HIV infection among tuberculosis patients in Vietnam: prevalence and impact on tuberculosis notification rates.

Background: Vietnam has an emerging human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic (estimated population prevalence 0.5%), but valid data on HIV prevalence among tuberculosis (TB) patients are limited. Recent increases in TB notification rates among young adults may be related to HIV.

Delays in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis patients in Vietnam: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Treatment delay is an important indicator of access to tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment. Analyses of patient delay (i.e.

Antituberculosis drug resistance in the south of Vietnam: prevalence and trends.

Background: There is limited evidence that the DOTS (directly observed therapy, short course) strategy for tuberculosis (TB) control can contain the emergence and spread of drug resistance in the absence of second-line treatment. We compared drug-resistance levels between 1996 and 2001 in the south of Vietnam, an area with a well-functioning DOTS program.

Methods: Sputum specimens were collected from consecutively diagnosed patients with smear-positive TB at 40 randomly selected public TB clinics.

Tuberculosis epidemiology in six provinces of Vietnam after the introduction of the DOTS strategy.

Setting: Six provinces in Vietnam where the DOTS strategy was introduced in 1989.

Objective: To assess the impact of improved tuberculosis (TB) control on TB epidemiology in Vietnam.

Methods: Data from the surveillance system in the period 1990-2003 were analysed to assess trends of notification rates and the mean ages of notified cases.

Evaluation of sputum smear microscopy in the National Tuberculosis Control Programme in the north of Vietnam.

Objective: To assess the yield of sputum smear microscopy and sex differences in the National Tuberculosis Control Programme in the north of Vietnam.

Methods: Review of registers of 30 randomly selected laboratories (26 district, 4 provincial level).

Results: The average daily workload per technician was 4.

Diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis at basic health care facilities in rural Vietnam: a survey of knowledge and reported practices among health staff.

One fundamental element needed for tuberculosis control programmes to succeed is that health staff should adequately manage persons with both suspected and confirmed tuberculosis. This study assesses the level of knowledge and reported practices regarding tuberculosis among health staff at basic health care facilities in a rural district in Vietnam. A questionnaire consisting of 17 multiple-choice questions, 6 open questions, and five case-studies was completed by 253 health staff.

Establishment and development of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme in Vietnam.

Objective: To describe the establishment and development of the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) of Vietnam.

Methods: Data were obtained from the surveillance system established by the new NTP in 1986 and based on the principles now described as the WHO DOTS strategy.

Results: The proportion of districts covered by the NTP increased from 40% in 1986 to almost 100% in 2000.