title: Dioxin risk reduction programme at the most severe dioxin hot spot in Vietnam: Residual knowledge, attitude and practices five years post intervention.
abstract: Bien Hoa Airbase was one of the bulk storage and supply facilities for defoliants during the Vietnam War. Environmental and biological samples taken around the airbase have elevated levels of dioxin. In 2007, a pre-intervention knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) survey of local residents living in Trung Dung and Tan Phong wards was undertaken regarding appropriate strategies to reduce dioxin exposure. A risk reduction programme was implemented in 2008 and post-intervention KAP surveys were undertaken in 2009 and 2013 to evaluate the longer term impacts. Quantitative assessment was undertaken via a KAP survey in 2013 among 600 local residents randomly selected from the two intervention wards and one control ward (Buu Long). Eight in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions were also undertaken for qualitative assessment. Most programme activities had ceased and dioxin risk communication activities had not been integrated into local routine health education programmes; however, main results generally remained and were better than that in Buu Long. In total, 48.2% of households undertook measures to prevent exposure, higher than those in pre- and post-intervention surveys (25.8% and 39.7%) and the control ward (7.7%). Migration and the sensitive nature of dioxin issues were the main challenges for the programme's sustainability.
authors.affiliation: a Hanoi School of Public Health , Hanoi , Vietnam.|b School of Clinical Sciences and Institute of Biomedical Innovation , The Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Tran Thi
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Tuyet-Hanh
authors.affiliation: c Vietnam Public Health Association , Hanoi , Vietnam.
authors.forename: Le
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vu-Anh
authors.affiliation: d School of Public Health and Social Work , The Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.affiliation: d School of Public Health and Social Work , The Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Leisa-Maree
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Toms
authors.affiliation: e School of Occupational and Public Health, Ryerson University , Ontario , Canada.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tenkate
authors.affiliation: b School of Clinical Sciences and Institute of Biomedical Innovation , The Queensland University of Technology , Brisbane , Australia.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Harden
mesh_terms: D004147:Dioxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014744:Vietnam; D047829:Vietnam Conflict
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins
keywords: Bien Hoa Airbase; KAP; dioxin exposure through foods; five years post intervention