Understanding Vaccine Hesitancy in Vietnamese Fish Farmers.

(1) Background: Antibiotic (AB) usage in food animals is a significant contributor to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Vaccination can reduce the over-use of AB treatment. Little is known about farmers' attitudes and beliefs about AB and vaccine usage in developing countries, especially in aquaculture. (2) Methods: We used the necessity/concerns framework to guide our research, where vaccine hesitancy is viewed as a function of the perceived necessity versus the perceived concerns about treatment. We measured disease and treatment perceptions in 400 Vietnamese farmers of Pangasius catfish, specifically regarding (a) chemical treatment of water, (b) antibiotic usage, and (c) vaccination of fish. (3) Results: Although farmers' concerns about AB usage outweighed necessity beliefs, 86.5% reported having used ABs on their farm. Knowledge and attitudes towards vaccination were positive, with views of its necessity outweighing concerns. However, if available, only 67.6% said they would definitely use vaccines in the future. Farmers were more likely to use vaccines if they reported having fewer problems with fish disease, felt that any concerns about vaccines were outweighed by their perceived benefits, had less mistrust of vaccination, and had fewer concerns about commercial profiteering. (4) Conclusion: Interventions that highlight concerns about continued antibiotic use, reduce concerns, and mistrust and increase the perceived necessity of vaccines combined with greater availability of vaccines may be the most effective way of overcoming vaccine hesitancy and increase appropriate use of vaccines by Vietnamese fish farmers.

Interaction of Helicobacter pylori Infection with Waterpipe Tobacco Smoking in the Development of Stomach Cancer in Vietnamese Men.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the joint effect of H. pylori infection and tobacco smoking on the development of stomach cancer among Vietnamese men. METHODS: A total of 80 stomach cancer cases and 146 controls were recruited in a case-control study conducted in a general hospital. Information on sociodemographic, anthropometric characteristics, tobacco smoking, and the dietary pattern was obtained based on a semi-quantitative food frequency and demographic lifestyle questionnaire; and venous anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies were tested by ELISA. Unconditional logistic regression analysis with adjustment for potential confounding was performed to estimate the association between target exposures and stomach cancer. RESULTS: An increase in antibody level was related to an elevated odds of stomach cancer (Fifth versus bottom quintile, OR=3.07; 95%CI: 1.16, 8.12; p for trend = 0.032). Compared to participants who were negative with both H. pylori infection and tobacco smoking (either cigarette or waterpipe tobacco), individuals exposed to both these factors showed significantly greater odds of stomach cancer (OR=3.58. (95%CI: 1.32, 9.76, p=0.013). A similar combined impact of H. pylori infection and tobacco smoking was found in individuals who smoked a cigarette (excluded exclusive waterpipe tobacco smokers, ORs = 3.17; 95%CI: 1.13, 8.94, p=0.029) or waterpipe tobacco (excluded exclusive cigarette smokers; OR= 3.96, 95%CI: 1.28, 12.26, p=0.017). CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests an interaction between H. pylori infection and tobacco smoking, even waterpipe tobacco, to induce stomach cancer.

H. pylori Infection and Colorectal Cancers by Anatomical Locations.

BACKGROUND: H. pylori infection may play a role in the development of colorectal cancers (CRC). We aimed to examine the association between H. pylori infection and the risk of CRC by anatomical locations. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study on 91 incidence cases of CRC and 224 hospital controls. CRC was determined by histopathological examinations. H. pylori IgG antibody in serum was tested. We collected data on the diet, nutrition, and lifestyle by the validated semi-quantitative food frequency and demographic lifestyle questionnaire. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (OR (95%CI) were estimated for CRC and its subgroups. RESULTS: Overall 54.95% of CRC cases and 42.41% of the controls were H. pylori-seropositive, OR (95%CI): 1.56 (0.88, 2.74), p for trend=0.115. Positive dose-response association in quartiles, highest vs lowest, was observed for total CRC, OR (95%CI): 2.14 (1.00, 4.58), p for trend=0.049, for proximal colon, OR (95%CI): 1.52 (0.37, 6.25), p for trend=0.571), and for distal colon and rectum cancers combined, OR (95%CI): 2.38 (1.03, 5.50), p for trend=0.039. CONCLUSIONS: There is a positive association between H. pylori and colorectal cancers, especially distal colon and rectum cancers combined, but additional research is needed to determine the underlying mechanism of chronic H. pylori infection-induced CRC in humans.

Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Stomach Cancer among Male Adults: A Case-Control Study in Northern Viet Nam.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between fruit and vegetable intake and stomach cancer, with considering the impacts of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and tobacco smoking. METHODS: A case-control study featuring 80 male incident stomach-cancer cases and 146 male controls was conducted in a general hospital in Viet Nam. A semi-quantitative food frequency and demographic lifestyle questionnaire were used; and venous blood samples were collected to determine H. pylori status by IgG ELISA. The respective associations between fruit and vegetable intake and stomach cancer were examined using unconditional logistic regression analysis with adjustments for possible cofactors. RESULTS: Fruit intake and stomach cancer showed a weak inverse association when this became non-significant after adjusting for H. pylori infection (OR = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.22-1.12, p trend = 0.094). Stratifying by H. pylori status returned a negative trend for fruit intake and stomach cancer among H. pylori-negative participants (OR = 0.21, 95%CI: 0.06-0.69, p trend = 0.010), but no significant interaction for H. pylori-positive participants (OR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.21-2.68, p trend = 0.670). Vegetable intake and stomach cancer showed no association, regardless of H. pylori status. Compared to ever-smokers with low intake, never-smokers with high vegetable (OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.06-0.95) and fruit intake (OR = 0.20, 95%CI: 0.06-0.65) showed the lowest odds of stomach cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Fruit, but not vegetable, intake showed a weak inverse association with stomach cancer. H. pylori infection and tobacco-smoking status may influence the protective effects of fruit and vegetable intake on stomach cancer.
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