Acute respiratory infections in children under five years of age in Bavi — Vietnam: Morbidity and health care utilization

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is one of the major causes of illness in all countries of the world, especially in children under five years of age. The objective of this study was to outline the general picture of ARI in children under five years, including morbidity and health care utilization, in one typical community in the North of Vietnam, and identify the relationship with some socio-economic indicators.

METHOD

Cross sectional household surveys were performed, during October to December 2000. Through structured household interviews, information was collected on symptoms of illness and the utilization of health care during four weeks prior to the interview. Information on socio-economic indicators had been collected during a previous survey.

MAIN FINDING AND DISCUSSION

ARI was a major health problem in children under five years of age in Bavi district. This corresponds to an average 3.4 episodes per child and year, constituting 61% of all episodes of illness. The risk for ARI was clearly increased for children living in a poor household, having a mother working as a farmer and/or a low educational level.

Health care, other than self-treatment, was more utilized with increasing severity of ARI. The private sector dominated as health care provider, irrespective of family’s economic situation, or the mother’s occupation and level of education. However, the CHC was utilized in a somewhat higher proportion by children from poor families.

KEY WORDS

ARI, children under five years of age, health care utilizationLIST OF CONTENS

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 3

ABSTRACT 4

1. BACKGROUND 5

1.1 General characteristics of Vietnam 5

1.2 Health care system in Vietnam 6

1.3 Burden of Acute respiratory infections (ARI) 8

2. OBJECTIVES 9

3. METHODS 10

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3.1 Study area 10

3.2 Study design 11

3.3 Data collection methods 13

3.4 Data analyses 13

3.5 Definitions 14

4. RESULTS . 16

4.1 Illness episodes in children under five years of age 16

4.2 Acute respiratory infections 17

4.3 Socio – economic status and risk for ARI 20

4.4 Pattern of health care utilization 22

4.5 Health care utilization related to socio-economic indicators…. 24

5. DISCUSSION 26

5.1 ARI in children under five years of age 26

5.2 Relationship between ARI and socio-economic indicators 27

5.3 Pattern of health care utilization 28

5.4 Health care utilization related to socio-economic indicators … 29

5.5 Methodological considerations 30

6. CONCLUSIONS 32

7. RECOMMENDATIONS 33

8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 34

9. REFERENCES 36

10. APPENDIX 38 

 

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ARI: Acute Respiratory Infection

CHC: Commune Health Center

Filabavi: Bavi Epidemiological Field Laboratory

GNP: Gross national product

MOH: Ministry of Health

U5: Children under five years of age

VND: Vietnamese currency

VLSS: Vietnam Living Standards Survey

WHO: World Health Organization 

ABTRACT

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