Prevalence of common mental disorders and their determinants among adults in Vietnam

Student: Do Thi Hanh Trang.

Supervisors: Associate Professor Ignacio Correa-Velez and Professor Michael Dunne

International University: Queensland University of Technology, Australia

Summary: Common Mental Disorders among adults are caused by many complex factors. Genetic, biological, social and environmental influences, either alone or in combination, shape the health and wellbeing of the population as we age. This study  will focus on the influence of severe environmental events and social and family conditions, including exposure to natural disasters, accidental trauma, childhood adversity and other stressful life experiences on the occurrence, and severity, of symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress. The research will include a randomized; population based household survey of residents in two central Vietnam provinces. The work will enable comparison to other Vietnamese and international studies of the associations between adverse life events and adult health. The findings should enable further insight into the long term impact of potentially modifiable determinants upon health and quality of life.

Impact of ambient temperature on hospital admissions for acute myocardial infarction in the Central coast of Vietnam

Student: Dang Thi Anh Thu

Supervisors: Professor Shilu Tong and Professor Michael Dunne

International University: School of Public Health and Social Work, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia

Summary: The effects of temperature on human health and well-being are widely recognised as an important public health issue. Vietnam is one of the countries most affected by climate change. However, very few studies on temperature-related health effects have been conducted in Vietnam. Research worldwide suggests links between extremes of temperature and risk of serious medical events such as hospitalisaiton due to heart attack, However, no study uin Viernam and few in Asia have focused on the relationship between air temperature and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This study aims to examine the association between temperature variation and daily hospital admissions of AMI among adults in three provinces in the Central Coast of Vietnam over the period 2008 to 2015. Also, the research team will try to explore the most appropriate temperature indicator to predict AMI hospital admissions and the threshold temperature (temperature range) with the minimum hospital admissions for AMI in central Vietnam.

Data will be collected from Thua Thien Hue, Khanh Hoa and Quang Binh. The data on AMI hospital admissions will be obtained from the three biggest provincial/central hospitals in these areas. Information on weather and air pollution from 15 stations within these provinces will be obtained from the National Hydrometeorology and Environment Network Centre and the Centre for Environmental Monitoring (Vietnam Environment Administration), respectively.

A distributed lag non-linear model (DLNM) will be used to examine the relationship between various related temperature indices and daily AMI hospital admissions, and both non-lagged and lagged effects will be evaluated. All analyses will be adjusted for long term trend, seasonality, air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, N02 and 03), other meteorological variables (relative humidity, air pressure and wind speed), public holidays and day of week.  Findings from this research may assist in developing effective strategies to alert people in general and health professionals about links between this type of medical emergency and extremes of temperature.

Health risk due to food contamination induced by urban floods.

Student: Nguyen Thanh Gia

Supervisors: Prof.Toru Watanabe

International University: Yamagata university, Japan

Summary:

Hue city is located in central Vietnam on the banks of the Huong (perfume) river. The rainy season is from August to January, with a flood season from October, onwards. Mussel is a traditional food in Hue city and it is harvested in the downstream of Huong river. In addition, oysters are cultivated in Tam Giang lagoon downstream from Hue city. So mussel and oysters are probably affected by contaminants from Hue city, where urban flooding occurs regularly. So far, however, no studies have tried to evaluate the risk of food borne disease due to annual or biannual urban floods around Hue city. This study is designed to test the hypothesis that wastewater from the urban area triggers contamination of foods, resulting in considerable risks to the health of the population. The study also develops a methodology to assess risk of food borne diseases in terms of subjective quality of life of people living in central Vietnam.

Exploring the coordination and continuity of care and services for patients with chronic Non-communicable diseases in Vietnam

Student: Lana Meiqari

Supervisor:  Professor Dr. Fedde Scheele

Co-Supervisors:

Professor Dr. Bruno Marchal & Dr. Dirk Rombout Essink

Field Supervisor:

Professor Dr. Pamela Wright – Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam (MCNV)

International University: Erasmus Mundus Trans Global Health Program, Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit (VU), Amsterdam, The Netherlands & Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM), Antwerp, Belgium

Summary: The rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the continued high prevalence of communicable diseases (CDs) pose a double burden to people and health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The fragmentation of health services, staff and finance allocation is becoming a barrier towards providing accessible and equitable health care services. Therefore, integration of services has been suggested as a way to reduce fragmentation, provide person-centered services, and improve overall health system performance. The integration of services must ensure coordination and continuity of care for patients, especially for people with complex needs.

An evaluation of nationa-levell vertical programs has shown variation in the resources, achievements,  investment and funds available for care services. Factors hindering access to health services at the system level include: lack of continuity of care between levels of the health care network; fragmentation of the curative and preventive care services; and medical services focused mostly on curative care.

This research aims to explore drivers and challenges for implementing coordination and continuity of services and care for patients with chronic conditions at primary health care level in Vietnam, in order to support the strengthening of person-centered and integrated health services. The research will use a transdisciplinary approach with qualitative and quantitative methods. Data collection will take place at two districts in Thua Thien Hue Province: Hue city (urban) and Phu Vang District (rural). In addition, data will be collected at two districts in Thai Nguyen Province in collaboration with Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Findings of the research may contribute to advocacy for future interventions & program development in Vietnam. In addition, lessons learned can be shared with other LMICs facing similar constraints and fragmentation in services. 

Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and their determinants in Central Vietnam.

Student: Nguyen Hoang Thuy Linh.

Supervisors: Associate Professor Keiko Nakamura

University: Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan

Summary:

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) havily affect low- and middle-income countries where nearly three quarters of NCD deaths occur.  These diseases are influenced by many factors including ageing, rapid unplanned urbanization, and the globalization of unhealthy lifestyles. In this new study that is still in the early stage of concept mapping, Ms Linh will focus on the burden of noncommunicable diseases among aduklts in central Vietnam and examine the influence of key risk factors (including environmental factors, social factors and unhealthy lifestyles). The work will complement prior and concurrent research in Vietnam. The findings should enable further insight into the impact of potentially modifiable health determinants in this population.