Brief introduction on community health care in ethnic minorities in Vietnam including the knowledge and experience on health care in ethnic minorities such as preserve works related to experience on prevention and treatment in ethnic minorities; activities related to establish community health care for ethnic minorities such as setting up plan on applying traditional medicine and modern medicine to the community based on the reality; Having suitable cadres for community health care activities in Vietnam in general and community health care activities in ethnic minorities in particular; improving the role of women in community health care, developing ethnic minority on develop community health care
Delivery of Health Care ; Minority Groups ; Minority Health

Background: Since 1991-2000, the prevalence of malaria is reduced remarkably in Vietnam. The malaria related mortality reduced 98%. Objective: To evaluate effect of health education in malaria control for ethnic minority people. Subject and Method: The study was carried out in 4 districts: Hoang Su Phi and Quan Ba (Ha Giang); Ia grai and K'Bang (Gia Lai). Qualitative and quantitative method was used in this study. Results: The findings of the study after 2 years showed that the Information - Education and Communication (IEC) is increased in 2007. The proportion of the households have radio, TV, leaflets/pictures is higher than year 2005: 39.1 %, 60.0% and 6.3%. The number of people were communicated about malaria is increased by 61%. The most information channel that the people received is from health staff (93%); from radio and TV: 22.5 and 25.6%. People know the right cause and its prevention of malaria is increased 55% in 2005 to 80% in 2007. The proportion of bed net coverage among community is increased, the number of bed net per households is 2.8 and number of people per bed net is 2.2. Conclusion: Almost people in this study site desired to utilize bed net: 99%. About 88.3% (2005) and 87.5% (2007) of people utilized the public health service when they get sick. After two years of health education intervention, the malaria morbidity in the study site is reduced remarkably by 45 - 50%.
Malaria ; IEC ; ethnic minority

On studying 147 hemoglobin electrophoresis samples of the Stieng community, we refound that hemoglobin varieties distributed as following: - HbE: 54.45% including HbE homozygous: 6.12%; HbAe: 41.5% and -thal/HbE: 6.8%.- -thal: only -thal/HbE (-thal/HbE: 4.08%, -thal/HbE, 2.72%). -Normal cases: 45.58%. These results shown that HbE ratio is very height in Stieng community, it is necessary to have the special investigations to find out the causes
Hemoglobins ; Minority Groups ; Electrophoresis

Investigating 135 herbs used to treat diseases at Dich Giao precinct, Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province showed that: 79.3% (107/135) have origin from forest; 20.7% (28/135) have been planted in home garden. Trunks of 28 species (20.1%) are used to make medications. The contents have been using included: leaves of 47 species (33.8%), branches and leaves of 45 species (32.3%), flowers of 12 species (8.6%); fruits of 17 species (12.2%); seed of 8 species (5.85%); root of 11 species (7.9%); trunks cover and root cover of 6 species (4.3%). To treatment of fever : 17 species (12.6%); cough: 10 species (7.4%); diuretic: 15 species (11.1%); indigestion (abnormal pain, digestive disorder): 25 species (18.5%); arthritis: 24 species (17.8%); skin disease: 5 species (3.7%); women's diseases (irregular menstruation, abortion threatening, less mother milk, problems of post delivery): 29 species (21.5%); headache: 6 species (4.4%); tonic: 4 species (3.0%)
Plants, medicinal ; Minority Groups ; Medicine, Traditional ; Minority ; Health

A athropometry survey was conducted on 102 Ruc ethinic minority living in Thuong Hoa commune, Quang Binh province. The results showed that the general rates of intestinal parasitic-infestation was 91.2%, ascaris infestation rate was 71.6%, ankylostoma parasitic rate was 62.7%. The malnutrition rate among children under five years of age was 68.3%. Rate of children receiving adequate immunizations was 45.5%. Measles campaign vaccination rate in 2003 was 91.3%
Nutritional status ; child ; Antiparasitic Agents ; Minority Groups ; Minority Health

Background: The rate of Khmer ethnic minority living in An Giang, Kien Giang and Hau Giang were 3%, 12.9% and 3%, respectively.These provinces had some specific factors such as low education, income and knowledge about HIV/AIDS, high risk behavior and it is difficult to practice intervention methods therefore the awareness of HIV infection risk on this group is required. Objectives: To determine the HIV prevalence, describe knowledge, attitude and risky behaviors that led to syphilis and HIV infection of the Khmer ethnic group, which are used to propose suitable intervention and prevention models. Subject and methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted from September 2006 to June 2007 in the Khmer ethnic group, including both genders at the age ranging from 15 to 49, living in some districts of An Giang, Hau Giang and Kien Giang. Results: A total of 877 households and 2.400 people were interviewed. 98.62% of the people agreed to take a blood test for HIV. The average age of first intercourse was 20. The condom usage proportion was very low. The number of men using condoms in the latest intercourse with their wives or lovers accounted for only 7.2%. Moreover, only 3% of the women used condoms in the last 12 months. The drug usage was 0.6% in Hau Giang and 0.1 % in Kien Giang. The knowledge about HIV/AIDS of both men and women were 9.2% and 4.5%. The prevalence of people, who made HIV test in the three provinces accounted for only 3 to 4.6%. HIV infection rate was 0.2% in An Giang, 0.5% in Kien Giang and 0.5% in Hau Giang. Syphilis infection rates were 1.6%, 1.4% and 1.5%, respectively. Conclusions: Appropriate communicative model is an effective way for the prevention HIV/AIDS among Khmer ethnic group.
HIV/AIDS ; Khmer ethnic minority

A study was carried out on Van Kieu people in Dakrong commune, Dakrong district, Quang Tri province in order to describe their experiences in using medicinal herbals on preventing and treating diseases. The results showed that Van Kieu people had 17 way of using herbal medicines which could divided into 3 groups: internal use through eating or drinking; external use (exhale, bath, apply, rub, compress, soak, douche/lay); combining with sorcery (“blow”). There are 31 folk remedies from 88 medicines available in local that has the effect on preventing and treating 14 illnesses. 7 selected remedies have high utility value
Plants, medicinal ; Medicine, Traditional ; Therapeutics ; Minority Health

Background: Sa Pa is one of the mountain communes with a temperate climate that is appropriate for the growing of traditional medicinal herbs. Objectives: To investigate the experiences of using traditional remedies of the H\u2019mong ethnic minority in Sa Pa commune, Sa Pa district, Lao Cai province. Subjects and method: The cross-sectional study had enrolled 28 traditional herbal practitioners, 23 commune officers and 289 family\u2019s representatives who had experiences in traditional herb usage. Results: 72 traditional remedies were collected. In which, 58.33% of remedies had 1 medicinal component, 13.89% of remedies had 2 medicinal components. 158 common herbal medicines used for primary health care were collected. In which, the herbs belonged to Asteraceae family accounted for the highest rate: 11 species (7.4%); followed by the Lamiaceae family: 8 species (5.4%); Rosaceae, Zingilbeaceae and Convallariaceae family: 5 species (3.4%); then the Acanthaceae, Araceae, Poaceae and Ranunculaceae family: 4 species (2.7%). Decoction was the most recurrent use (68.99%), followed by poultice on the skin (10.13%), ingesting the herbs (7.6%) and others (<10%). Conclusion: The traditional medicinal herbs of the H\u2019mong ethnic minority at Sa Pa commune, Sa Pa district, Lao Cai province were multiform and were used in different ways.
traditional medicinal herbs ; H\u2019mong ethnic minority

In the paper, 159 plant species belonging to 133 genera, 69 families of 2 divisions of Dao people at Hop Nhat, Ba Vi, Ha Tay province were reported. In order to rise an effectiveness of use for these medicinal plants, analysis of growth, used parts, distribution and also way of use were done
Medicine, Traditional ; Ethnic Groups ; Minority Groups

Background: The vulnerability to contract malaria was researched among the Raglai ethnic minority population living in the mountainous areas of Ninh Thuan province, South-central Viet Nam, one of the areas with highest incidence rates in the country. Objective: To investigate the bed net use, risk perception of contracting malaria in Raglai ethnic minority. Subject and Method: The study used qualitative and quantitative method and was carried out in Ninh Thuan from 8/2005 to 8/2006. Result: Raglai exposure to malaria was related to farmers' forest activity and forest sleep which were directly related to the combination of sleeping and living in a government supported home in newly established villages along the road with a second home or reduced plot hut near fields in the forest to meet work requirements during the labor intensive malaria transmission and rainy season. In this context, access to health care, bed net use, risk perception of contracting malaria and health seeking behavior were researched. Conclusion: The results of the study do not only show the vulnerability of an impoverished ethnic minority population but as well the urgent need to better understand ethnic minorities' social context and culture to improve malaria control strategies.
Awareness of malaria ; ethnic minority ; Ninh Thuan province ; bed net use