Monitoring the Rapid Assessment and Epidemiological Survey of Trachoma in Northern Vietnam Provinces

Project Overview

• Field: Communicable Disease Prevention
• Duration: 06 – 10/2001
• Funder/client: International Trachoma Initiative (ITI)
• Implementing agency: Center for Environmental and Health Studies (CEHS)
• Location: Hưng Yên, Hà Tây, Hòa Bình, Yên Bái, Bắc Kạn, Vĩnh Phúc, Phú Thọ, Hà Tĩnh and Nghệ An

Introduction

The project monitored a rapid assessment and epidemiological survey of trachoma across northern Vietnam provinces, supporting priority site selection for the 2002–2004 SAFE Vietnam program. During 2000–2001, Vietnam conducted numerous district-level surveys in provinces suspected of disease endemicity to identify intervention needs and develop appropriate control plans.

Trachoma is an eye infection that can cause blindness, and WHO's SAFE strategy focuses on surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvement. Monitoring the quality of rapid assessments and analyzing environmental sanitation factors was important for identifying priority localities and designing effective interventions.

CEHS's Role

CEHS directly conducted the monitoring and survey activities with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Đình Khoa, Dr. Nguyễn Đức Hồng, Dr. Nguyễn Hữu Nhân and Dr. Hoàng Năng Trọng. CEHS was responsible for quality monitoring of the rapid assessment across 27 northern districts, analyzing the relationship between trachoma and environmental sanitation factors, and developing the report used as a basis for selecting sites for the 2002–2004 SAFE Vietnam program.

Key Activities

• Conducting quality monitoring of the rapid trachoma assessment across 27 districts in northern provinces.
• Collecting and analyzing epidemiological information on trachoma in the surveyed areas.
• Investigating the relationship between trachoma status and environmental sanitation factors and community living conditions.
• Building an evidence base to support selection of localities for the 2002–2004 SAFE Vietnam program.
• Proposing appropriate interventions to strengthen local trachoma control effectiveness.

Key Results

• Completed quality monitoring of the rapid trachoma assessment across 27 northern districts, helping ensure the reliability of input data.
• Provided epidemiological evidence and information on environmental sanitation factors related to trachoma in the surveyed provinces.
• Supported selection of priority localities for the 2002–2004 SAFE Vietnam program.
• Proposed intervention directions on facial cleanliness, environmental improvement and community health activities to control trachoma more effectively.