Knowledge, attitude and practice of dental health care of school children in Hanoi, 2005

Background: Tooth decay and gingivitis are common diseases in the world in general and in Vietnam in particular. They occur so early, even shortly after teething. The treatment cost for these diseases is so expensive. Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of dental health care of school children aged 12 years old in Dong Da and Thanh Tri districts of Hanoi, 2005. Subjects and method: An epidemiological, cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted in 227 school children aged 12 years old in Dong Da and Thanh Tri districts of Hanoi, from November/2005 to May/2006. Results: Among 227 participants: men were more than female (115 versus 112). 179 participants (78.9%) knew that teeth brushing after main meals was the best method of dental care. 199 (87.7%) knew unclean teeth causing dental caries. 224 (98.7%) knew that eating sweet foods without teeth brushing could lead to tooth decay. 74.8% participants agreed to brush teeth after main meals daily. 88.1% agreed to see the dentist regularly. However, only 49.79% participants brushed their teeth after main meals; 31.3% brushed their teeth after eating or drinking sweet foods. 89% did not gargle their mouth with flour water in school. Conclusion: Behavior and knowledge of dental care of school children were good, but not for practice.

Influence of air pollution to morbidity of respiratory diseases of people living in Lac Long Quan area and around Thuong Dinh industrial zone

Background: The effect of air pollution on human health has been paying attentions by researchers in recent years. Exposing air pollutants increases risk for respiratory tract and heart diseases. Objective: 1. To evaluate the situation of air pollution in Thuong Dinh industrial zone and Lac Long Quan area. 2. To compare the respiratory tract morbidity rate which is asscociated with air pollution in residents living in these two areas. Subjects and method: A cross-sectional, comparative study on air pollution indicators and respiratory tract morbidity rate was conducted in 3.963 residents living in Lac Long Quan area and the surroundings of Thuong Dinh industrial zone. Results and Conclusion: The dust pollution rate in Thuong Dinh was as 3-3.5 times high as in Lac Long Quan. Both areas had microorganic pollution. The average concentrations of Pb, As, NO2, Co, SO2, O3 in two seasons were lower than permitted standards, but these concentrations in Thuong Dinh were higher than in Lac Long Quan. There is a significant difference in some respiratory diseases between these two areas. People living in Thuong Dinh industrial zone had a double risk of getting some chronic respiratory diseasess in comparison with those in Lac Long Quan: Rhinitis (OR=1.65; CI95%: 1.3-2.04), bronchitis (OR=1.39; CI95%: 1.04-1.85), amygdalitis (OR=2.14; CI95%: 1.18-3.91), pneumonia (OR=2.53; CI95%: 1.31-4.96). Symptoms of COPD of people in Thuong Dinh were also higher than that in Lac Long Quan: cough (OR=1.87; CI95%: 1.64-3.91); sputum (OR=1.63; CI95%: 1.23-2.17); stuff-up nose (\ufffd?1.3; CI95%: 1.11-1.56); and runny nose (OR=1.91; CI95%: 1.58-2.32).

Some remarks on the effectiveness of microcredit program in children malnutrition control and prevention in communes of Soc Son district, Ha Noi

Background: Soc Son is mountainous, poorest district of Ha Noi, the rate of malnourished children was highest level (28,2% in 2003). Objectives: Description and assessment on the effectiveness of microcredit program for developing household economy and the impact of microcredit program on care for pregnant women, children and nutrition situation for children in 7 communes of Soc Son district in 3 years (2003-2006). Subjects and method: 167 poor households with malnourished child/children or pregnant women with low weight gain which were provided loans in 7 communes of Soc Son district; 169 children were born after 1/6/2001 and their mother in 167 households above. Method: cross-sectional descriptive method combine comparative analysis, using interview ballot, growth chart of National Institute of nutrition. Data processing by software EPI 6.0 and SPSS/PC 12.0. Results: The microcredit program had helped 95,0% households improve their economy remarkably, 54,5% of the households had improved income and food security. These improvements had influenced positively on practice of maternal and child care and malnutrition situation among children under 5 years old. The rate of pregnant women taking sufficient rest before birth delivery and having appropriate workload during pregnancy increased by 29,7%. Low-birth-weight newborns (<2,500 gram) had decreased by 11,5%. The rate of children with more than 3 complementary meals had increased by 8,5%. Malnutrition prevalence of children under 5 years old in 7 communes had decreased by 6,9%. Conclusion: The program has contributed to lower malnutrition prevalence of children under 5 years old in Soc Son district by 6,6%.

Role of occupational factor in drug allergy in pharmaceutical workers

Across descriptive sectional study on 489 workers and pharmacists in the pharmaceutical factories No1 and No2 in Hµ Néi from July to August 1997 has shown that the rate of drug allergy in workers and pharmacists was very high (33.9%). The occupational factors influenced significant on the allergy to Beta-lactamin. The rate of drug allergy was direct proportional with ages and exposure duration. In addition to, the family factors also influenced the drug allergy.

Resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in hospital health workers

Study on 589 nurses and midwives who have been working at least 2 years at hospitals in Hanoi, they were interviewed about the time of occupational contact to antibiotics, the allergic history with beta-lactam antibiotics. All participants were done skin prick test with benzyl penicillin G and ampicillin. Total serum IgE and reaction of mastocyte transform in the subjects who had allergic history to beta-lactam antibiotic. Results showed that the allergic prevalence to beta-lactam antibiotics is very high (9.3%). The occupational factors have clearly affected to the allergy including proportion of occupation ages, family allergic history, and persons who used to suffer from the diseases of allergy and immunology have the allergic risk to beta-lactam antibiotics.

Total serum IgE in health staff with allergic history to beta-lactam antibiotics

Study to determine concentration of total serum IgE of 43 health staff with allergy with beta-lactam antibiotics, who are working at hospitals in Hanoi, and control group include 42 healthy persons without any allergic disease or allergic history. Result showed that the average concentration of total serum IgE in the group of health staffs with allergic history to beta-lactam antibiotics is high (X=1968.860 ng/ml). It is higher than 8 times comparing with the group of healthy persons (242.310 ng/ml).

Some epidemiological characteristics of allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics in pharmaceutical industrial workers and hospital staffs

The study was carried out on 490 workers from 3 pharmaceutical enterprises, and 589 hospital staffs (nurses, pharmacist) from hospitals in Hanoi. Results shown that the prevalence of allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics in pharmaceutical workers and hospital staffs is very high and clearly affected by occupational factors. This issue requires the functioning agencies having solutions of early detection, management and prevention for labor force working in pharmaceutical and health branch.