Vietnam Women Health Information
Reported, January 10, 2012
78.5% of women of reproductive age report using (or a partner using) a contraceptive method compared with 82% in the UK.
2% of women aged 5069 years have undergone a breast examination or mammography compared to 75% in the UK and 7% of women aged 2069 years have undergone cervical cancer screening compared to 70% in the UK.
Anaemia
There is a moderate risk of anaemia in people from this country (estimated prevalence in non-pregnant women 20-40%). Be alert to this possibility in recently arrived migrants, particularly for women and pre-school children, and test as clinically indicated.
Vitamin D deficiency
Sunlight is the major source of vitamin D and dark skinned individuals or those who for cultural or religious reasons cover their whole bodies when outdoors are at risk of deficiency, as are those whose diets (vegetarian/vegan) do not contain an adequate vitamin D supply.
Vitamin A deficiency
There is a risk of vitamin A deficiency in this country.
Iodine deficiency
People from this country may be at risk of moderate iodine deficiency due to inadequate intake.
TB
There is a high incidence of TB in this country (40 499 cases/100,000).
There is a high burden of Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) TB in this country.
If known to be HIV positive refer to HIV team for further risk assessment and TB screening.
Offer chest X ray to all unless;
under 11 years of age
possibility of pregnancy
recent chest X ray
Offer Mantoux test if;
under 11 years of age
possibility of pregnancy
normal chest X ray but less than 36 years of age
Offer gamma interferon blood test if;
Mantoux test >6mm (no prior BCG)
Mantoux test >15mm (prior BCG)
Refer to TB services promptly if screening is positive.
Local TB services should seek advice from the MDR-TB Clinical Advice Service before treating patients from this country for TB.
Maintain long term vigilance for symptoms of TB even if initial screening is negative.
TB is a notifiable disease.
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HIV and sexually transmitted infections
This country has a low rate of HIV.
Test all sexually active patients under the age of 25 for chlamydia.
Take a sexual history and screen for STIs and HIV according to risk as specified in the UK national standards for the management of STIs (BASHH guidelines) and HIV (BHIVA guidelines).
In a high prevalence PCT (=2/1000) all newly registering patients should be offered an HIV test regardless of country of origin (BHIVA guidelines).
In a low prevalence PCT (less than 2/1000) patients in the following groups should be offered an HIV test:
pregnant women
patients presenting with an indicator disease or another STI (see page 7 of BHIVA guidelines for list)
men disclosing sexual contact with other men
patients reporting a history of injecting drug use
patients reporting sexual contact with someone at increased risk of HIV infection
Hepatitis B
This country has a high prevalence of hepatitis B.
Consider screening for hepatitis B, particularly among those who have recently arrived.
All pregnant women should be offered screening for hepatitis B infection during each pregnancy.
Babies born to mothers who are hepatitis B positive should be appropriately immunised and followed-up accordingly.
The UK has a selective immunisation programme for hepatitis B; please see the Immunisation against Infectious Disease (Green Book) for further guidance.
Hepatitis C
This country has a considerably higher prevalence of hepatitis C than the UK.
Consider screening for hepatitis C.
Malaria
There is a high risk of malaria in some areas of this country due to P. falciparum and P. vivax.
Information on which areas of this country are affected is available from NaTHNaC.
Enteric fever
There is a high risk of typhoid infection in this country.
Ensure that travellers to this country are offered typhoid immunisation and advice on prevention of enteric fevers.
Remember enteric fever in the differential diagnosis of illness in patients with a recent history of travel to or from this country.
Helminths
There is a risk of helminth infections including lymphatic filarisis and soil transmitted helminthiasis in this country.