Micronutrient Deficits Are Still Public Health Issues among Women and Young Children in Vietnam

Background: The 2000 Vietnamese National Nutrition Survey showed that the population’s dietary intake had improved since 1987. However, inequalities were found in food consumption between socioeconomic groups. As no national data exist on the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies, a survey was conducted in 2010 to assess the micronutrient status of randomly selected 1526 women of reproductive age and 586 children aged 6–75 mo. Principal Findings: In women, according to international thresholds, prevalence of zinc deficiency (ZnD, 67.262.6%) and vitamin B12 deficiency (11.761.7%) represented public health problems, whereas prevalence of anemia (11.661.0%) and iron deficiency (ID, 13.761.1%) were considered low, and folate (,3%) and vitamin A (VAD,,2%) deficiencies were considered negligible. However, many women had marginal folate (25.1%) and vitamin A status (13.6%). Moreover, overweight (BMI$23 kg/m 2 for Asian population) or underweight occurred in 20 % of women respectively highlighting the double burden of malnutrition. In children, a similar pattern was observed for ZnD (51.963.5%), anemia (9.161.4%) and ID (12.961.5%) whereas prevalence of marginal vitamin A status was also high (47.362.2%). There was a significant effect of age on anemia and ID prevalence, with the youngest age group (6–17 mo) having the highest risk for anemia, ID, ZnD and marginal vitamin A status as compared to other groups. Moreover, the poorest groups of population had a higher risk for zinc, anemia and ID

Utilizing associational resistance for biocontrol: impacted by temperature, supported by indirect defence

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Environmentally acquired chemical camouflage affects Pieris brassicae L. host plant selection and orientation behaviour of a larval parasitoid

Environmentally acquired chemical camouflage is a phenomenon, where a plant growing close to a strong volatile organic compound (VOC) emitter will adsorb and re-emit the VOCs produced by the neighbouring plant. The re-emitted volatile bouquet may resemble more the VOC composition of the neighbour than plant’s own typical odour, and thus act as chemical camouflage against insect detection, potentially simultaneously providing associational resistance towards herbivory. We exposed a pest-sensitive horticultural crop, Brassica oleracea var. italica (broccoli) cv. Lucky, to the volatiles emitted by Rhododendron tomentosum [RT] twigs and assessed the host selection by ovipositing females and larval instars of the major caterpillar pest Pieris brassicae between RT-exposed and control plants. Potential impact of RT exposure on herbivore natural enemies was studied using behavioural tests with a parasitoid wasp Cotesia glomerata. P. brassicae females laid significantly less eggs and egg clusters were fewer on RT-exposed plants at both night-time (6 °C) and daytime (22 °C) temperatures. Larvae preferred leaves from control plants over RT-exposed plants at both temperatures. Preceding RT-exposure did not disturb orientation of parasitoid wasp Cotesia glomerata females towards B. oleracea plants damaged by its host P. brassicae. However, host-damaged control plants were favoured by the parasitoid over RT-exposed, host-damaged plants. Our results suggest that companion plant based chemical camouflage as a mechanism of pest suppression could be developed as an additional tool for the integrated pest management toolbox in agriculture.202

Foliar behaviour of biogenic semi-volatiles: potential applications in sustainable pest management

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Validation of the Job Content Questionnaire among hospital nurses in Vietnam

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) in Vietnamese among hospital nursing staff. METHODS: The 22-items version of the JCQ was used. This includes four scales: (a) psychological demands (5 items); (b) job control (9 items); (c) supervisor support (4 items); and (d) coworker support (4 items). All 1258 nurses in a general hospital in Vietnam, excluding 11 who were due to retire, were invited to complete the cross-sectional survey. The internal consistency reliability was estimated using Cronbach's α. Construct validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Convergent validity was evaluated by calculating correlations between the JCQ scores and DASS 21 and overtime work. RESULTS: In total, 949 (75%) of the 1258 eligible nurses completed the survey. Cronbach's α values demonstrated acceptable internal consistency in two scales (supervisor support α = .87; coworker support α = .86), while Cronbach's α was below the acceptable threshold of 0.70 for job control (α = .45) and job demand (α = .50). EFA assuming a four-factor structure showed a factor structure that was almost identical to the original JCQ, with two items loading on other scales. The subscales of depression, anxiety, and stress response of DASS 21 and the subscales of JCQ were significantly correlated, as expected. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the JCQ in Vietnamese can be used with some reliability and validity for examining psychosocial work environment among nurses. Further studies should be done to confirm and expand our findings in a variety of occupational groups and in other Asian low- and middle-income countries

Validation of the job content questionnaire among hospital nurses in Vietnam

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) in Vietnamese among hospital nursing staff. Methods: The 22‐items version of the JCQ was used. This includes four scales: (a) psychological demands (5 items); (b) job control (9 items); (c) supervisor support (4 items); and (d) coworker support (4 items). All 1258 nurses in a general hospital in Vietnam, excluding 11 who were due to retire, were invited to complete the cross‐sectional survey. The internal consistency reliability was estimated using Cronbach's α. Construct validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Convergent validity was evaluated by calculating correlations between the JCQ scores and DASS 21 and overtime work. Results: In total, 949 (75%) of the 1258 eligible nurses completed the survey. Cronbach's α values demonstrated acceptable internal consistency in two scales (supervisor support α = .87; coworker support α = .86), while Cronbach's α was below the acceptable threshold of 0.70 for job control (α = .45) and job demand (α = .50). EFA assuming a four‐factor structure showed a factor structure that was almost identical to the original JCQ, with two items loading on other scales. The subscales of depression, anxiety, and stress response of DASS 21 and the subscales of JCQ were significantly correlated, as expected. Conclusion: The results suggest that the JCQ in Vietnamese can be used with some reliability and validity for examining psychosocial work environment among nurses. Further studies should be done to confirm and expand our findings in a variety of occupational groups and in other Asian low‐ and middle‐income countries.Published versio

A changing picture of shigellosis in southern Vietnam: shifting species dominance, antimicrobial susceptibility and clinical presentation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Shigellosis remains considerable public health problem in some developing countries. The nature of <it>Shigellae </it>suggests that they are highly adaptable when placed under selective pressure in a human population. This is demonstrated by variation and fluctuations in serotypes and antimicrobial resistance profile of organisms circulating in differing setting in endemic locations. Antimicrobial resistance in the genus <it>Shigella </it>is a constant threat, with reports of organisms in Asia being resistant to multiple antimicrobials and new generation therapies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Here we compare microbiological, clinical and epidemiological data from patients with shigellosis over three different periods in southern Vietnam spanning14 years.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our data demonstrates a shift in dominant infecting species (<it>S. flexneri </it>to <it>S. sonnei</it>) and resistance profile of the organisms circulating in southern Vietnam. We find that there was no significant variation in the syndromes associated with either <it>S. sonnei </it>or <it>S. flexneri</it>, yet the clinical features of the disease are more severe in later observations.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings show a change in clinical presentation of shigellosis in this setting, as the disease may be now more pronounced, this is concurrent with a change in antimicrobial resistance profile. These data highlight the socio-economic development of southern Vietnam and should guide future vaccine development and deployment strategies.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN55945881</p