Knowledge of safe sex and sexually transmitted infections among high school students, Vientiane Prefecture, Lao PDR.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent knowledge of safe sex and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can reduce the risk of STIs as well as unplanned pregnancies. OBJECTIVE: To describe the knowledge of safe sex and STIs and to identify related factors among high school students in Vientiane Prefecture, Lao PDR. METHOD: This was an analytical cross-sectional study conducted at one high school from January to February 2019. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from respondents. The questionnaires were completed by 337 respondents who were selected by stratified random sampling. The data collected were entered into and analysed using EpiData and Stata 13.0 software. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to determine the factors associated with knowledge of safe sex and STIs. RESULTS: The results showed that nearly half of the participants (49.5%) had a good knowledge of safe sex and 51.9% of the respondents had a good knowledge of STIs. Significant positive associations were shown between knowledge of safe sex by students living with other people, those who had studied family planning and had religious beliefs reflecting acceptance to using birth control. Other factors positively associated with knowledge of STIs were students being in Grade 10, and who had studied STIs including HIV/AIDS. CONCLUSION: In this study, approximately half of the participants were aware of safe sex and had knowledge of STIs. There is a need to have comprehensive sexual education, particularly emphasising family planning, STIs, and HIV/AIDS for all grades in school.

Breast Cancer messaging in Vietnam: an online media content analysis.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer incidence is increasing in Vietnam with studies indicating low levels of knowledge and awareness and late presentation. While there is a growing body of literature on challenges faced by women in accessing breast cancer services, and for delivering care, no studies have sought to analyse breast cancer messaging in the Vietnamese popular media. The aim of this study was to investigate and understand the content of messages concerning breast cancer in online Vietnamese newspapers in order to inform future health promotional content. METHODS: This study describes a mixed-methods media content analysis that counted and ranked frequencies for media content (article text, themes and images) related to breast cancer in six Vietnamese online news publications over a twelve month period. RESULTS: Media content (n = 129 articles & n = 237 images) sampled showed that although information is largely accurate, there is a marked lack of stories about Vietnamese women's personal experiences. Such stories could help bridge the gap between what information about breast cancer is presented in the Vietnamese media, and what women in Vietnam understand about breast cancer risk factors, symptoms, screening and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Given findings from other studies indicating low levels of knowledge and women with breast cancer experiencing stigma and prejudice, more nuanced and in-depth narrative-focused messaging may be required.

Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Elderly: Evidence From Chi Linh Town, Vietnam.

As Vietnam confronts with the challenge of an aging population, the importance of quality of life for elderly people becomes apparent. This article aims to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its correlates for the elderly, using a cross-sectional study design. A total of 1599 adults, aged 60 years and older, were drawn from the 2016 baseline survey of Chi Linh Health and Demographic Surveillance System (CHILILAB HDSS), which incorporated the EQ-5D, to measure HRQoL. Data were analyzed using multivariate linear regression analyses. The EQ-5D index of the elderly was found to be 0.871 (95% confidence interval = 0.862-0.880). After controlling for covariates, there were statistically significant associations between lower HRQoL and older age (≥80 years), lower education, no pension, chronic disease(s), and health insurance schemes targeting poor/near poor/priority groups. Current and future policies for improving HRQoL in old age should be extended to cover the most vulnerable groups.