Estimating the health impacts of sugar-sweetened beverage tax for informing policy decisions about the obesity burden in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been adopted in more than 40 countries but remained under discussion in Vietnam. This study aimed to estimate the health impacts of different SSBs tax plans currently under discussion to provide an evidence base to inform decision-making about a SSBs tax policy in Vietnam. METHOD & FINDINGS: Five tax scenarios were modelled, representing three levels of price increase: 5%, 11% and 19-20%. Scenarios of the highest price increase were assessed across three different tax designs: ad valorem, volume-based specific tax & sugar-based specific tax. We modelled SSBs consumption in each tax scenario; how this reduction in consumption translates to a reduction in total energy intake and how this relationship in turn translates to an average change in body weight and obesity status among adults by applying the calorie-to weight conversion factor. Changes in type 2 diabetes burden were then calculated based on the change in average BMI of the modelled cohort. A Monte Carlo simulation approach was applied on the conversion factor of weight change and diabetes risk reduction for the sensitivity analysis. We found that the taxation that involved a 5% price increase gave relatively small impacts while increasing SSBs' price up to 20% appeared to impact substantially on overweight and obesity rates (reduction of 12.7% and 12.4% respectively) saving 27 million USD for direct medical cost. The greatest reduction was observed for overweight and obesity class I. The decline in overweight and obesity rates was slightly higher for women than men. CONCLUSION: This study supports the SSB tax policy in pursuit of public health benefits, especially where the tax increase involves around a 20% price increase. The health benefit and revenue gains were evident across all three tax designs with the specific tax based on sugar density achieving greatest effects.

Newborn Survival Case Study in Rwanda - Bottleneck Analysis and Projections in Key Maternal and Child Mortality Rates Using Lives Saved Tool (LiST).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The Newborn Survival Case study in Rwanda provides an analysis of the newborn health and survival situation in the country. It reviews evidence-based interventions and coverage levels already implemented in the country; identifies key issues and bottlenecks in service delivery and uptake of services by community/beneficiaries, and provides key recommendations aimed at faster reduction in newborn mortality rate. METHODS: This study utilized mixed method research including qualitative and quantitative analyses of various maternal and newborn health programs implemented in the country. This included interviewing key stakeholders at each level, field visits and also interviewing beneficiaries for assessment of uptake of services. Monitoring systems such as Health Management Information Systems (HMIS), maternal and newborn death audits were reviewed and data analyzed to aid these analyses. RESULTS: Policies, protocols, various guidelines and tools for monitoring are already in place however, implementation of these remains a challenge e.g. infection control practices to reduce deaths due to sepsis. Although existing staff are quite knowledgeable and are highly motivated, however, shortage of health personnel especially doctors in an issue. New facilities are being operationalized e.g. at Gisenyi, however, the existing facilities needs expansion. CONCLUSION AND GLOBAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS: It is essential to implement high impact evidence based interventions but coverage levels need to be significantly high in order to achieve higher reduction in newborn mortality rate. Equity approach should be considered in planning so that the services are better implemented and the poor and needy can get the benefits of public health programs.

A study on malarial infection in HIV-infected individuals.

To find out whether malaria occurred at an increased frequency in HIV-infected individuals and to evaluate the clinical course and risk factors for malarial infection in HIV, a prospective study was carried out in a tertiary care centre from June, 1999 to December, 2000 among HIV-infected individuals with HIV-uninfected Individuals taken as control. In this study, out of 250 individuals, 152 were HIV-infected and the remaining were HIV-negative. The odd's ratio (OR) for the occurrence of malaria in the HIV-infected population compared with the HIV-uninfected population was 2.5 (95% confidence interval: 1.01, 6.4; p < 0.02). The prevalence of malaria in HIV infection was 20.4%. The same was 8.3% in asymptomatic stage, and 22.6% and 21.3% in the early and late symptomatic stages of HIV disease respectively. Among those who came for follow-up 44.4% of the HIV-infected individuals had recurrence of malarial infection. Contrary to what was thought before, malaria occurred at an increased frequency in HIV cases. The occurrence of malaria increased in the symptomatic stages of HIV disease compared to the asymptomatic stage. Recurrence was high in the HIV-infected population.