Rural Areas Of Vietnam Research Articles

Monitoring of Antibiotic Residues in Aquatic Products in Urban and Rural Areas of Vietnam.

Antibiotic residues in aquatic products in Vietnam were investigated. A total of 511 fish and shrimp samples were collected from markets in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Thai Binh (TB), and Nha Trang (NT) from July 2013 to October 2015. The samples were extracted with 2% formic acid in acetonitrile and washed with dispersive C18 sorbent. Thirty-two antibiotics were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Of the 362 samples from HCMC, antibiotic residues were found in 53 samples. Enrofloxacin was commonly detected, at a rate of 10.8%. In contrast, samples from TB and NT were less contaminated: only 1 of 118 analyzed samples showed residues in TB and only 1 of 31 showed residues in NT. These differences were attributed to the local manufacturing/distribution systems. To understand the current status of antibiotic use and prevent adverse effects that may be caused by their overuse, continual monitoring is required.

Low-Carbon Watershed Management: Potential of Greenhouse Gas Reductions from Wastewater Treatment in Rural Vietnam.

Currently in many cities and rural areas of Vietnam, wastewater is discharged to the environment without any treatment, which emits considerable amount of greenhouse gas (GHG), particularly methane. In this study, four GHG emission scenarios were examined, as well as the baseline scenario, in order to verify the potential of GHG reduction from domestic wastewater with adequate treatment facilities. The ArcGIS and ArcHydro tools were employed to visualize and analyze GHG emissions resulting from discharge of untreated wastewater, in rural areas of Vu Gia Thu Bon river basin, Vietnam. By applying the current IPCC guidelines for GHG emissions, we found that a reduction of GHG emissions can be achieved through treatment of domestic wastewater in the studied area. Compared with baseline scenario, a maximum 16% of total GHG emissions can be reduced, in which 30% of households existing latrines are substituted by Japanese Johkasou technology and other 20% of domestic wastewater is treated by conventional activated sludge.

Social Capital in Rural Areas of Vietnam and Its Impact on Households’ Life Satisfaction

Using data of the Vietnam Access to Resources Household Survey 2014, with the participation of 3,648 households in rural areas of 12 provinces in Vietnam and two models: OLS regression and ordered logit, this paper studied the determinants of social capital in the rural area of Vietnam. Moreover, the paper also analyzed the impact of social capital on life satisfaction and risk coping strategies. Results of regression models confirmed that social capital is the essential ingredient for the life satisfaction of the community and at the same time, social capital also has notable impacts on households’ post-risk recovery. In the relationship with the life satisfaction, all the variables representing social capital, except for general trust, positively affected the growth of life satisfaction of households, aside from physical factors such as income. Therefore, social capital, along with economic growth, was the biggest factor that can help households increase their life satisfaction.

Widespread dissemination of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing, multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli in livestock and fishery products in Vietnam

Widespread dissemination of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria is a threat to public health. Since livestock products are possible reservoirs of ESBL-producing bacteria, food-borne dissemination of ESBL-producing bacteria and the characteristics of such organisms in food products should be assessed to evaluate potential sources of contamination. A total of 253 food samples from poultry, pork, shrimp, and fish were collected from local markets in a rural area of Vietnam from 2013 to 2014. ESBL-producing Escherichia coli were isolated from these samples, and their ESBL genotypes, phylogenetic groups, and antibiotic resistance profiles were assessed. Overall, a high percentage (68.4 %) of the food samples was contaminated with ESBL-producing E. coli, and samples from livestock and fishery products showed similar levels of contamination. The ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from the food samples harbored genes of the CTX-M-1, CTX-M-9, and TEM groups. Analysis of the antibiotic resistance profiles of the ESBL-producing E. coli isolates from the food samples showed a high degree of multidrug resistance. The prevalence of extensively multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing E. coli that were resistant to at least five antibiotic drug classes in poultry, pork, shrimp, and fish samples, was 92.1, 69, 56.5, and 62.5 %, respectively. The results of this study confirmed the widespread dissemination of ESBL-producing E. coli in both livestock and fishery products from a rural area in Vietnam. The high prevalence of extensively multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing E. coli in food products highlights the importance of continuous monitoring of food products for the presence of these bacteria, particularly in underdeveloped countries.

Motivation or demotivation of health workers providing maternal health services in rural areas in Vietnam: findings from a mixed-methods study.

BackgroundMotivation is an important driver for health professionals to maintain their professional competencies, continue in the workforce and make a positive contribution to their workplace. While there is some research about the motivation of health workers in low- to middle-income countries, maternal morbidity and mortality remains high and this can be lowered by improving the quality of maternal health services and the training and maintenance of the skills of maternal health workers. This study examines the impact of motivation on maintenance of professional competence among maternal health workers in Vietnam using mixed methods.MethodsThe study consisted of a survey using a self-administered questionnaire of 240 health workers in five districts across two Vietnamese provinces and in-depth interviews with 43 health workers and health managers at the commune, district and provincial level to explore external factors that influenced motivation. The questionnaire includes a 23-item motivation instrument based on the Kenyan health context, modified for Vietnamese language and culture.ResultsThe 240 responses represented an estimated 95% of the target sample. Multivariate analysis showed that three factors contributed to the motivation of health workers: access to training (β = −0.14, P = 0.03), ability to perform key tasks (β = 0.22, P = 0.001) and shift schedule (β = −0.13, P = 0.05). Motivation was higher in health workers self-identifying as competent or who were enabled to provide more maternal care services. Motivation was lower in those who worked more frequent night shifts and those who had received training in the last 12 months. The interviews identified that the latter was because they felt the training was irrelevant to them, and in some cases, they do not have the opportunity to practice their learnt skills. The qualitative data also showed other factors relating to service context and organisational management practices contributed to motivation.ConclusionsThe study demonstrates the importance of understanding the motivations of health workers and the factors that contribute to this and may contribute to more effective management of the health workforce in low- and middle-income countries.

Feasibility for use of digested slurry by the pouring method in paddy fields of Southern Vietnam

In this study, we evaluated the feasibility for the use of digested slurry from livestock manure (hereafter, slurry) in paddy fields through field experiments conducted in Southern Vietnam. The pouring method for slurry was used, and a vacuum truck was used for transportation and pouring of the slurry. A prototype slurry tanker was manufactured for transportation and application of slurry, because vacuum trucks are rarely available in rural areas of Vietnam. For evaluation of feasibility, costs and labor for application of slurry and rice production were examined and compared with conventional cultivation methods using chemical fertilizers. As the results, rice production with the use of slurry was 485 g m−2, which is within the range of on-site conventional cultivation, so slurry may be a good substitute for chemical fertilizers in rice production. Costs for slurry fertilization with a prototype slurry tanker and a vacuum truck were estimated at 0.13 USD m−2 and 0.10 USD m−2, respectively. These costs were higher than for conventional cultivation of 0.06 USD m−2 under the present conditions with T-N concentrations of approximately 400 mg L−1 in the slurry. However, we clarified that the cost for slurry fertilization can be lower than conventional cultivation when the concentrations of nitrogen in slurry increase from 400 to 2000 mg L−1. These results show that an increase in nitrogen concentrations in slurry make slurry fertilization feasible if the amounts of water for washing livestock sheds that enter into the biogas digesters are reduced.

Critical illness polyneuropathy and myopathy in a rural area in Vietnam

IntroductionCritical illness polyneuropathy, myopathy and polyneuromyopathy, grouped under the term CIP/CIM, share several risk factors and are associated with debilitating outcomes. ObjectiveTo assess the incidence and distribution of CIP/CIM subtypes and evaluate the risk factors and outcomes of CIP/CIM in a rural hospital in Vietnam. MethodOne hundred and thirty three critically ill patients treated more than ten days in the ICU were enrolled. The Medical Research Council (MRC) sum scores and the Overall Neuropathy Limitations Scale (ONLS) score were calculated and risk factors were monitored. Extensive electrodiagnostic investigations were performed to confirm the diagnosis of CIP/CIM. ResultsCIP/CIM was diagnosed in 73 (55%) patients. The distribution of polyneuropathy, myopathy and polyneuromyopathy was 35 (48%), 16 (22%) and 22 (30%), respectively. Independent risk factors included systemic inflammatory response syndrome, shock, and electrolyte disturbances. Compared to patients without CIP/CIM, patients with CIP/CIM experienced a mortality rate of 49% vs. 30%, a length of stay in ICU of 20.3days vs. 14.3days, an ONLS score at day thirty of 4.2 vs. 1.3 and at day ninety of 2.7 vs. 1.8. ConclusionThe study revealed that the diagnosis of CIP/CIM was associated with significantly poorer outcomes in comparison to controls.

Factors associated with four or more antenatal care services among pregnant women: a cross-sectional survey in eight South Central Coast provinces of Vietnam.

BackgroundIn Vietnam, four or more antenatal care (ANC4+) visits/services among pregnant women have not been officially reported in the health system. Moreover, the factors associated with the use of ANC4+ services have not been studied in previous studies. In this study, we conducted an exploratory analysis to identify the rate of utilization of ANC4+ services and factors associated with use of ANC4+ services among pregnant women in rural areas of Vietnam.MethodsThe study was conducted in eight provinces in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam between August 2013 and May 2014. A total of 907 women, who delivered in the past 1 year, participated in the study. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to examine the association between all potential factors and utilization of ANC4+ services.ResultsThe rate of utilization of ANC4+ services by women in eight South Central Coast provinces was 53.9%. Factors negatively associated with using ANC4+ services were belonging to ethnic minority groups having lower education, doing informal works, having lower income, having lower knowledge on ANC4+ services, and receiving no financial support from the husband. In particular, financial support from the husband was considered important in improving the use of ANC4+ services by women in rural areas.ConclusionThe study asserted an inadequacy for ANC4+ utilization and can contribute to missed opportunities to achieve better maternal outcomes for women in rural areas of Vietnam. The necessity of introducing ANC4+ services in the national guidelines on maternal health care should be disseminated to health policy-makers. Strategies to increase ANC4+ utilization should focus on knowledge improvement and on poor, low-income, and ethnic minority women.

Impact of Credit on Poor Household's Income: Evidence from Rural Areas of Vietnam

This study focuses on clarifying the relationship between credit and poor household’s incomes in rural area of Vietnam. In this investigation we applied the combined Difference and Difference (DID) method and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) to estimate the panel data. Two data sets such as Vietnam Living Standard Survey (VLSS) of 2010 and 2012 with the sample size of 244 poor families in rural area of Vietnam used to test our model. Results of experimental study showed that credit has helped income of poor household to increase by 30% as compared to the average income of households. Formal credit has an important role when compared with informal credits that formal credit will help to increase income of the poor householder by double. In addition, the study also found positive effect on education, gender, ethnicity, region, the proportion of non-agricultural income as well. There are some negative impact on health and household size of the poor householders.

Teaching business skills to women

Purpose – There is currently a debate between NGOs and academia on the effectiveness of training microcredit recipients. One side suggests that merely supplying credit will stimulate entrepreneurial business. The other side proposes that training microcredit recipients in business skills will improve business performance and probably have other important effects. This study was undertaken with the cooperation Vietnam Women’s Union and PeaceTrees Vietnam. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of business training programmes for women microcredit recipients in rural areas of Vietnam. Design/methodology/approach – Using a questionnaire administered to 120 women business owners in several communes in Quang Tri Province, data were collected in 2012 on their business training programmes, perceptions of their business performance, motivation, factors for success, and several other indicators. Findings – The findings suggest that business training can improve microenterprise performance and has a number of other positive results, such as increasing motivation, success, and perceptions of entrepreneurs. Research limitations/implications – The research is limited by the nature of the sample and sample size. Future research should focus on women entrepreneurs in other parts of Vietnam, other developing countries, and on male entrepreneurs, to help understand differences between regions, countries, and gender. Originality/value – This paper provides empirical evidence to support the argument that business training is effective in improving the performance of microenterprises.

Demographics and Saving Behavior of Households in Rural Areas of Vietnam: An Empirical Analysis

This paper studies the saving behavior of rural households in Vietnam from two aspects: volume of savings and methods of saving. Two econometric models are conducted, the first one is a panel data model, used to examine the determinants of household saving; and the second one is a multinomial logit model used to investigate how a household chooses the way to save. Both models are based on the life cycle theory of saving and the permanent income hypothesis. We find that the household head’s age, education and gender are closely related to their saving behavior. And the impact of these variables takes different patterns between the two models. The results are useful for further research in forecasting household savings as well as in micro finance to find a better way of serving people who live in rural areas.

Describing the primary care system capacity for the prevention and management of non‐communicable diseases in rural Vietnam

The primary care system in Vietnam has been shown to play a crucial role in disease prevention and health promotion. This study described the primary care system in a selected rural area in Vietnam in terms of its capacity for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The study was conducted in 2011 in Dong Hy district, Thai Nguyen province-a rural community located in northern Vietnam. Mixed methods were used, including quantitative and qualitative and literature review approaches, to collect data on the current status of the six building blocks of the primary care system in Dong Hy district. Selected health workers and stakeholders in the selected healthcare facilities were surveyed. A description of Dong Hy district's primary care capacity for NCD prevention and control is reported. (i) Service delivery: The current practice in NCD prevention and treatment is mainly based on a single risk factor rather than a combination of cardiovascular disease risks. (ii) Governance: At the primary care level, multi-sectoral collaborations are limited, and there is insufficient integration of NCD preventive activities. (iii) Financing: A national budget for NCD prevention and control is lacking. The cost of treatment and medicines is high, whereas the health insurance scheme limits the list of available medicines and the reimbursement ceiling level. Health workers have low remuneration despite their important roles in NCD prevention. (iv) Human resources: The quantity and quality of health staff working at the primary care level, especially those in preventive medicine, are insufficient. (v) Information and research: The health information system in the district is weak, and there is no specific information system for collecting population-based NCD data. (vi) Medical products and technology: Not all essential equipment and medicines recommended by the WHO are always available at the commune health centre. The capacity of the primary care system in Vietnam is still inadequate to serve the NCD-related health needs of the population. There is an urgent need to improve the primary care capacity for NCD prevention and management in Vietnam.

Interactions among alcohol dependence, perinatal common mental disorders and violence in couples in rural Vietnam: a cross-sectional study using structural equation modeling

BackgroundThere is increasing recognition that perinatal common mental disorders (PCMDs) are prevalent in women in low and lower-middle income countries and emerging evidence that PCMDs and alcohol abuse occur in men in these settings. Domestic violence is associated with PCMDs in both women and men. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships among PCMDs, alcohol abuse and domestic violence in couples in a rural, low-income setting.MethodsA cross-sectional, population-based study was undertaken in randomly selected communes in Ha Nam and Hanoi, Vietnam. All women in the selected study sites who were at least 28 weeks pregnant or were mothers of 4 – 6 week old babies in the recruitment period were eligible. The husbands of the women who consented to join the study were also invited to participate. Data sources were study-specific questions and standardised measures: PCMDs were assessed by psychiatrist-administered Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM IV disorders, and alcohol dependence (AD) by the CAGE questionnaire (cut-off of ≥ 2). Structural Equation Modeling was used to test direct, indirect and mutual relationships simultaneously in the hypothesised model.ResultsIn total 364/392 (93%) eligible women agreed to participate. Of these, 360 were married, and 230 (64%) of their husbands also participated to yield a sample of 230 couples for analyses. Overall, in 7.4% (95% CI: 4.6-11.6) of couples both wife and husband were diagnosed with a PCMD; and 41.2% (95% CI: 35.1-47.8) of couples at least one member had a PCMD. Comorbid PCMD and AD were observed in 6.9% (95% CI: 4.3-11.0) of men, but did not occur in women. After controlling for other psychosocial risk factors comorbid PCMD and AD in husbands increased by 4.7 times the probability of PCMDS in their wives via intimate partner violence. PCMDS in wives did not increase the probability of PCMDS or AD in husbands.ConclusionsThese data provide evidence that comorbid PCMD and AD in husbands have a significant adverse effect on the mental health of their wives in rural areas of Vietnam. This indicates that strategies to prevent and treat PCMDs in women will be more effective if paired with initiatives to reduce alcohol dependence and violent behaviours in men.

Study of the Effect of Activities by Community Organizations: Effect of AIIKU-HAN Activities on Pregnant Women in Rural Areas of Vietnam

Study of the Effect of Activities by Community Organizations: Effect of AIIKU-HAN Activities on Pregnant Women in Rural Areas of Vietnam

Actions for Sustainable Policy of Poverty Alleviation in the Informal and Non-Agricultural Sector in Rural Areas in Vietnam

The fruit of fast poverty alleviation is considered Vietnam’s outstanding achievement in the economic innovation period, although the overall rate estimated at 10.6% in 2010 is still high. Poverty in rural areas, especially in the informal and non-agricultural sector, is several times higher than it is in cities. The fact that previous poverty reduction programs hardly concentrated on the poor community working in this sector has influenced policy with regard to the aspects of economy, social justice and the benefits of the policy enjoyed by the inhabitants. To reduce poverty sustainably in the coming years, the Government needs to approach the problem from another angle which focuses on the target object, the poor in the informal and non-agricultural sector in the countryside.

Equitability in Access to Rural Public Services in Vietnam: An Outlook from the Red River Delta

In the transition to a market oriented economy, rural public services in Vietnam are moving towards decentralization. public service users now have to pay for service fees, instead of an existing provision where the services were provided at no cost. This paper attempts to answer the questions of how people in rural areas in Vietnam receive services provided by government institutions with respect to their contributions to the government budget, and, how equitability in benefiting rural public services in different groups of people is explored. This will be done by looking closer at basic public services (i.e., education and healthcare) in the Red River Delta, a dynamic and prioritized economic region in Northern Vietnam. It is considered an area with well-equipped public services compared to other rural areas in Vietnam. The empirical findings from the public services in the Red River Delta are good policy implications for those in other rural areas in Vietnam.Key words: Rural public services; Accessibility; Equity; Red River Delta; Vietnam

The provision of sexual and reproductive health education to children in a remote mountainous commune in rural Vietnam: an exploratory study of parents' views

The purpose of this study was to explore the expectations of parents in a remote mountainous commune in Vietnam about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education for their children. Separate in-depth interviews were conducted with 34 parents of eight-year-old children and key informants including a principal, a teacher and staff of the Youth Union. All parents perceived a need for their children to be educated about SRH. Fathers and mothers had different expectations of what girls and boys should learn. Most parents wanted their children to be informed about biological differences, puberty and menstruation before or by the time pubertal changes began (before Grade Five or Six). Most also wanted their children to learn in detail about contraception, HIV/AIDS/STD prevention and intimate relationships but not until they were aged at least 15 (Grade Eight). Parents also wanted access to information about adolescent SRH so as to be able to understand adolescents' experiences and express their values without being judgmental. None of the parent informants perceived themselves as able to educate their children about any of these matters and expected the school and the Youth Union to be primary educators. However, apart from single lessons in Grade Five and Grade Nine, neither of these agencies provides SRH education. The head of the Youth Union and lecturers at secondary school stated that they were not capable of providing SRH training as none of their staff were specifically trained in SRH and they had no access to appropriate SRH educational materials. Meanwhile, there was no public library or bookstore in the commune where young people could have access to SRH reading material. There is a major gap between the SRH education needs of parents and children in remote rural areas of Vietnam and the resources required to address these needs. The findings of this research should inform government policy-makers and national and international organizations about the needs for SRH education in remote communities in Vietnam and parents' preferences about how this can be provided.

Consumer Preferences for Internet Services in Rural Areas of Vietnam and its Implications for Promotion Policy

Consumer Preferences for Internet Services in Rural Areas of Vietnam and its Implications for Promotion Policy

TheMycobacterium tuberculosisBeijing Genotype Does Not Affect Tuberculosis Treatment Failure in Vietnam

Studies have suggested that the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype causes more severe clinical disease and higher treatment failure rates with standard regimens, possibly in association with an increased risk of acquiring drug resistance. We studied the effect of genotype on treatment failure in a rural area in Vietnam where multidrug resistance is strongly associated with the Beijing genotype. In a population-based prospective cohort study, patients with smear-positive tuberculosis were tested before and after treatment by spoligotyping and drug susceptibility analysis. Reinfections were excluded by DNA fingerprinting. The outcome was treatment failure based on culture. Of 1106 patients eligible for analysis, 33 experienced treatment failure (3.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1%-4.1%). The proportion of failure was 5.3% (95% CI, 0.3%-7.9%) among 380 patients with Beijing genotype infections. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis strongly predicted failure (odds ratio [OR], 114; 95% CI, 30-430). After adjusting for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, treatment failure was not associated with the Beijing genotype (adjusted OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.3-2.0). Amplification of drug resistance occurred in 3 patients (0.3%; 95% CI, 0.1%-0.7%) and was associated with multidrug resistance at baseline (P = .004) but not with the Beijing genotype. No multidrug resistance was created. The Beijing genotype was not associated with treatment failure in Vietnam; apparent associations were explained by the strong association of this genotype with multidrug resistance. Amplification of resistance in this patient population was rare.

Dietary factors related to body weight in adult Vietnamese in the rural area of Haiphong, Vietnam: the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES)

The objectives of this study were to examine the association between dietary factors and underweight and overweight adult Vietnamese living in the rural areas of Vietnam. A cross-sectional study of 497 Vietnamese aged 19 to 60 years (204 males, 293 females) was conducted in rural areas of Haiphong, Vietnam. The subjects were classified as underweight, normal weight, and overweight based on BMI. General characteristics, anthropometric parameters, blood profiles, and eating habits were obtained and dietary intake was assessed using 24-hour recalls for 2 consecutive days. A high prevalence of both underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2) and overweight (BMI ≥ 23 kg/m2) individuals was observed (14.2% and 21.6% for males and 18.9% and 20.6% for females, respectively). For both genders, the overweight group were older than the under- and normal weight groups (P = 0.0118 for males and P = 0.0002 for females). In female subjects, the overweight group consumed significantly less cereals (P = 0.0033), energy (P = 0.0046), protein (P = 0.0222), and carbohydrate (P = 0.0017) and more fruits (P = 0.0026) than the underweight group; however, no such differences existed in males. The overweight subjects overate more frequently (P = 0.0295) and consumed fish (P = 0.0096) and fruits (P = 0.0083) more often. The prevalence of both underweight and overweight individuals pose serious public health problems in the rural areas of Vietnamese and the overweight group was related to overeating and high fish and fruit consumption. These findings may provide basic data for policymakers and dieticians in order to develop future nutrition and health programs for rural populations in Vietnam.