The study was conducted at commune health care stations in 10 provinces of 7 ecological areas of Vietnam. Results showed that: the accessibility of health care service hasn't meet the demand, the health care service provision and use for women in the rural communes has many limits, there has been the obvious gender inequality in health expenditures, the essential reproductive health care for women in rural communes is insufficient and under the National standards. It is necessary to enhance the quality of health care service in general, reproductive health care for women at reproductive age in rural areas in particular, complete research methodology on health care service accessibility and use in the public
Delivery of Health Care ; Rural Health ; Women

Background: In a chemical war during 1961-1971, about 94,000 tons of the herbicides were sprayed over Southern Viet Nam.A main component of the herbicides is dioxin that is very harmful to humans. There are many studies focusing on people\u2019s health due to exposure to dioxin residuals. Objective: To investigate the health issues related to exposure to dioxin residuals. Subjects and method: A retrospective comprehensive survey performed on 4018 people in Cam Chinh commune, Cam Lo district, Quang Tri province and compared with 3987 people in Cam Phuc commune, Cam Xuyen district, Ha Tinh province (controls) based on epidemiological interviews. Results: The morbidity was higher at 6.4% in the herbicides-applied area than in the herbicides-non applied area. In herbicides-applied area, there was a high risk of diseases such as bone connective, genitourinary, blood endocrine system, skin and infectious diseases. Factors such as age, sex, familiar income, drinking, smoking and agricultural chemical usage contributed towards the health of the affected population.Conclusions: Agent orange/dioxin pollutions still have the potential to be hazardous to human health in the herbicides-applied areas.
Dioxin ; agent orange ; disease

Background: Dioxin affects nervous system via the system of nervous communicative hormones and endocrine hormones, causing disorders and nervous behavior wrongs. Reproductive health is one of the serious effects of exposing Agent Organe/Dioxin. Objectives: To evaluate the birth defects of the nervous system of children, from the generation of veterans exposed to Agent Orange/Dioxin during wartime and to assess congenital nervous defects related factors, characteristics in these subjects. Subject and methods: A retrospective cohort, interview and examine 12.369 exposed and 7.659 unexposed Hanoi veterans, their birth defective children were examined by the pediatrics. During the 2002-2003 timescale. Results: A statistically high significant rate of reproductive failures and birth defects for exposed veterans, compared to unexposed ones, spontaneous abortion with relative risk RR = 4.18, hydatidiform mole with RR = 3.0, still births with RR = 2.2, birth defects with RR = 2.12. Nervous birth defects were highest; representing more than 40% of live births; the relative risk of the exposed group is 2.3 fold higher than the unexposed group, with p < 0.01. The birth defects increased significantly: mild mental retardation with RR = 3.5, severe mental retardation with RR = 3.5, Down's syndrome with RR = 2.16. Conclusions: Nervous birth defects of children of the Hanoi veterans exposed to Agent Orange during wartime accounted for the highest rate. Congenital nervous defects in male were higher than female. Exposed time, exposed levels and direct exposure to Agent Orange were significant related factors in this study. The increase of birth defects was in correlation with exposed levels.
congenital nervous defects ; birth defects ; veterans

The studied was conducted to assess the health care demand and use primary health services in the communes of 10 provinces representing for 7 ecological areas countryside: Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Bac Can, Quang Ninh, Quang Tri, Khanh Hoa, Dac Lac, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, Can Tho. There are statistically significant differences of morbidity rate as well as health service use in genders, in ecological areas and in different economic levels. Morbidity rate in woman is higher than in men and the rate increases proportionally following older age. There are genders inequalities in using health services, especially among poor households. Women are more likely to seek self-treatment while men seeks higher quality of health care services in hospital. The different is statistically significant.
Health Services ; Women

An intervention to promote health workers' ability and EIC for reproductive age women at Cam Chinh commune, Cam Lo, Quang Tri achieved some significant improvements in health care services, reproductive health care, prenatal care, and child feeding practice. Significant improvements were found on utilization of prenatal care including health adequate check-ups and sufficient vaccination for pregnant women. Improvements were also in deliveries were supported by medical professionals, the postpartum medical care, and full utilization of natal and postnatal care.
Delivery of Health Care ; Women, Rural Health