Aims: The study was conducted to (i) determine the effectiveness of the local-based food security intervention in improving the knowledge and practice of mothers in infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices, and (ii) assess the effectiveness of the intervention in improving the nutritional status of children under five years in two communes in Lao Cai province. Methods: The open community intervention was conducted from 2014 to 2016 on all children under five years old and their primary caregivers in Thao Chu Phin and Ban Pho commune, Lao Cai province. Care Group consisted of 10-12 mothers/primary caregivers, and Village Kitchen consisted of a group of women in the village, were established and met weekly to enhance rice powder production and peer communication activities in the communes. All 150 and 194 pairs of child-primary caregiver at baseline and the end of the intervention, respectively were assessed for children’s weight and height, and primary caregivers’ knowledge, attitude, and practices on IYCF. Results: The prevalence of stunting significantly reduced at the conclusion of the intervention, from 59.3 to 43.5% in Ban Pho commune (p<0.01) and from 73.3% to 53.0% in Thao Chu Phin commune (p<0.001). Anthropometric indicators, except for weight, improved at the end of the study (all p<0.05). The proportion of primary caregivers who had correct knowledge about food diversity for complementary feeding significantly increased from 15.5% to 56.9% (p<0.001). More food was given to children for complementary feeding (all p<0.05). Conclusions: The intervention of local-based food security and enhancing group communication was effective in improving the knowledge, attitude, and practice of primary caregivers on IYCF, anthropometric indicators, and in reducing childhood stunting.

Data for the association between adiposity and hypertension in overweight and obese women in reproductive age in Vietnam are insufficient. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 194 overweight and obese women aged 20-45 years old in Bac Giang province in 2019 to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors with demographics and anthropometrics. Anthropometry (weight, height, waist circumference, and body fat percentage (BF)) and blood pressure (BP) were collected with waist circumference of > 88 cm defined abdominal obesity, systolic BP ≥140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg defined hypertension, and systolic BP between 120 and <140 mmHg or diastolic BP between 80 and <90 mmHg defined prehypertension, BF ³39% or ³ 40 in people aged 20 - 39 and 40 - 59 defined high BF. Results: The prevalence of hypertension, prehypertension, abdominal obesity and high BF was 11.2%, 30.9%, 63.4% and 30.9%, respectively. Hypertension associated with age and abdominal obesity. There was an association between blood pressure and age in overweight and obese women. Conclusion:  Screening for waist circumference and age should be included in the regular health examination procedure for overweight and obese people.