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.

Cost and impoverishment 1 year after hospitalisation due to injuries: a cohort study in Thái Bình, Vietnam.

Abstract: Background Evidence on the economic impact on individuals and their families following an injury in Vietnam is limited. This study examines the costs and the risk of impoverishment due to hospitalised injuries at 12 months following hospital discharge and associated factors. Method Employing a prospective cohort design, 892 people hospitalised for injury were recruited from Thai Binh General Hospital in Vietnam in 2010 and followed up for 12 months. All out-of-pocket costs incurred and income lost by injured persons and their caregivers associated with care and treatment of their injuries were reported. To examine associated factors, we used generalised estimating equation models for costs and modified Poisson regression for the risk of impoverishment. Results The mean total costs by 12 months postdischarge were US$804, nearly 1.2 times the annual average income. Injuries that incurred highest costs were falls (US$950) and road traffic injuries (RTIs) (US$794). At 12-month follow-up, 181 persons (26.9%) became impoverished, with those injured in RTIs and falls at highest risk (26.1% and 35.4%, respectively). Factors associated with higher costs were also those associated with higher risk of impoverishment. These include those injured in RTIs or falls; having higher severity level; principal injured region as upper extremities, lower extremities or head; physical nature of injuries as fracture or concussion injuries; and longer hospitalisation. Conclusions Injuries impose significant economic burden on injured persons and their families during and beyond hospitalisation. In addition to prevention, there is a need to reform health financing system to protect injured persons from significant out-of-pocket expense for healthcare services.

The ASEAN’s Responses to COVID-19: A Policy Sciences Analysis

Abstract: The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) it as a pandemic on March 11th, 2020. The pandemic has brought havoc globally as more than 190 countries and territories are affected as of 30 April 2030. The crisis suggests that no country can deal with the pandemic alone. International cooperation including regional cooperation is essential for any country to survive. We are particularly interested in Association of South East Asian Nation (ASEAN) cooperation and performance under COVID-19 because it has been one of the regions where regional cooperation on health security has been functioning based on lessons from SARS 2003 and H1N1 2009. The “One Vision, One Identity, One Community” of ASEAN has merits under COVID-19 response but remains invisible. The method encompasses analysis of published materials issued by and accessible from the ASEAN website, complemented with analysis for media articles including social media, supported by published academic journal articles. All of the authors have expertise on ASEAN policies in the field of health, disasters, and regional policy and planning. Some authors have also worked from various international organisations working on issues related to the ASEAN region. This paper aims to document and analyse how ASEAN member states respond to COVID-19. It asks how to cooperate under the One-ASEAN-One Response framework. This paper also compares the 10 member states’ policy responses from January to April 2020. We utilise the framework of policy sciences to analyse the responses. We found that the early regional response was slow and lack of unity (January - February 2020). Extensive early measures taken by each member state are the key to the success to curb the spread of the virus. Although, during March and April 2020, ASEAN has reconvened and utilised its existing health regional mechanism to try to have a coherent response to the impacts. Strengthening future collaboration should be implemented by recognizing that there is a more coherent, multi sectoral, multi stakeholders and whole-of-ASEAN Community approach in ensuring ASEAN’s timely and effective response to the pandemic.

New strategy toward dioxin risk reduction for local residents surrounding severe dioxin hotspots in Vietnam.

Abstract: Background: A public health intervention program with active involvement of local related stakeholders was piloted in the Bien Hoa dioxin hotspot (2007-2009), and then expanded to the Da Nang dioxin hotspot in Vietnam (2009-2011). It aimed to reduce the risk of dioxin exposure through foods for local residents. This article presents the results of the intervention in Da Nang. Methodology: To assess the results of this intervention program, pre- and post-intervention knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) surveys were implemented in 400 households, randomly selected from four wards surrounding the Da Nang Airbase in 2009 and 2011, respectively. Results: After the intervention, the knowledge on the existence of dioxin in food, dioxin exposure pathways, potential high-risk foods, and preventive measures significantly increased (P<0.05). Ninety-eight percentage were willing to follow advice on preventing dioxin exposure. Practices to reduce the risk of dioxin exposure also significantly improved (P<0.05). After intervention, 60.4% of households undertook exposure preventive measures, significantly higher than that of the pre-intervention survey (39.6%; χ 2 =40.15, P<0.05). Conclusions: This is seen as an effective intervention strategy toward reducing the risk of human exposure to dioxin at dioxin hotspots. While greater efforts are needed for remediating dioxin-polluted areas inside airbases, there is also evidence to suggest that, during the past four decades, pollution has expanded to the surrounding areas. For this reason, this model should be quickly expanded to the remaining dioxin hotspots in Vietnam to further reduce the exposure risk in these areas. Keywords: dioxin hotspots; intervention program; dioxin exposure through foods; risk communication; dioxin risk reduction; Vietnam (Published: 20 June 2013) Citation: Glob Health Action 2013, 6 : 21105 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/gha.v6i0.21105

Audio computer-assisted self interview compared to traditional interview in an HIV-related behavioral survey in Vietnam

Abstract: Globally, population surveys on HIV/AIDS and other sensitive topics have been using audio computer-assisted self inter- view for many years. This interview technique, however, is still new to Vietnam and little is known about its application and impact in general population surveys. One plausible hypothesis is that residents of Viet- nam interviewed using this technique may provide a higher response rate and be more willing to reveal their true behaviors than if inter- viewed with traditional methods. OBJECTIVE This study aims to compare audio computer-assisted self interview with traditional face-to-face personal interview and self- administered interview with regard to rates of refusal and affi rmative responses to questions on sensitive topics related to HIV/AIDS. METHODS In June 2010, a randomized study was conducted in three cities (Ha Noi, Da Nan and Can Tho), using a sample of 4049 residents aged 15 to 49 years. Respondents were randomly assigned to one of three interviewing methods: audio computer-assisted self interview, personal face-to-face interview, and self-administered paper inter- view. Instead of providing answers directly to interviewer questions as with traditional methods, audio computer-assisted self-interview respondents read the questions displayed on a laptop screen, while listening to the questions through audio headphones, then entered responses using a laptop keyboard. A MySQL database was used for data management and SPSS statistical package version 18 used for data analysis with bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques. Rates of high risk behaviors and mean values of continuous variables were compared for the three data collection methods. RESULTS Audio computer-assisted self interview showed advantages over comparison techniques, achieving lower refusal rates and reporting higher prevalence of some sensitive and risk behaviors (perhaps indica- tion of more truthful answers). Premarital sex was reported by 20.4% in the audio computer-assisted self-interview survey group, versus 11.4% in the face-to-face group and 11.1% in the self-administered paper ques- tionnaire group. The pattern was consistent for both male and female respondents and in both urban and rural settings. Men in the audio com- puter-assisted self-interview group also reported higher levels of high-risk sexual behavior—such as sex with sex workers and a higher average number of sexual partners—than did women in the same group. Impor- tantly, item refusal rates on sensitive topics tended to be lower with audio computer-assisted self interview than with the other two methods. CONCLUSIONS Combined with existing data from other countries and previous studies in Vietnam, these fi ndings suggest that research- ers should consider using audio computer-assisted self interview for future studies of sensitive and stigmatized topics, especially for men.

Peer and community influences on the acceptance of premarital sex among Vietnamese adolescents.

Abstract: Aim Adolescents in Vietnam have a low level of sexual activity but this may increase with urbanisation and economic development. The aim of this analysis is to understand trends in correlates of permissive attitudes towards premarital sex among Vietnamese adolescents using an ecological framework. Methods Data from the Survey Assessment of Vietnamese Youth from 2003 (n = 7584) and 2009 (n = 10 044) were analysed using multivariable logistic regressions to examine associations between permissive attitudes towards premarital sex and demographic and contextual factors among adolescents aged 14 to 25. Results Correlates of having permissive attitudes towards premarital sex in both 2003 and 2009 included being male older age living in an urban area living in the North having ever used the Internet and perceiving that people in the community were having premarital sex. Variables that were significant in 2009 but not in 2003 included socio-economic status and belonging to an ethnic minority. Statistically significant changes in associations between 2003 and 2009 were observed for age socio-economic status and belonging to an ethnic minority. Conclusions The association of permissive attitudes with community norms and certain socio-demographic variables in conjunction with overarching economic development and urbanisation suggests that premarital sex will likely become increasingly common among Vietnamese adolescents. These trends should be further assessed as adolescent sexual activity becomes more common and adolescent friendly health services should be developed to provide appropriate and acceptable sexual and reproductive health care to young people.