VIETNAMESE STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND ACADEMIC BURNOUT This study explores the mental health status of high school students in Hanoi, Vietnam, focusing on depression, anxiety, stress, and academic burnout. Using the Burnout Assessment Tool (BAT-S-23) scale, the study assesses the prevalence of these conditions among students and their awareness of these issues. The findings reveal significant levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout risk, with notable differences based on gender and grade level. The study underscores the importance of mental health interventions and burnout prevention programs in schools. It also highlights the potential of the BAT-S-23 scale as a tool for assessing burnout. The results are expected to contribute to the development of effective strategies for promoting student mental health and managing burnout, thereby holding significant implications for the future of mental health management in the Vietnamese educational setting. Future research should focus on identifying the specific factors contributing to these mental health issues among high school students in Vietnam and developing targeted interventions to address them. Despite some limitations, the study offers important contributions to the ongoing efforts to promote mental health and academic success among students. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (3) April, 2024;1-11.

STRESS IN RELATIONSHIP WITH BURNOUT DUE TO COVID-19: THE MODERATING ROLE OF COPING STRATEGIES This study investigates the relationship between stress and burnout related to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the moderating influence of positive and negative coping strategies. In a cross-sectional survey involving 3,664 Vietnamese citizens aged 18 and above, the research explores the dynamics of stress and burnout symptoms associated with the ongoing pandemic. The results reveal a negative impact of stress symptoms on COVID-19-related burnout among the population. Notably, both positive and negative coping strategies are identified as significant moderators in the interplay between stress and burnout. This suggests that individuals’ coping mechanisms influence the severity of stress and burnout experienced in dealing with COVID-19 challenges. These findings contribute to the foundational understanding of the stress-burnout relationship during the pandemic and provide essential insights for interventions. By recognizing the moderating role of coping strategies, this study lays the groundwork for strategies aimed at enhancing individuals’ coping abilities, ultimately reducing stress and burnout levels. These insights hold the potential to assist individuals in adapting more effectively to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, fostering improved mental well-being in the face of ongoing uncertainties. ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 25 (3) March, 2024; 1-10.

Objective: To investigate the cause of a foodborne outbreak that occurred in Dong Nai province, Viet Nam, in 2024, and implement control measures. Methods: An initial investigation was conducted to confirm the outbreak, which was followed by epidemiological and environmental investigations to find the plausible causative food item. Clinical specimens and food samples were tested to identify the pathogen. Results: A total of 547 symptomatic cases were recorded, of whom two were in severe condition requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and ventilation, one of whom died. Among 99 interviewed cases, the mean incubation time was 9 hours (range 2–24 hours), with the main symptoms being fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. All patients had eaten banh mi from a local bakery. Salmonella spp. were identified in food samples and clinical specimens. The bakery halted production, and the outbreak ended after 1 week. Discussion: All the patients were exposed to only one food in common, which facilitated the investigation process. This outbreak is a reminder to small retailers and take-away shops of the importance of food safety management in preventing similar future outbreaks. All food handlers must comply with food hygiene principles, especially in hot temperatures, which boosts bacterial growth.

Objective: In Viet Nam, tuberculosis (TB) prevalence surveys revealed that approximately 98% of individuals with pulmonary TB have TB-presumptive abnormalities on chest radiographs, while 32% have no TB symptoms. This prompted the adoption of the “Double X” strategy, which combines chest radiographs and computer-aided detection with GeneXpert testing to screen for and diagnose TB among vulnerable populations. The aim of this study was to describe demographic, clinical and radiographic characteristics of symptomatic and asymptomatic Double X participants and to assess multilabel radiographic abnormalities on chest radiographs, interpreted by computer-aided detection software, as a possible tool for detecting TB-presumptive abnormalities, particularly for subclinical TB. Methods: Double X participants with TB-presumptive chest radiographs and/or TB symptoms and known risks were referred for confirmatory GeneXpert testing. The demographic and clinical characteristics of all Double X participants and the subset with confirmed TB were summarized. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression modelling was used to evaluate associations between participant characteristics and subclinical TB and between computer-aided detection multilabel radiographic abnormalities and TB. Results: From 2020 to 2022, 96 631 participants received chest radiographs, with 67 881 (70.2%) reporting no TB symptoms. Among 1144 individuals with Xpert-confirmed TB, 51.0% were subclinical. Subclinical TB prevalence was higher in older age groups, non-smokers, those previously treated for TB and the northern region. Among 11 computer-aided detection multilabel radiographic abnormalities, fibrosis was associated with higher odds of subclinical TB. Discussion: In Viet Nam, Double X community case finding detected pulmonary TB, including subclinical TB. Computer-aided detection software may have the potential to identify subclinical TB on chest radiographs by classifying multilabel radiographic abnormalities, but further research is needed.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to characterize mental health issues among Vietnamese healthcare workers (HCWs) and to identify related factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 990 HCWs in 2021. Their mental health status was measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Results: In total, 49.9%, 52.3%, and 29.8% of respondents were found to have depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. The multivariable linear regression model revealed that factors associated with increased anxiety scores included depression scores (β, 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39 to 0.51) and stress scores (β, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.41 to 0.52). Factors associated with increased depression scores included being frontline HCWs (β, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.10 to 1.10), stress scores (β, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.56), and anxiety scores (β, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.47), while working experience was associated with reduced depression scores (β, -0.08; 95% CI, -0.16 to -0.01). Factors associated with increased stress scores included working experience (β, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.00 to 0.16), personal protective equipment interference with daily activities (β, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.07 to 1.00), depression scores (β, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.59), and anxiety scores (β, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.50), while age was associated with reduced stress scores (β, -0.12; 95% CI, -0.20 to -0.05). Conclusions Specific interventions are necessary to enhance and promote the mental health of HCWs so they can successfully cope with the circumstances of the pandemic.

Objective: To investigate the cause of a botulism outbreak in several provinces in Viet Nam in 2020. Methods: An initial investigation was conducted to confirm the outbreak and to form hypotheses about the potential causes, followed by a case–control assessment of the plausible causative food item. Collected food samples were tested to identify the pathogen, and mouse bioassays were performed. Control measures were introduced to stop the outbreak and to prevent similar events in the future. Results: Twelve people in six southern provinces of Viet Nam were identified as having symptoms of botulism, of whom 11 were in critical condition requiring breathing support. A history of foods eaten in the 4 days before illness onset indicated that all the cases had eaten a tinned vegetarian pate, and a case–control assessment showed that this was significantly associated with the outbreak, with an odds ratio of 35.2 (95% confidence interval: 3.4–infinity). Clostridium botulinum type B was detected in three of eight pâté samples collected from the houses of cases. In the mouse bioassay for the toxicity of the pâté samples, all the mice died with clinical symptoms of botulism. Discussion: A tinned vegetarian pate was the plausible cause of a botulism outbreak in Viet Nam in 2020. Revision of food safety regulations to improve quality control of tinned foods to prevent future outbreaks is recommended.

Background: Hereditary diseases are considered one of the most common causes of death and morbidity in infants and children. It significantly burdens the health system, family, and society. Pre-marital testing is one of the most proactive and effective ways to prevent hereditary diseases, infectious diseases, and congenital abnormalities. Purpose: To examine the level of knowledge and attitudes regarding pre-marital testing and the intention to practice pre-marital testing; and, To identify the correlation between knowledge, attitudes, and intention to practice pre-marital testing among midwifery students. Methods: Adescriptive correlational study was conducted from May to July 2020 among 150 midwifery students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The research consists of a questionnaire with four main parts: demographic characteristics, knowledge about pre-marital testing, attitudes toward pre-marital testing, and intention to practice pre-marital testing. Descriptive statistics and univariate analysis were used for data analysis. The significance level of the statistical test was set up at α = .05. Results: The average age of students was 21.73 years old, most of them were unmarried (98%). More than three-quarters (80.7%) of them had good knowledge about pre-marital testing and (88.7%) of them had a positive attitude towards pre-marital testing. Most students (94.7%) have an intention to use a pre-marital test and believe in its benefits. Knowledge was positively correlated with intention to practice pre-marital testing (X2 = 5.10, p = 0.02). Likewise, attitude toward pre-marital testing was positively correlated with the intention to practice pre-marital testing (X2 = 12.57, p < 0.001). Conclusions The findings emphasized the important role of health education which is a keystone in improving pre-marital knowledge, attitudes, and the practice of pre-marital testing to prevent hereditary diseases and improve people's health.
Knowledge ; Attitude ;

Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Blotting, Western ; Classical swine fever virus ; Classical Swine Fever ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genotype ; Mortality ; Spleen ; Swine ; Vaccines ; Vaccines, Subunit ; Vietnam ; Virulence

Objective To evaluate the impact of plant growth regulators including kinetin (KN), benzyl adenine and naphthalene acetic acid, yeast extract and casein hydrolyzate on biomass accumulation of Vietnamese ginseng Panax vietnamensis (P. vietnamensis) in cell suspension culture. Methods Cell suspension cultures were established from friable calluses derived from leaves and petioles of 3-year-old in-vitro P. vietnamensis plants. The cell suspension cultures were grown in Murashige and Skoog basal media supplemented with various concentrations of KN, benzyl adenine, naphthalene acetic acid, and yeast extract and casein hydrolyzate. Results All tested factors generated an increase in the cell biomass of P. vietnamensis in suspension culture, but the impact of each varies depended on the factor type, concentration, and incubation period. Addition of 2.0 mg/L KN resulted in the largest biomass increase after 24 d, (57.0 ± 0.9) and (3.1 ± 0.1) mg/mL fresh and dry weight, respectively, whereas addition of benzyl adenine or naphthalene acetic acid produced optimum levels of Panax cell biomass at 1.0 and 1.5 mg/L, respectively. Addition of the elicitor yeast extract led to a 1.4–2.4 fold increase in biomass of P. vietnamensis, while addition of casein hydrolyzate enhanced biomass accumulation 1.8–2.6 fold. Conclusions The addition of each factor causes significant changes in biomass accumulation of P. vietnamensis. The largest biomass accumulation is from cultures grown in MS media containing 2.0 mg/L KN for 24 d. The outcome of the present study provides new insights into the optimal suspension culture conditions for studies on the in vitro cell biomass production of P. vietnamensis.

Background: According to WHO, there are 5 million deaths from kinds of injury a year in the world, of which 875000 deaths occur in children under 18 years old. Injury leads to 40000 deaths which account for 10.7% deaths due to all other causes a year in VietNam. Objective: To show conclusions of the situation of child injury, recommendations for prevention of child injury and methods in order to enhance emergency activity in Vietnam. Subjects and method: The authors collected information about all patients who had emergencies due to injury at Viet Duc hospital, from March 26th 2006 to Octorber 26th 2006. However, supervised cases were the patients under 18 years old who were examined and treated at the Department of Emergency. Results: During the period of study, 2536 patients under 18 years old were examined for injury, of which death and coming back home for death were 83 cases (3.27%). 974 children had emergency resulted from injury: male was more than female: 697 verus 227. The leading causes of child injury were fall and traffic accident, respetively 34% and 60%. The most common traumas were traumatic brain injury (45%), limbs injury (41%). Although most of cases had first aid at the hospitals in district or province level, the rate of non-first aid cases was high (34%). Conclusion: Child injury is a leading cause of child death in hospitals. Methods for prevention of child injury should focus on educating and propagandizing to minimize injuries caused by traffic accident and fall.
Wounds and Injuries ; Child