Pre-/-post-analyses of a feasibility study of a peer-based club intervention among people living with type 2 diabetes in Vietnam's rural communities.

OBJECTIVES: Insufficient self-management is a significant barrier for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) to achieve glycemic control and consequently reduce the risk of acute and long-term diabetes complications, negatively affecting their quality of life and increasing their risk of diabetes-related death. This pre-post study aimed to evaluate whether a peer-based club intervention might reduce glycated hemoglobin from baseline to post-intervention and enhance self-management among people living with T2D in two rural communities in Vietnam. METHODS: A pre-post study was implemented with 222 adults with T2D residing in two rural communities in Vietnam. We used a structured questionnaire, clinical examination, and glycated hemoglobin to evaluate the possible effects of a diabetes club intervention by comparing Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), Body Mass Index (BMI), Blood Pressure (BP), and diabetes-related self-management behaviors at baseline and post-intervention. The data were analyzed using SPSS 20, applying two related sample tests (Wilcoxon and McNemar test) and a paired-sample t-test at a significance level of less than 0.05. RESULTS: The findings indicated that after implementation of the intervention, there were no significant statistical differences when comparing pre-and post-intervention levels of the primary outcome HbA1c, but some components of diabetes self-management showed statistically significant improvement. CONCLUSIONS: After the peer support intervention in a Vietnamese rural community, there was no significant reduction in the primary outcome proportion of patients having an HbA1c less than 7%, but foot care knowledge and practice had improved. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05602441.

Association between Intimate Partner Violence during Pregnancy and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Vietnam: A Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Violence against pregnant women is an increasing public health concern particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to measure the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and the risk of adverse birth outcomes. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of 1276 pregnant women in Dong Anh district, Vietnam. Women with gestational age less than 24 weeks were enrolled and interviewed. Repeated interviews were performed at 30-34 weeks gestation to assess experience of IPV during pregnancy and again 48 hours post-delivery to assess the birth outcome including birth weight and gestational age at delivery. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant association between exposure to physical violence during pregnancy and preterm birth (PTB) or low birth weight (LBW). After adjustment for age, education, occupation, body mass index (BMI), haemoglobin level, previous adverse pregnancy outcomes, the pregnant women who were exposed to physical violence during pregnancy were five times more likely to have PTB (AOR = 5.5; 95%CI: 2.1-14.1) and were nearly six times more likely to give birth to a child of LBW (AOR = 5.7; 95%CI: 2.2-14.9) as compared to those who were not exposed to physical violence. CONCLUSION: Exposure to IPV during pregnancy increases the risk of PTB and LBW. Case-finding for violence in relation to antenatal care may help protect pregnant women and improve pregnancy outcomes.