4 provinces with the sample size 4200 households was conducted by well trained school teachers using questionnaire aimed at frequency of illness and health care seeking behavior. Disease pattern was estimated by analysis of record book at CHCs. The authors showed that: Health care need of female is higher than in male. Frequency of illness episode in female population is higher 1.1 to 1.6 times in comparison with male population, it is more obvious at reproductive age (up to 2 times). Females suffered from urogenital diseases 3 times often than males. Whereas respiratory, gastrointestinal, OLD and cardiovascular diseases were 1.3 to 1.7 times higher in male group. Women has a tendency of using lower quality services such as self medication (38.7% vs. 25.2%) and using hospital and ICPs less than male (18.1% vs. 23.2%). The data showed that female used CHCs more than male (14.5% vs. 10%).

Situation of recording the birth date by lunar calendar in 60-month or less children in Thanh Hãa province

The month age is a very important index in the health care for children. There are many factors affect to the information of children’s birthday. A common main factor is the confusion of lunar with solar calendar. The data of birth date collected from 547 children in Thanh Hãa province showed that a significant number of children have the birth date that were recorded by lunar calendar, result in errors in determining their age of month. The authors have proposed computer software that could change automatically the lunar day to the solar day.

The situation of children's health care at two commune health stations in Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province

A study on 2 pilot communes of Hoa Lu district, Ninh Binh province showed that: the morbidity rate was 13,9% among children under 5 years old within 2 weeks while this rate among children over 5 years old was only 3%. Among children suffering the disease, the children with acute respiratory tract infection was 83,3%; diarrhea 7,5%, rate of lack of toilets with proper hygiene was 62% of households. 9% children with disease had treated at communal health stations, while 48% of them received private health services. The health education and communication was still limited.