title: Fruit and vegetable consumption in Vietnam, and the use of a 'standard serving' size to measure intake.
abstract: The aims of the present study were to provide nationally representative data on fruit and vegetable consumption in Vietnam, and to assess the accuracy of the reported numbers of 'standard servings' consumed. Data analysed were from a multi-stage stratified cluster survey of 14 706 participants (46·5 % males, response proportion 64·1 %) aged 25-64 years in Vietnam. Measurements were made in accordance with the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance of non-communicable diseases (STEPS) protocols. Approximately 80 % of Vietnamese people reported having less than five servings of fruit and vegetables daily in a typical week. Fruit and vegetable intake reported in 'standard serving' sizes was positively correlated with levels of education completed and household income (P<0·001 for trend). The correlations between summary values for each province reflect some known demographic, geographical and climatic characteristics of the country. For example, provinces at higher latitude had higher mean servings of vegetables (r 0·90), and provinces with higher proportions of urban population had higher mean servings of fruit (r 0·40). In conclusion, about eight in ten Vietnamese people aged 25-64 years did not meet WHO recommendations for daily consumption of at least five servings of fruit and vegetables. On the basis of the consistency of the data collected with other estimates and with physical and demographic characteristics of the country, the WHO STEPS instrument has construct validity for measuring fruit and vegetable intake, but with two issues identified. The issues were seasonal variation in reporting and a limitation on the usefulness of the information for associative analyses.
authors.affiliation: 1Menzies Institute for Medical Research,University of Tasmania,Hobart,TAS 7001,Australia.
authors.forename: Tan Van
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6357-7307
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.affiliation: 1Menzies Institute for Medical Research,University of Tasmania,Hobart,TAS 7001,Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Blizzard
authors.affiliation: 3Medical Services Administration,Ministry of Health of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,Hanoi 100000,Vietnam.
authors.forename: Khue Ngoc
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Luong
authors.affiliation: 3Medical Services Administration,Ministry of Health of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,Hanoi 100000,Vietnam.
authors.forename: Ngoc Le Van
authors.initials: Nle V
authors.lastname: Truong
authors.affiliation: 3Medical Services Administration,Ministry of Health of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,Hanoi 100000,Vietnam.
authors.forename: Bao Quoc
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: 1Menzies Institute for Medical Research,University of Tasmania,Hobart,TAS 7001,Australia.
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Otahal
authors.affiliation: 1Menzies Institute for Medical Research,University of Tasmania,Hobart,TAS 7001,Australia.
authors.forename: Velandai
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Srikanth
authors.affiliation: 1Menzies Institute for Medical Research,University of Tasmania,Hobart,TAS 7001,Australia.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: 1Menzies Institute for Medical Research,University of Tasmania,Hobart,TAS 7001,Australia.
authors.forename: Thuy Bich
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Au
authors.affiliation: 3Medical Services Administration,Ministry of Health of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,Hanoi 100000,Vietnam.
authors.forename: Son Thai
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.affiliation: 1Menzies Institute for Medical Research,University of Tasmania,Hobart,TAS 7001,Australia.
authors.forename: Hai Ngoc
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Phung
authors.affiliation: 1Menzies Institute for Medical Research,University of Tasmania,Hobart,TAS 7001,Australia.
authors.forename: Mai Hoang
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: 1Menzies Institute for Medical Research,University of Tasmania,Hobart,TAS 7001,Australia.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Callisaya
authors.affiliation: 1Menzies Institute for Medical Research,University of Tasmania,Hobart,TAS 7001,Australia.
authors.forename: Kylie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: 1Menzies Institute for Medical Research,University of Tasmania,Hobart,TAS 7001,Australia.
authors.forename: Seana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D014675:Vegetables; D014744:Vietnam
keywords: BMI; Fruit and vegetable consumption; STEP STEPwise approach to surveillance of non-communicable diseases; Self-report; Standard serving sizes; Validation