Background: Vietnamese herbs are considered as a botanical resource, a precious medicinal source of our country, and are widely used in the residential community in general. Phu Vang district is a coastal plain and lagoon in Thua Thien Hue province, where people’s living standards are not high, health facilities lack equipment. Therefore, the needs for primary health care are necessary to be strengthened, especially in the treatment of common diseases using Vietnamese herbs to reduce costs and improve health for the people. However, the knowledge of the local residents about Vietnamese herbs preventing and treating common diseases at home has not been surveyed. Objectives: (1) To describe the knowledge, attitude and practice on the use of Vietnamese herbs used in the treatment of common diseases of residents in some communes of Phu Vang district. (2) To determine some factors related to the use of Vietnamese herbs in the treatment of common diseases among the residents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 residents representing the heads of households in three communes of Phu Vang district, Thua Thien Hue province, Thua Thien Hue province. Descriptive statistical analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed with SPSS software. Results: Knowledge: Good: 45.2%; Fair: 30.8%; Average: 9.0%; Poor: 2.0%. Attitude: 97.0% of residents preferred using Vietnamese herbs in the treatment of common diseases, and 96.6% of residents agreed to continue using Vietnamese herbs to treat similar diseases later. Practice: Good: 7.8%; Fair: 16.7%; Average: 25.3%; Poor: 50.2%. Receiving information about Vietnamese herbs and growing them at home gardens were two factors related to the use of Vietnamese herbs to treat common diseases (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The practice of using Vietnamese herbs to treat common diseases of the residents in Phu Vang district is still low, it is necessary to strengthen educational propaganda to raise the awareness and practice among residents on the prevention and treatment of diseases with Vietnamese herbs at home.

Background: Forest malaria is one of the challenges faced by the Malaria Control Program in Vietnam. Objectives: (1). To evaluate the malaria prevalence among forest goers, (2). To study the efficacy of insecticide-treated hammock net (ITHNs) in malaria prevention for forest goers. Subject and method: The descriptive epidemiological intervention study on the effect of ITHNs in forest malaria control has been carried out in Ninh Thuan in 2005 \ufffd?2006. Results: Malaria prevalence among forest goers was very high: Clinical malaria: 15.5%, enlarged spleen: 7.0%, confirmed cases: 13.3% and asymptomactic cases: 74%. Age, sex, ethnic, low educated levels, low income, less use of mosquito-nets and poor house condition were considered as risk factors in malaria infection, especially for people who spent much time in the forest. ITHNs were effective in prevention of malaria infection, the malaria morbidity was decreased after 2 years of application (reduced from 31 % to 14% for prevalence, and from 274/1000 population to 161/1000 population for incidence), and the morbidity rate was lower than that in the group of people who did not use ITHNs. Conclusion: For the entomological survey, it is found that Anopheles density reduced in the group of people prevented by ITHNs. The residual of insecticide on the hammock net was decreased after 2 years utilization.\r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Malaria

Background: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the first laparoscopic surgery that was performed at Cho Ray hospital in September 1992. In 2005, Quang Tri general hospital has performed successfully the first case of laparoscopic appendectomy. Objectives: To access the preliminary results of application on endoscopic surgery in Quang Tri general hospital. Subjects and method: A prospective study was conducted on 140 patients with laparoscopic surgery or retroperitoneal surgery, was performed in Quang Tri general hospital from September, 2005 to April, 2006. Results:Among 140 patients was operated, there was only one case of postoperative intestinal obstructive complication (accounted for 0.7%), no case of death. Operative aged was between 11 and 70 years old. The average surgical time was 65 minutes for cholecystectomy, 35 minutes for appendectomy, 85 minutes for ureterolithotomy, 80 minutes for gynecological diseases. 2 cases of cholecystectomy and appendectomy changed open surgery. Conclusion: Laparoscopic surgery is a safe and effective method. It can be developed in provincial hospitals. Quang Tri general hospital has successful preliminary developed the new technique.
Laparoscopy ;

A study on epidemiological characteristics of migration and malaria was carried out in Ea Sup district, Dak Lak province in 2002-2004. The findings showed that the migrants from the North in 2-5 recent years stayed permanently in the new land (98.8%). The main reason for migration was the economic factor (95.5%). The migrants were exposed to the malaria infection during their 1-2 week moving time and lack of protection means, such as bednets (83.0%) and antimalarial drugs (17%). The living place of the migrants was isolated and closed to the forest with temporary house (97%), and the malaria prevalence and incidence were high. There is no significant difference in malaria infection rates by gender, ethnic and parasite species. The risk factors were due to working and sleeping in the forest (98%), and poor structured houses (86%). The knowledge on malaria of the migrants was higher than local people (77% vs. 52%), but the income was lower (50% and 78%). The lack of bednets was 67% and the use of bednets was 90%. The rates of health care seeking behavior and accessing to health information were low: 36-56% and 27 30%.
Malaria ; Epidemiology ; Risk Factors

Remote sensing and GIS technology was studied in 2003 to detect and predict the malaria risk in Ham Thuan Nam district, Binh Thuan province where malaria is endemic. The results showed that: there is a chased relationships between natural, environmental and socio-economic indicators and malaria transmission in different areas of the district. The malaria morbidity rate from 1996 to 2002 and environmental parameters such as land cover, vegetation, climate, meteorology... were used for constructing a map to show the risk of malaria in the district through the retrospective and existing data SPOT, LANDSAT and ASTER satellite imageries. Based on this malaria risk map, the malaria situation and epidemic can be detected and prevented.
Malaria ; Forecasting ; Risk Factors

A study on the current status of malaria and the efficacy of interventions among migrants was carried out in one district with high malaria transmission in Central Highland - Vietnam from 2002-2004. The findings of the study showed that: The malaria prevalence of clinical and parasite were high in the migrant, especially among new comers (clinical rate: 5.2% and parasite rate:4.3%). These rates were higher than that in local people (clinical rate:5.0% and parasite rate: 3.1%) and were still high in the year 3 and decreasing after 3 years. The applied interventions for migrant were: strengthening of the health education, improvement of community health workers and they were effective. The prevalence and incidence of malaria were reduced from 3.9 to 0.65% and 45.3 to 28.1/1000 population, respectively, after 3 years. The malaria rate was reduced by 40-60% compared with that in the control group.
Malaria ; Therapeutics

Remote sensing and GIS technology was studied to detect and predict the malaria risk in Ham Thuan Nam district, Binh Thuan province where malaria is endemic in 2003. The result showed that: there was a strong realationship between natural, environmental and socio-economic indicators and malaria transmission in different areas of the district. The factors affect to ecological and developmental environment of mosquite and make advantage developmental condition for mosquite and conversely. GIS method is effect tool to define the factors and play a basic role for building up a map to show the risk of malaria. Remote sensing material and methods to deal with information provide important, objective information as NDVI index. The vary of the index together with another index as geography, climate... are important index in building epidemic forecast system early.
Malaria ; Risk Factors ; Epidemiology

The authors studied epidemiology of forest malaria through a cross-sectional community based study in one province, central Vietnam. A total of 4036 individuals were investigated in 2004. Results: the prevalence of antibodies to P.falciparum was constantly about 20.5% and the prevalence rate of malaria parasite was 13.3%. Multivariate analysis showed that the regular forest activity was the main risk factor for malaria infection (OR = 5.51, p< 0.005). The population- attributable fraction for regular forest activity was estimated to be 99.5%. The results confirmed the major role played by forest activity on the malaria burden in this area and provide the basic for targeting control activities to forest worker. New interventions based on insecticide-treated materials need to urgently evaluated like: bed nets, hammocks...
Malaria ; Risk Factors ; Forestry

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

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