Effect of nutrition improvement project on morbidity from infectious diseases in preschool children in Vietnam: comparison with control commune.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of a nutrition improvement project based on home garden production and nutrition education on morbidity from acute respiratory infection and diarrhoeal disease in preschool children.


METHODS
The morbidity survey comprised five data collections undertaken by trained interviewers to ascertain the incidence and severity of respiratory infections and the incidence of diarrhoeal disease in children in two communes.


METHODS
A project commune and a control commune in Vietnam.


METHODS
Preschool children to 6 years of age living in the project commune Khai Xuan (average 469 children) and the control commune Ching Cong (average 251 children).


METHODS
Differences between the two communes over time in the incidence and severity of respiratory infections and the incidence of diarrhoeal disease.


RESULTS
In Khai Xuan there was a significant reduction (P < 0.0001) in the incidence of respiratory infections (from 49.5% to 11.2%) and diarrhoeal infections (18.3% to 5.1%); the incidence of pneumonia and severe pneumonia was also significantly reduced (P < 0.0001). In Ching Cong there was no significant change in the incidence and severity of respiratory disease nor in the incidence of diarrhoeal disease.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings emphasise the successful health outcome of a nutrition project based on household food production and nutrition education and the value of evaluating nutrition projects by reference to measurable health outcomes.
English
R M
RM
University of Queensland, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical School, Herston, Australia. renglish@ozemail.com.au
Badcock
J C
JC
Giay
T
T
Ngu
T
T
Waters
A M
AM
Bennett
S A
SA
D000208:Acute Disease; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009017:Morbidity; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology