Assessment of child health care services in Bac Giang and Ha Nam provinces

Background: The strategy of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) was developed as an approach/tool for reducing the childhood mortality in developing countries. IMCI was approved by the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam and has been implemented in more than 3500 communal health centers nationwide. Aims: 1) To discover the quality of health care services for children under-5 and the situation of IMCI in health facilities. 2) To propose solutions to improve the quality of health care services for children. Materials and method: The cross-sectional study using quantitative and qualitative approaches conducted 58 direct observations in health workers, interviewed 58 caretakers, comprehensively interviewed 20 local leaders and technical staffs, facilitated 12 focal group discussions and reviewed 120 records of 12 commune health centers. Results: IMCI was considered by all of the participants as a comprehensive approach to improving the quality of childhood health care at first-level health facilities. IMCI contributed towards improved case management skills of health workers, improved the supply of essential drugs and supplies for child health care. As a result, the quality of health services for children under-5 has been promoted (93% of illness children were correctly assessed and classified, 84.6% of them were correctly treated and counseled). Health workers in Ly Nhan district, Ha Nam province adhered to 8.4+/-1.5 out of 10 essential steps of comprehensive child health care. Contrarily, this indicator was low in the districts of Bac Giang province (4.8+/-1.5), not much different to untrained IMCI health workers. Conclusion: IMCI is a useful strategy to improving the quality of child health care. But there were some difficulties that affected the implementation of this strategy in first-level health facilities.

Knowledge, attitude and practice towards cervical cancer and its preventive measures among parents of young adolescent girls in Tuliem district, Hanoi city and Cuchi district, Ho Chi Minh city

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the leading cancers in women worldwide.\r\n', u'Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice towards cervical cancer and its preventive measures among the parents of young adolescent girls. \r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The cross-sectional survey was conducted in Tuliem District, Hanoi and Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh city. By employing a structured interview there have been 218 fathers/mothers of young adolescent girls at secondary school age (11to14 years old) participated in the survey. \r\n', u"Results: There was a limitation in the respondents' understanding about cervical cancer. Although 83% parents have been aware of cervical cancer and 89% considered it as a fatal disease, nearly a half of them does not know any symptoms of the disease. Similarly, inadequate knowledge on causes and risk factors of the disease has been common among respondents. Only 25% of parents are aware of HPV and few knew about the transmission route of this virus. HPV vaccines are still very new for parents. Only 29.8% of interviewees have heard about HPV vaccines. However, 74.3% parents have expressed a wish to have their daughters vaccinated, once HPV vaccines are introduced in Vietnam. \r\n", u'Conclusions: Knowledge, attitude and practice towards cervical cancer among parents of young adolescent girls in these district were quite limited\r\n', u'\r\n', u'

Capacity for microbiological diagnosis the etiology of communicable disease at provincial centers for preventive medicine

Background: Like other countries in the world, Vietnam has seen the appearance of many infectious diseases such as SARS, influenza A/H1N1. Therefore, monitoring and quick response to infectious diseases, increasingly require enhancing the capacity of test systems. \r\n', u'Objectives: To determine the capacity for microbiological diagnosis and etiology of communicable diseases at the provincial centers for preventive medicine.\r\n', u'Subjects and methods: With the application of the cross-sectional approach, the study was conducted on microbiology diagnostic capacity for communicable diseases surveillance and response system in 55 Provincial Preventive Medicine Centers (PPMCs)\r\n', u'Results: Laboratory testing and confirmation (isolation and bio-chemical tests, gram stain) are only available for common nitrobacteria such as Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholera, Shigella, Salmonella, and some of the respiratory bacteria as streptococcus, meningococcus, etc... in most PPMCs. ELISA/MACELISA technique for detecting virus pathogen such as Arbo viruses (Dengue, Japanese B encephalitis) and Hepatitis B, HIV is also a focus of these PPMCs. However, for diseases caused by other viruses like Polio, Rota, measles, influenza, PPMCs have only the ability to collect specimens. \r\n', u'Conclusions: Most of the cases reported in the surveillance reports are based on clinical signs, only. Case confirmation was done by hospital/regional or national laboratory. \r\n', u'\r\n', u'

Assessment of knowledge and practices related to biosafety of researchers in microbiological laboratories of provincial centers for preventive medicine

Background: In recent years, due to the outbreak of new infectious diseases, re-emerging diseases and bio-terrorist threats, the biological safety for laboratories is essential\r\n', u'Objectives: to evaluate knowledge and practices related to biosafety of researchers in microbiological laboratories\r\n', u'Subjects and method: The study was carried out in the period 2006-2007. Questionnaires and checklists were used for the direct interview the knowledge and observe the practices related to biological safety of 97 laboratory technicians from microbiology laboratories of 22 provincial centers for preventive medicine, which represent for all areas in Vietnam.\r\n', u'Results: The percentage of technicians defines correctly the hazardous groups of some common pathogens are 8.2-33%. The percentage of technicians define correctly the transmission routes of Bacillus anthracis, Staphylococus, Streptococcus are 1%, 15% and 19.6%, respectively. The opinion that thay can wear the laboratory blouse out of laboratories, bring personal belongings into the laboratory and pipeting by mouth are 21.6%, 50.5% and 23.7%, respectively. Regarding laboratory practices: The percentage of technicians does not use gloves is 37.8%; pipeting by mouth: 22.6%. Over 40% technicians do not disinfect working area or washing hands with alcohol after experiments\r\n', u'Conclusion: The results of this study are a basis for planning programs to train, supervise and improve the operational quality of the microbiological laboratory of the provincial preventive health care centers.\r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'