Background: : According to the World Health Organisation, Lao PDR was among the top 10 countries with the highest reduction in maternal mortality between 2000 and 2020. However, maternal mortality rates remain high compared to most countries in the WHO Western Pacific Region, with an estimated 126 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020. The major non-obstetric causes of maternal mortality were HIV and tuberculosis (TB) infections. Objectives: : To determine the proportion of HIV/TB testing and assess knowledge of HIV and TB among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at the Central hospitals, Vientiane provincial hospitals, and peri-urban district hospitals in Vientiane Capital. Methodology: : This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2022 to December 2022. Four central hospitals and four district hospitals in Vientiane City and Vientiane Provincial Hospital were selected as study sites. Participants were interviewed face-to-face using a standardized questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric history, ANC attendance, HIV/TB testing history, and knowledge of and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS and TB. Data were analyzed using STATA version 17. Univariate analysis, including frequencies and percentages, was used to describe variables and identify patterns. Factors associated with adequate knowledge of, and attitudes towards HIV and TB were assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: : Among 1,964 pregnant women attending ANC at the selected sites, the proportion of HIV-positive cases detected via rapid testing was 0.6%. None of the participants had been tested for TB. Misconceptions about HIV and TB were prevalent. For example, 35.7% of participants believed that HIV could be transmitted by sharing food with an infected person, and only 13.7% correctly identified TB as being caused by bacteria. Overall, 45.0% and 42.8% of participants had good knowledge of HIV and TB, respectively. Additionally, 25.9% pregnant women had a positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS, while 45.1% had a positive attitude towards TB. Factors significantly associated with knowledge of HIV/AIDS and TB included obstetric and ANC history, positive attitudes towards TB, and awareness of TB testing locations. Conclusion: The study highlighted a low prevalence of HIV/AIDS among pregnant women attending ANC at central and district hospitals in Vientiane Capital. However, knowledge of HIV/TB was limited, and attitudes towards HIV/TB were generally negative. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions, educational initiatives, and awareness campaigns to improve knowledge, correct misconceptions, and foster positive attitudes towards HIV/AIDS and TB among pregnant women. The insights from this study can inform the development of policies, programs, and preventive strategies aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS and TB infections.

Background: : Childhood over nutrition, including overweight and obesity, is an emerging public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries such as Lao PDR. Rapid urbanization and lifestyle changes in cities like Vientiane Capital have contributed to a rising prevalence of childhood overweight, coexisting with persistent undernutrition. Objectives: : This study aimed to determine the prevalence of nutritional status and identify factors associated with over nutrition among private primary school students in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR. Methodology: : An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2024 involving 412 students aged 6–12 years, randomly selected from ten private primary schools in Saysettha and Xaythany districts. Data collection included structured questionnaires covering socio-demographics, dietary intake (measured via Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women adapted for children), physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and parental nutrition knowledge. Anthropometric measurements were taken to calculate BMI-for-age z-scores using WHO AnthroPlus software. Multivariate logistic regression identified factors associated with underweight and overweight status. Results: : Among participants, 16.3% were underweight, 47.3% had normal weight, and 36.4% were overweight or obese. Most parents had vocational or higher education (81.1% of fathers; 71.1% of mothers). Fathers predominantly worked in farming, labor, or state sectors (56.3%), while mothers mainly engaged in private or informal employment (58.0%). Over half the children showed low nutrition knowledge (53.2%) and a roughly equal split was observed in diet quality. Physical activity assessments indicated 63.8% were sedentary, with 39.6% exceeding recommended sedentary behaviour limits. Multivariate analysis showed children older than 8 years were less likely to be underweight (AOR=0.07; 95% CI: 0.02–0.20). Unexpectedly, higher paternal education (AOR=6.65; 95% CI: 2.40–18.42) and fathers working in private/business sectors (AOR=2.14; 95% CI: 1.23–3.72) were linked to higher underweight risk. Physically active children had lower odds of overweight (AOR=0.52; 95% CI: 0.28–0.96). Conclusion: The double burden of malnutrition is evident among private school children in urban Lao PDR. Physical activity protects against overweight, while socioeconomic factors show complex associations with undernutrition. Interventions should integrate nutrition education, physical activity promotion, parental engagement, and multispectral policies to address these challenges effectively.

Rationale and Background: : Breastfeeding (BF) is considered an effective way to provide balanced nutrition, better growth, and development of the infant, prevent stunting as well as protect from infectious and chronic diseases. WHO and UNICEF recommended exclusive BF (EBF) for the first six months of age and giving no other food or drink to the infant during this period. The government of Lao PDR has launched several strategies and policies in an effort to improve exclusive breastfeeding since 2006. The EBF Campaign was strongly promoted during 2009-2010 to improve child survival rates and enhance the development of children by increasing the number of mothers who EBF their newborn for six months. Methodology: : This study was conducted in two provinces in Lao PDR. A cross-sectional analytical study design was applied in this study to examine the prevalence of EBF duration and identify the factors associated with EBF duration. The sample size estimation was 710 mothers. Probability random sampling using a multi-stage sample technique was used. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview in the household. The median duration and 95% CI of BF was derived using Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards (PH) models were performed. Results: : Out of 710 mothers, the age of study participants was between 15 and 45 years; the mean age and SD were 27.3 ± 5.8 years, and almost all of them (97.2%) were married. 75.4% members were Lao Ethno-linguistic group, 50.8% were educated at high school, and 43.1% of participants were housewives. 53.3% of her husbands stayed at high school, and 49.4% of them took on the occupation of farmer or agriculturalist. 57.9% were classified as exclusive breastfeeding; the median duration of breastfeeding was 12 months; 40.1% were breastfeeding for 7–12 months. Factors significantly associated with breastfeeding duration included the number of prior pregnancies, age at first pregnancy, whether a postnatal check was conducted after hospital discharge or home birth, child’s weight, and child’s height. Conclusion: Breastfeeding duration is influenced by a variety of factors, including the number of previous pregnancies, age at first pregnancy, postnatal health check-ups, the child's weight, and maternal knowledge about breastfeeding. Understanding and addressing these factors is crucial in promoting successful and sustained breastfeeding among mothers, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes for both mothers and children.