Blinding trachoma in the northern provinces of Vietnam--a cross sectional survey.

Introduction: A prevalence study was conducted in 2001 as part of the SAFE Trachoma Control initiatives in twelve districts of eight northern provinces of Vietnam. The authors present the magnitude and some risk factors of trachomatous trichiasis (TT), trachomatous scarring (TS) and trachomatous corneal opacity (TCO).

Methods: Ophthalmologists examined 43,677 people of more than 34 years of age, randomly selected.

Using lot quality-assurance sampling and area sampling to identify priority areas for trachoma control: Viet Nam.

Objective: To report on the use of lot quality-assurance sampling (LQAS) surveys undertaken within an area-sampling framework to identify priority areas for intervention with trachoma control activities in Viet Nam.

Methods: The LQAS survey method for the rapid assessment of the prevalence of active trachoma was adapted for use in Viet Nam with the aim of classifying individual communes by the prevalence of active trachoma among children in primary school. School-based sampling was used; school sites to be sampled were selected using an area-sampling approach.

National environmental health planning in Vietnam: flying some kites.

The link between environment and health has been well established, as has the need to develop strategies to manage the environment to protect health. The response of many governments to the emergence of environment as a leading concern of public health policy has been to fragment environment and health functions across many agencies, without effective coordination or communication systems, resulting in poor planning frameworks. There is a deepening awareness by many in government and international agencies of the need to develop 'national environmental health plans' (NEHAPS) to build and integrate environment and health policy and practice.