Hanoi School Of Public Health

About: Hanoi School Of Public Health is a education organization based out in Hanoi, Vietnam. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 182 authors who have published 266 publications receiving 23330 citations.

HIV-related stigma: Impact on healthcare workers in Vietnam

Abstract: Stigma has been identified as a major barrier to HIV response. While much is known about stigma directed towards people living with HIV (PLHIV), less is known about stigma experienced by health workers who treat PLHIV. This study aims to explore the perceptions and experiences of health workers regarding how stigma influences their work with HIV-positive patients. The study employed a qualitative design involving individual semi-structured in-depth interviews with 14 health workers, purposively selected from hospitals and detention centres for people who use drugs and sex workers in Hanoi, Vietnam. Findings showed that the stigma experienced by health workers may be organised around several themes: (1) lack of social prestige associated with HIV work; (2) fear of infection expressed by family members; (3) feelings of being devalued within the healthcare field; and (4) work-related stress and burnout, especially for staff working in detention centres for drug users and female sex workers. Efforts are needed to improve the public image of HIV work, scale up stigma reduction, enhance stress management and create a safe and supportive working environment for health workers.

Poly-victimisation and health risk behaviours, symptoms of mental health problems and suicidal thoughts and plans among adolescents in Vietnam.

Abstract: Limited evidence is available about poly-victimisation (exposure to multiple forms of victimisation) and mental health among adolescents in low and lower-middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between lifetime exposure to poly-victimisation, health risk behaviours, symptoms of common mental health problems and suicidal ideas in the previous year among high school students in Vietnam. Participants were high school students in rural and urban districts of Hanoi, Vietnam. The data source was an anonymously-completed structured self-report survey. Lifetime exposure to poly-victimisation was assessed using the juvenile victimisation questionnaire revised 2 (JVQ R-2); mental health symptoms by the depression, anxiety and stress scale-21 (DASS-21); involvement in health risk behaviours and previous year suicidal thoughts and plans by questions adapted from the 2013 youth risk behaviour survey. Data were collected between October, 2013 and January, 2014 and were analysed using generalised structural equation modelling. In total 1616/1745 (92.6 %) eligible students provided complete data. Prior year suicidal thoughts were reported by 21.4 % (95 % CI 18.5–24.5 %) of the female respondents and 7.9 % (95 % CI 6.2–9.8 %) of the male respondents. Prior year suicidal plans were reported by 7.8 % (95 % CI 5.9–9.8 %) of the girls and 4.0 % (95 % CI 2.7–5.3 %) of the boys. Poly-victimisation was associated with increased likelihood of involvement in health risk behaviours and symptoms of common mental health problems among both sexes, which increased adolescents’ risk of having suicidal ideas in the previous year. Compared to non-victims or victims of fewer forms, poly-victims were also more likely to report suicidal thoughts and plans among both girls and boys (p < 0.05). Overall, the results revealed that poly-victimisation was associated with increased involvement in health risk behaviours, poorer mental health and increased risks of suicidal ideas among Vietnamese adolescents. Suicidal ideas were prevalent among the students. Interventions to assist victims of violence and prevention of violence, especially poly-victimisation, among adolescents in Vietnam is therefore important.

Disability measures as an indicator of poverty: A case study from Viet Nam

Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between disability and poverty at a health- demographic surveillance site in Viet Nam using alternative measures of disability severity. Analysis of the site population (n ¼65400) is combined with interviews of 27 households containing members with disabilities. Results show that disability severity is positively associated with poverty. Results support recent efforts of the Vietnamese government to extend programmes of social protection for households containing members with severe disabilities. However, a higher level of disability targeting is required, both in terms of eligibility and of benefit levels. Copyright # 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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

Abstract: Background In 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.

Male involvement in family planning in rural Vietnam: an application of the Transtheoretical Model

Abstract: Various studies have shown that family planning adoption is likely to be more effective for women when men are actively involved. Male involvement in family planning is an instance of behavior change. The Transtheoretical Model of behavior change was used to examine men’s involvement in general contraception and intrauterine device (IUD) use by their wives. The study tested whether the constructs of the model, decisional balance and self-efficacy, are sensitive to differences in stages of change. Reliable scales to test decisional balance and self-efficacy were developed. The study was carried out in rural Vietnam with 201 eligible participants. The staging algorithm identified that 25.8% of men were in the precontemplation stage, 10.5% of men were in the contemplation/ preparation stages and 63.7% of men were in the action/maintenance stages. Disadvantages of IUD use for men in precontemplation were significantly higher than those in the action/ maintenance stages, while the reverse was true for self-efficacy for convincing their wives to use an IUD. Interventions that are targeted to stage of change, that seek to reduce cons and that increase self-efficacy have the potential to influence male involvement in IUD adoption by their wives.