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.

Prevalence of resistance to second-line tuberculosis drug among multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients in Viet Nam, 2011.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) represents an emerging public health problem worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated of 9.7% of patients with MDR-TB globally, are defined as XDR-TB. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of drug resistance to second line TB drugs among MDR TB patients detected in the fourth national TB drug resistance survey in Viet Nam. METHODS : Eighty clusters of TB patients were selected using a probability-proportion-to-size approach. Drug susceptibility testing (DST) was performed for the four major first line TB drugs to identify MDR TB patients. DST of second-line drugs (ofloxacin, amikacin, kanamycin, capreomycin) was performed on isolates from MDR- TB cases to identified pre-XDR and XDR patients. RESULTS : A total of 1629 smear-positive TB patients were eligible for culture and DST. Of those, DST results for first line drugs were available for 1312 patients of which 91 (6.9%) had MDR-TB. Second line drug susceptibility testing results were available for 84 of these patients. Of those, 15 patients (17.9%) had ofloxacin resistance and 6.0% were resistant to kanamycin and capreomycin. Five MDR-TB patients met the criteria of extensively drug-resistance (XDR) patients (6.0%). CONCLUSIONS: This survey provides the first estimates of the proportion of XDR-TB among MDR-TB patients in Viet Nam and provides important information for local policy regarding the conduct of second line DST. Local policies and programmes are geared towards prevention and early diagnosis and treatment with effective regimens is very important.

Multiple vulnerabilities and maternal healthcare in Vietnam: findings from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, 2000, 2006, and 2011

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the aggregate effects of multiple socioeconomic vulnerabilities is important for shedding light on the determinants of growing health inequalities and inequities in materna ...

Policy processes underpinning universal health insurance in Vietnam

Abstract: Background : In almost 30 years since economic reforms or ‘renovation’ ( Doimoi ) were launched, Vietnam has achieved remarkably good health results, in many cases matching those in much higher income countries. This study explores the contribution made by Universal Health Insurance (UHI) policies, focusing on the past 15 years. We conducted a mixed method study to describe and assess the policy process relating to health insurance, from agenda setting through implementation and evaluation. Design : The qualitative research methods implemented in this study were 30 in-depth interviews, 4 focus group discussions, expert consultancy, and 420 secondary data review. The data were analyzed by NVivo 7.0. Results : Health insurance in Vietnam was introduced in 1992 and has been elaborated over a 20-year time frame. These processes relate to moving from a contingent to a gradually expanded target population, expanding the scope of the benefit package, and reducing the financial contribution from the insured. The target groups expanded to include 66.8% of the population by 2012. We characterized the policy process relating to UHI as incremental with a learning-by-doing approach, with an emphasis on increasing coverage rather than ensuring a basic service package and financial protection. There was limited involvement of civil society organizations and users in all policy processes. Intertwined political economy factors influenced the policy processes. Conclusions : Incremental policy processes, characterized by a learning-by-doing approach, is appropriate for countries attempting to introduce new health institutions, such as health insurance in Vietnam. Vietnam should continue to mobilize resources in sustainable and viable ways to support the target groups. The country should also adopt a multi-pronged approach to achieving universal access to health services, beyond health insurance. Keywords : universal health insurance; universal health coverage; policy process; Vietnam (Published: 26 September 2014) Citation : Glob Health Action 2014, 7 : 24928 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v7.24928

Scenario planning for community development in Vietnam: a new tool for integrated health approaches?

Abstract: Background : Like many countries in Southeast Asia, Vietnam’s rapid population and economic growth has met challenges in infrastructure development, especially sanitation in rural areas. Objective : As an entry point, we developed scenario planning as an action–research tool in a peri-urban community to identify first steps towards improving their complex sanitation problem and to, systemically, address emerging/re-emerging infectious diseases, as these are commonly linked to unsafe water and inadequate sanitation conditions. As an integrated approach, the process of constructing scenarios allowed us to work across sectors and stakeholders to incorporate this knowledge into a common vision. Design : We conducted focus group discussions to identify and rank driving forces, orally constructed scenarios for the most uncertain drivers, discussed scenario implications and options, and examined the overall process for usefulness and sustainability. During a one-month scoping phase and in between focus group meetings, we carried out household visits which helped us understand the context of data and gather feedback from participants outside of the formal data collection process. Recorded results from these activities were used to develop subsequent tools. Results and Conclusions : The research process gave us insights into how to adapt the scenario planning tool to identify alternative options. This involved choosing boundary partners, negotiating priorities, drawing out participant learning through self-assessment of our process (a prerequisite for changing mental models and thus achieving outcomes), and understanding how conveyed messages may reinforce the status quo. These insights showed the importance of examining research results beyond outputs and outcomes, namely through process. Keywords : integrated approaches; tools; scenarios; planning; sanitation; development; Vietnam (Published: 18 August 2014) Citation : Glob Health Action 2014, 7 : 24482 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v7.24482

Neighbourhood Ethnic Diversity Buffers School Readiness Impact in ESL Children

Abstract: Objectives: Contextual factors, as measured by neighbourhood characteristics, shape the experiences children have and affect their “school readiness”, ie, whether they are well or poorly prepared for the transition from home to kindergarten This study assessed the independent effects of individual and neighbourhood factors on school readiness; specifically, it examined whether and to what degree neighbourhood factors modified children’s language ability and thus their school readiness in a population of children in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Method: The study included all children attending kindergarten in 2001, 2003 and 2005 in Saskatoon School readiness and child characteristics were measured by the Early Development Instrument (EDI) The EDI measures child development at school commencement in five domains: physical health and well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, cognitive and language development, and communication skills and general knowledge Data from the 2001 Census were used to characterize Saskatoon’s neighbourhoods Multilevel modeling examined the independent and buffering or exacerbating effects of individual and neighbourhood factors on the relation between English as a Second Language (ESL) status in children and EDI domain scores Results: ESL children had significantly lower scores on all EDI domains compared with non-ESL children Certain factors (eg, younger age, male, Aboriginal status, having special needs) were significantly related to lower readiness in terms of the emotional maturity, and communication skills and general knowledge domains Importantly, children who lived in neighbourhoods that were highly transient (with a higher proportion of residents who had moved in the previous year) had lower EDI scores on both domains, and those in neighbourhoods with lower rates of employment had lower EDI scores on communication skills and general knowledge Neighbourhood ethnic diversity mitigated the negative impact of ESL status on school readiness for both domains ESL children from neighbourhoods with a high degree of ethnic diversity had higher EDI scores than ESL children from neighbourhoods with low ethnic diversity Discussion: The current study provided insight regarding the impact of contextual factors in addition to individual factors, such as ESL status, on school readiness outcomes Future research should continue to examine contextual factors related to ESL status and early child developmental outcomes, particularly focusing on the mechanisms of influence Key words: Child development; child language; residence characteristics; neighbourhood