Patterns of Raised Blood Pressure in Vietnam: Findings from the WHO STEPS Survey 2015.

This study aims to describe the prevalence of raised blood pressure and the situation of management for raised blood pressure among the adult population in Vietnam. It also aims to examine the association between diversified socioeconomic and behavioral factors of raised blood pressure and awareness of raised blood pressure. Data were obtained from the STEPS survey conducted in Vietnam in 2015. Survey sample was nationally representative with a total of 3,856 people aged 18-69 years old. The study outcomes included raised blood pressure and awareness of and control of raised blood pressure. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association of socioeconomic and behavior risk factors with the outcome variables. The overall prevalence of raised blood pressure in Vietnam in 2015 was 18.9% (95% CI: 17.4%-20.6%). The prevalence of raised blood pressure was higher among men. Significantly correlated factors with raised blood pressure were age, sex, body mass index, and diabetes status. Levels of awareness of raised blood pressure were higher among the older age group and overweight people and lower among ethnic minority groups. Raised blood pressure in Vietnam is a serious problem due to its magnitude and the unacceptably high unawareness rate in the population. Public health actions dealing with the problems of raised blood pressure are urgent, while taking into account its relationship with sex and socioeconomic status. It is clear that the interventions should address all people in society, with a focus on disadvantaged groups which are the rural and ethnic minority peoples.

The situation of water using in households of three districts of Quang Binh and Thua Thien Hue

The study was conducted using combination of cross-sectional, quantitative and qualitative methods at 82 communes and towns of Quang Trach and Bo Trach districts (Quang Binh), Phu Loc district (Hue). Results: the supply and use of water in 8180 households investigated were relatively good in quantity and acceptable quality. Two water supplies were used with high rate were deep well (59.3%) and drilled well (19.2%). However, it is necessary to propagandize awareness of environmental sanitation in public such as choose safe water supplies (tap-water), stores water in clean storage tools, and exploit running-water far away from polluted sources

Some behaviors of individual sanitation in 3 districts of Ha Giang and Tuyen Quang provinces

This study was conducted at 60 communes of Quan Ba and Yen Minh districts (Ha Giang). Chiem Hoa district (Tuyen Quang). The results showed that some behaviors of individual sanitation involved in preventing diseases in community were quite bad. Among of 6012 interviewed people, 71.1% of people sad that always drink unboiled water, only 0.2% of people usually wash their hands before having the meal; 29.4% of households have personal face-cloth use only, and only 4.1% of households rot manure over 6 months before using for crops.

The situation of construction and use of the privy in households at 3 districts of two northern mountainous provinces in Viet Nam

The investigation using combination of quantitative and qualitative methods at 60 communes, towns of three districts including Quan Ba, Yen Minh (Ha Giang) and Chiem Hoa (Tuyen Quang) showed that ratio of households with hygienic privy were very low (6.5%) among 6012 investigated households in both provinces. The construction and preservation and use of the privy were not in good conditions, only 5.2% households are using hygienic privy. The situation in Ha Giang was not as good as Tuyen Quang

Water supply for households in 3 districts of Quang Binh province and Thua Thien Hue province

A cross-sectional study of the supply and use of water was carried out on 8180 households in 3 districts of Quang Binh province and Thua Thien Hue province. The results showed that: two water sources with high rate of usage were deep well (59.3%) and drilled well (19.2%). The rate of households with adequate water supply was 81.5%, among which deep wells were at highest rate of 48.4%, and tap water were at lowest rate of 1.8%. 58.3% of households were found with water containers including: built tanks (49.3%), buckets (24.7%), earthenware vessels (25.3%). 84.6% of water containers were built far from breeding facilities. 95.4% of wells had high wall, 84.8% with surrounding yards but only 8.8% with covers. It is necessary to improve the quality of living water in public by supplying better water sources