WHO's Service Availability and Readiness Assessment of primary health care services of commune health centers in a rural district of Northern Vietnam.

The objective of this study was to assess the availability and readiness of the primary health care (PHC) services of commune health centers (CHCs) in Quoc Oai, a rural district of Northern Vietnam based on the World Health Organization's Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) tool. The study was done in 2 steps. First, the heads of the 21 CHCs of Quoc Oai district were interviewed using SARA, a quantitative survey, and the responses were then validated by direct observations of each facility. The results showed that although the average number of health staffs in each CHC met the national standards (at least 5 staffs per CHC), its allocation within each CHC was not properly met because some CHCs had only 2 health staffs. Several health equipment and facilities were not fully available in many CHCs, and although the majority of the PHC services were available at the CHCs, their readiness remained limited. Several significant correlates between the availability of health care workers and the availability of the facilities and the PHC services were observed, suggesting that they depend upon and affect one another in the health system. Using the SARA-based inventory, the study helps health managers and policy makers to prioritize efforts and allocate resources more appropriately. To be effective, attention should be given to how to make facilities, services, and human resources for health ready for PHC activities-more investment and support from the system (from higher to lower level) and the government.

Linkage between HIV diagnosis and care: Understanding the role of gender in a Northern Province in Vietnam.

Early linkage to HIV care is associated significantly with improved patient outcomes and reduced the risk of HIV transmission. However, delays between HIV diagnosis and registering for care have prevailed in Vietnam. The aim of researchers in this study is to examine linkages to care for individuals newly diagnosed with HIV in 2014, especially to highlight the impact of gender upon these linkages in a Northern Province of Ninh Binh. We collected secondary data of all 125 eligible HIV positive people diagnosed in 2014 and conducted a gender-based descriptive analysis of their registration to care within 6 months. Nineteen in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions were completed. We found that women accounted for one-third of newly diagnosed cases (42/125), but initiated HIV treatment at an earlier stage of HIV disease than men (65% women at stage 1, 2 versus 31% in men). Stigma and discrimination was greater among women while inadequate awareness of treatment was greater for men. Dissatisfaction with HIV testing and counseling and no or passive referral to treatment were other barriers for both the genders for enrolling in care services after diagnosis.

Enhancing the benefits of antiretroviral therapy in Vietnam: towards ending AIDS.

Vietnam has a concentrated HIV epidemic, with the highest HIV prevalence being observed among people who inject drugs (PWID). Based on its experience scaling-up robust HIV interventions, Vietnam aims to further strengthen its response by harnessing the preventive benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Mathematical modelling suggests that prioritizing key populations for earlier access to ART, combined with other prevention interventions, may have significant impact on the epidemic, cost-effectively reducing new HIV infections and deaths. Pilot studies are being conducted to assess feasibility and acceptability of expansion of HIV testing and counselling (HTC) and early ART among key populations and to demonstrate innovative service delivery models to address challenges in uptake of services across the care cascade. Earlier access of key populations to combination prevention interventions, combined with sustained political commitment and supportive environment for key populations, are essential for maximum impact of ART on the HIV epidemic in Vietnam.