Rationale and Background: : Parasitic infections remain a significant public health concern in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.5 billion people worldwide are affected by soil-transmitted parasitic infection. These infections are particularly prevalent in tropical regions, with over 267 million preschool-aged children and 568 million school-aged children infected. Objectives: : To establish the prevalence of parasitic infections and associated factors among the riverside Mekong communities in Sangthong District, Vientiane Capital. Methodology: : This study employed a cross-sectional analytic approach to determine the prevalence of helminthic infections, and factors associated with infections in humans in the Mekong Riverside communities of Sangthong District, Vientiane Capital, in 2023. Data were collected using questionnaires and stool examinations conducted with the modified Kato-Katz technique. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were performed using STATA version 14. Results: : Among the 327 participants, 94 individuals (28.7%) were found to have intestinal parasitic infections. The most common parasite was Taenia spp. (22.3%), followed by Hookworm (20.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (12.7%), Opisthorchis viverrini (11.7%), Strongyloides stercoralis (4.2%), Fasciola spp. (4.2%), Hymenolepis nana (3.1%), and Trichuris trichiura (2.1%). Co-infections were observed in several cases: Hookworm + Opisthorchis viverrini (4.2%), and Hookworm + Strongyloides stercoralis (4.2%), Fasciola spp. + Hookworm (2.1%), Taenia spp. + Ascaris lumbricoides (2.1%), and Taenia spp. + Hookworm (2.1%). Triple infections were found in a small percentage of participants (1.0%), involving Hookworm, Opisthorchis viverrini, and Ascaris lumbricoides. Risk factors for intestinal parasitic infections included the consumption of raw food (AOR = 2.394, 95% CI: 1.011–5.667, p = 0.047) and walking barefoot during farm work (AOR = 4.563, 95% CI: 1.000–20.819, p = 0.050). Conclusion: This study highlights that consuming raw food and walking barefoot during farm work are key risk factors for parasitic infections. However, it also demonstrates that in Santhong District, Vientiane Capital, the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections (27.8%), particularly Taenia spp., Hookworm, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Opisthorchis viverrine, are lower than the previously reported national average of 75.8%.

Dengue is a public health issue in tropical south-eastern Asia responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. Information on dengue epidemiology is necessary for developing strategies to control infections effectively. In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Champasak and Savannakhet provinces account for around 30% of the national dengue burden. In this study, the dengue epidemiological profile in these two southern provinces of Lao PDR was described by analysing seasonal and spatial dengue notification data from 2003–2020 using the long-term mean (LTM) method. Savannakhet had a higher LTM (132.0 cases/month, 95% confidence interval [Cl]: 92.2–171.7) than Champasak (113.3 cases/month, 95% CI: 86.0–140.5), with peaks in dengue notifications following the rainy season in both provinces. The highest notification rates were observed in July to September; these months were also when the LTM was most frequently exceeded. Previously, dengue notifications were largely confined to the western districts of Savannakhet and the northern districts of Champasak, but more recently, notifications have increased in the eastern districts of Savannakhet and southern districts of Champasak. While the notification rate remained high in children and young adults (5–30 years), especially among students and farmers, a shift in the age structure of dengue cases was observed, with a greater proportion of notifications now occurring in those aged over 30 years. Community-based vector control and prevention programmes are needed to restrict the spread of dengue into new geographical areas in the southern provinces of Lao PDR.

Background and Rational: In Lao PDR, relapse of metamphetamine use following discharge from rehabilitation center is unacceptably high (~50%). Good preparedness and IEC provision to the rehabilitated addicts before discharge from the rehabilitation center is likely to be vital to prevent relapse. Effective IEC would probably help to reduce the rate of relapse. Methodology: This was an open cluster-randomized-controlled trial to assess the newly developed IEC package among metamphetamine users. The intervention group received new IEC package (education message + brochure + telephone contact number + follow-up) while the conventional advice was given to control group. The study participants were followed up for 6 months by telephone (at 1, 3, 6 months). The primary endpoint was the relapse rate. Result: One hundred and eighty-one addicts were enrolled in the trial (93 in intervention and 88 in control groups). Ninety-six subjects were male. The overall mean (SD) age of the participants was 26.5 (6.1) years and the overall median (range) duration of drug use was 5 (0.5 – 26) years and these figures were not significantly different between the groups (P=0.50 and P=0.97), respectively). The proportion of the participants who were lost to follow-up was 8%. Sixty percents of the study subjects completed 6-months follow up and this was not statistically different between the groups (P=0.93). The overall percentage of relapse was 39% (65/166) [36% (31/85) in intervention and 42% (34/81) in control groups, P=0.38). The median (range) duration of relapse was 30 (1 – 160) days and this was not significantly different between the groups (P=0.38). In a multiple logistic regression model, contact with drug users following discharge from the rehabilitation center was significantly associated with relapse [AOR = 73, 95%CI = 39 – 405, P<0.001] while having a permanent job following discharge was a protective factor for relapse [AOR = 0.03 (0.004 – 0.27), P=0.002]. Conclusion The relapse rate of metamphetamine use was lower in the group with new IEC package than in control group but this was not statistically significant. Further study with a larger scale is strongly recommended

Rational and Background: Oral disease is an important problem affecting people’s health in Lao PDR, but can be prevented. Pregnant women are more at risk of having oral disease than other groups of people. Oral disease during pregnancy not only affects mothers’ health but also that of babies. Many factors are associated with oral disease during pregnancy, but very few studies were conducted especially in rural areas. Methodology: An analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out from July to September 2012 using close and open questionnaire forms and oral health check up in order to describe oral health status, risk behavior, oral hygiene practice, and factors associated with oral health for pregnant women in three districts of Attapeu Province. Data were analyzed using STATA 10.0 and logistic regression was applied to determine factors associated with oral disease. Results: Five hundred fifty-six pregnant women were studied with a median (range) age of 24 (16-42) years. Most of participants were housewives or famers (78.8%), 62.4% of them with low education level, and 52.0% were Lao-loum (out of 13 ethnic groups). The percentage of the pregnant women who had at least one oral disease was 66.4 %, and the most common oral problems found were dental plaques and carries (53.2% and 10.8%, respectively). Occupation (AOR=2.1 95%CI= 1.4-3.2, P<0.001), ethnic (AOR =2.2, 95%CI=1.5-3.2, P<0.001) and religion (AOR=2.1, 95%CI= 1.4-3.1, P<0.001) were significantly associated with oral diseases during pregnancy. Pregnant women with past and current smoking were 2 times more likely to have oral diseases compared to those who never smoked (AOR=2.1, 95%CI =1.4-3.1, P<0.001). Higher family income (AOR= 0.6, 95%CI= 0.2-0.4, P<0.001) and ANC visits at least once during pregnancy (AOR=0.7, 95%CI=0.5-0.9, P= 0.005) were significant apparent protective factors against oral disease. Conclusion More than half of the pregnant women in rural Laos (Attapeu Province) had at least one oral health problem (mostly dental plaques and carries). Oral diseases were more common in the second than in the first and the third trimester of the pregnancy. Many pregnant women had risk factors associated with oral disease, particularly smoking. ANC visit at least one during pregnancy was associated with less oral disease during pregnancy.