Since 1998, RTCCD has conducted projects on Vitamin A deficiency prevention in mountainous areas in response to the severe problem of micronutrient deficiency among women and children in Vietnam over the last decade. The organization was also involved in community education efforts to increase child survival for ethnic minority groups in Quang Tri province and to reduce anaemia among pregnant women and children in mountainous districts of Yen Bai province. In terms of policy analysis, it was the principal investigator organization for the first phase of a 15-year longitudinal study which measured impacts of government policies on childhood poverty with a cohort of 2000 1 year old children in Vietnam. RTCCD is also a member of the panel for a countrywide maternal and child health strategy development established by the UNPFA and Ministry of Health. RTCCD is an accredited institution in maternal and child health project evaluation. With a team of public health specialists, paediatricians, gynaecologists and epidemiologists, RTCCD developed recommendations for future projects with a focus on implementing projects within a local context – one that considers the local population’s needs, country policy, local staff capacity and cultural values. Below are some efforts of RTCCD in the area of maternal and child health:
Intervention against Hookworm and Anaemia in Yen Bai Province. 2006-2009
As an independent research institution with extensive experience in community health research, especially in community interventions for control of anaemia in women and children in Vietnam, RTCCD acted as the independent monitor for the Intervention against Hookworm and Anaemia in Yen Bai Province. The project was undertaken in partnership with the Australian Research Institute and the Vietnam National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology. The project provided de-worming treatment Albendazole at six monthly intervals and weekly iron/folic acid supplements for all women of reproductive age, 16-45 years old, over a period of one year in all the communes of the Tran Yen and Yen Binh districts in Yen Bai province. Monitoring women’s compliance and the related factors was needed to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the project design and its implementation. Two monitoring surveys were carried out in 2006 and 2007 with constructive feedback and recommendations provided to the project implementers. From May 2008, the treatment was extended to cover the entire province. RTCCD’s independent survey of the expanded model was carried out in March 2009. It is now hoped that the project will serve as an effective model to replicate across the whole country for anaemia and hookworm control.
Download report summary of first independent survey in English and Vietnamese.
Download report summary of second independent survey in English and Vietnamese.
Download report summary of third independent survey in English and Vietnamese.
Evaluation of the Paediatric Nursing Education Project (P-NEP). 2008
Public health education in Vietnam has shifted from the Soviet Union’s approach of being limited to the scope of medical schools, to a Western approach with public health schools and training for anyone who wants to be a public health professional. However, Vietnam still needs a great deal of support in order to produce a qualified public health workforce equipped to meet the modern health challenges facing the Vietnamese population. Public health education in Vietnam consists of both undergraduate and graduate degree training programs. An example of one analysis of this subject is the following project conducted by RTCCD is which focuses on paediatric nursing education.
This project, funded by Atlantic Philanthropies during the period 2004-2007, aimed to equip trained nurses with further skills and knowledge, including an ability to work independently, to conduct research and training activities, and to manage projects. The objective was to have external evaluation of the P-NEP, with the collaborative input of RTCCD, the National Hospital of Paediatrics and the Royal Children’s Hospital International Australia. More specifically, the evaluation addressed the following:
· to ascertain whether the P-NEP objectives have been achieved;
· to determine key lessons for success (or failure) against each P-NEP objective; and
· to provide recommendations for future development projects in scaling up paediatric nursing services.
Download report summary in English and Vietnamese.
End-line Survey on the Maternal and Child Health Project in Binh Dinh Province 2004-2008. 2008
In 2006, RTCCD conducted a mid-term review on the progress made thus far for the Maternal and Child Health Project in Binh Dinh province. In order to meet the specific needs and requirements of maternal and child health in this province, certain adjustments were made based on advice received from RTCCD. Similarly, in August-September 2008, an end-line survey was conducted to evaluate the achievements of the project objectives and output indicators. Download report summary in English and Vietnamese.
Maternal and Child Health Project in Hoa Binh and Bac Kan Provinces. 2008
Funded by ChildFund Australia, for the period of 2004-2007, the Maternal and Child Health project was implemented in ten communes in the provinces of Hoa Binh and Bac Kan. RTCCD was approached to complete the final evaluation of the project. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to measure the positive impacts that the project had on mothers and children in the communes. Child care, nutritional practices, prenatal care, delivery care and postpartum care were just some examples of the domains in which improvements were made. Download report summary in English and Vietnamese.
Evaluation of the Advanced Pediatric Life Support Training for Doctors and Nurses in Vietnam. 2006
In September 2006, RTCCD commenced the evaluation of the Advanced Pediatric Life Support Course, in order for tangible changes in the application of Training of Trainer in Vietnam. The aim was to improve the quality of the training for both doctors and nurses as well as community development workers in Vietnam. Download report summary in English and Vietnamese.
Safe Motherhood Initiative VIE/03/P21: Final Project Evaluation. 2006
The National Plan on Safe Motherhood consists of two implementation phases. Phase I of the National Plan (2003-2005) aimed to build management capacity at the MOH at different levels in safe motherhood programs, to advocate for further investment in safe motherhood, and to test alternative intervention approaches that would lay the foundation for broader implementation in Phase II. Phase II of the National Plan (2006-2010) was expanded nationwide in order to contribute to the efforts of the National Strategy for Reproductive Health Care. The Safe Motherhood Initiative (SMI) project VIE/03/P21– a part of phase I of the SMNP was implemented by the MOH and UNFPA Vietnam between 2003 and 2005 with financial support from the Dutch Embassy. Invited by UNFPA and MOH, RTCCD conducted a final project evaluation using qualitative methods. The evaluation was successfully completed in March – April 2006 with a written report and presentations to the Dutch Embassy, UNFPA, MOH, relevant ministry agencies, representatives from NGOs and 22 provinces in the country. Download report summary in English and Vietnamese.
Mid-term review & final evaluation of the Maternal & Child Health in Binh Dinh. 2006
After the success of the previous project evaluation provided by RTCCD (project P21), UNFPA invited RTCCD to conduct a mid-term review and then the final evaluation of their 3-million-dollar project in Binh Dinh. Funded by NZAID, the project aimed to contribute to the attainment of a higher quality of life for women and children, especially for those living in mountainous and remote areas, adolescents and ethnic minority groups. The project was implemented throughout Binh Dinh, to 11 districts and 159 communes. After the report was published, the project strategy was revised to better respond to the needs of local people. Download report summary in English and Vietnamese.
Increasing child survival in Huong Hoa & Dakrong districts of Quang Tri province. 2002-2007
RTCCD collaborated with Save the Children US in a 5-year two-district child survival project, Building Partner Capacity for Child Survival of Vietnamese Ethnic Minority Populations, in Dakrong and Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri provinces (2002-2007). Responding to communities’ expressed needs, Ministry of Health (MOH) priorities, and global strategy, the project sought a sustainable reduction in infants under five and maternal mortality in these ethnic minority districts. The following areas were targeted: caregiver practices, access to care, and quality of care from community to facility. The major project interventions were maternal and child health (45%), nutrition and micronutrients (40%) and breastfeeding (15%). All interventions were consistent with MOH policy. The project relied on existing health personnel, structures, relationships, priorities and plans.
RTCCD took the leading role in the training component for community-based activities in this project (i.e. growth monitoring program, nutrition education and rehabilitation program, behavior change communication) and revising training materials on nutrition. It also had a supporting role in revising training behavior change communication materials. The project was conducted at all communes in the two districts.
Baseline Survey: Mother and Child Health Care Project in Hoa Quy of Da Nang. 2004
This survey was implemented in collaboration with the Japan Foundation for International Development and Relief (JFIDR) in 2004. It aimed to identify the health status, knowledge and behaviors with regards to health care for mothers and children in the Hoa Quy precinct. After the findings were released, the FIDR has revised their project indicators and set more feasible objectives for their 3-year project intervention. Download report summary in English and Vietnamese.