RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread health, social and economic impacts worldwide. In many contexts, it has likely exacerbated existing inequalities. OBJECTIVE: This study compares the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic amongst people with and without disabilities in Viet Nam. METHODS: A telephone survey was conducted in the three largest cities of Viet Nam (Da Nang, Ha Noi, and Ho Chi Minh City) between December 2021 and January 2022. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling (n = 898; 479 people with disabilities; 419 without). The survey collected data on livelihoods, employment, household economic security, and access to social protection and assistance. RESULTS: People with disabilities were three times more likely to have stopped working completely (PR: 2.8, 95 % CI: 2.0-4.0), 30 % more likely to report reduced earnings (PR: 1.3, 95 % CI: 1.2-1.5), twice as likely to report severe impacts on household finances (PR: 1.9, 95 % CI: 1.6-2.3) and three times more likely to report severe impacts on household food security (PR: 3.2, 95 % CI: 2.3-4.6) since the onset of the pandemic. Amongst people with disabilities, informal workers were particularly negatively affected. Households with members with disabilities were more likely to receive some types of COVID-19-related assistance (e.g. financial or food aid), but less likely to be enrolled in social insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Urgent and inclusive responses are necessary during crises to address the unique challenges faced by people with disabilities. Implementing comprehensive social protection measures is crucial to narrowing disparities, and maintaining well-being and economic security during shocks such as COVID-19.
RESUMO
Background: Secondhand smoke (SHS) has detrimental effects on community health, including coronary heart diseases, stroke, lung cancer etc. This manuscript exploited data from the Vietnam Population-based Provincial Global Adult Tobacco Survey (PGATS) in 2022 to update the prevalence of adult exposure to SHS and associated socio-demographic factors. Methods: With the sample size of 71,981 adults aged 15+ throughout 30 provinces and cities in Vietnam, data was collected using the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) questionnaire. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression modelling were performed. Results: In the past 30 days, 44.4% (95% CI: 44.0%-44.9%) adults aged 15+ exposed to SHS at home while 23.1% (95% CI: 22.6%-23.6%) exposed to SHS at work. Female exposure to SHS in the past 30 days was higher at homes but lower at indoor workplaces. Participants aged 15-24 were likely to have higher odds of SHS exposure in the past 30 days to other age groups. Those living in the urban areas had 1.15 times higher odds (95% CI: 1.08-1.22) of exposure to SHS than those in the rural areas. Current smokers tended to have 2.2 times higher odds of exposure to SHS at the indoor workplaces compared to non-smokers (95% CI: 2.05-2.37). Conclusions: The prevalence of exposure to SHS at home was still relatively high amongst the adult population. While there was a significant reduction of SHS exposure at indoor workplaces, there was a higher prevalence of women being exposed to SHS at home. The Government of Vietnam should continue to strictly implement the smoke-free environment resolution at indoor workplaces and appropriate communication campaigns to protect people, especially women from SHS exposure at homes.