title: A rapid assessment and response approach for socially marketed nutrition commodities in Viet Nam.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The leading cause of death in children in developing countries is protein-energy malnutrition. In Viet Nam, 25.9% of children under 5 experience stunted growth and 6.6% are moderately wasted. Iron deficiency anaemia and vitamin A deficiency contribute to these and other malnutrition conditions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Given these factors, more evidence based approaches are required to improve understanding of current attitudes, opinions and behaviours of mothers with young children, in order to operationalise social marketing of nutrition commodities in Viet Nam.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review supported a rapid assessment and response method involving semi-structured interviews with 77 stakeholders and focus group discussions with 80 program beneficiaries from four geographic locations in the north and south of Viet Nam. Discussion agendas were developed to address key program issues with grounded theory utilized for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data analysis highlighted challenges and opportunities within the six Ps of social marketing: Supply and demand side issues included: cost and the quality of products, the limited scale of interventions and promotional activities. Policy issues identified related to current policies that inhibited the broader promotion and distribution of micronutrient products, and opportunities for improved dialogue with policy partners. Partnerships further emphasized the need for public private partnerships to support the social change process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implications for theory, policy, and practice indicates that rapid assessment and response is a cost-effective, pragmatic method of public health research, in resource constrained settings, to explore policies and behaviours amenable to change and build stakeholder engagement in the program.
authors.affiliation: Communication Partners International, Springfield, NSW, Australia. Email: tturk@cpimail.net; tturk@bigpond.com.|Curtin University School of Public Health, Bentley, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Turk
authors.affiliation: UNICEF, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Nguyen Dinh
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Quang
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Nutrition (NIN), Ha Noi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Tran Thuy
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Nga
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Nutrition (NIN), Ha Noi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Huynh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Phuong
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Nutrition (NIN), Ha Noi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Le Van Anh
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Nutrition (NIN), Ha Noi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Vu Hoang
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Trang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003906:Developing Countries; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D040541:Marketing / Q000379:methods*; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009035:Mothers; D020380:Needs Assessment; D018673:Nutrition Policy / Q000191:economics; D044623:Nutrition Therapy / Q000191:economics; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000517:prevention & control; D014744:Vietnam; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients