No abstract

No abstract

Background In 2009, Vietnam o cially decriminalized drug use through amendments to the criminal law. The amendments speci cally outlined that drug use would be seen as an administrative sanction, but not a criminal offence. This legal transition has not been without its implementation challenges and police particularly are have struggled to balance their role between drug law enforcement and decriminalisation. Despite being a health-orientated drug policy amendment, in practice it has meant that police can send suspected drug users to compulsory treatment centres without judicial oversight and people who use drugs continue to face challenges in their interface with law enforcement which can negatively impact access to harm reduction and community-based treatment programs. This paper explores the perspectives of policy makers and law enforcement o cials in Vietnam and provides some insights and considerations into how the amended law was implemented and how it could be made more effective in improving both health and safety for all people in Vietnam. Methods To understand government and policing perspective on amended changes to the Criminal Code in 2009 and its subsequent implementation, this mixed methods research combined content analysis of a number of core legislations in terms of drug control policies in Vietnam with perspectives and insights from 14 key informant interviews from people representing a range of relevant Vietnamese Government (n=10) and non-government agencies (n=4). Results While most interviewees recognised that decriminalizing drug use in Vietnam was designed as a a progressive and health-oriented drug policy, many participants acknowledged the ongoing disconnect between the health intent of the policy and the police-led oversight of its implementation in the community. Part of this disconnect was explained by the lack of training and clear protocol that would enhance the police in their ability to contribute to the health intent of the policy rather than continue to view drug use through a drug law enforcement only lens. A current pilot initiative by Hanoi's People Committee to implement a model of assisted referral for people who use drugs to community-based health, social and legal support may provide an example of how to situate decriminalisation policy within a broader context of harm reduction interventions through the design and trial of clear protocols for how law enforcement agencies can actively engage and support the process of diversion into harm reduction and community-based treatment. Conclusions Since the inception of the amended law there has been very little review and analyses of its implementation progress and its challenges. This is the rst study to review and assess the progress of decriminalizing drug use since the policy intervention in 2009 with a speci c focus on the perceptions of the policy for Vietnam's drug control in policing. It discusses insights and considerations from government, law enforcement o cials and civil society organisations to develop a deeper un...

This study aims to estimating the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes among adult from 30 to 69 years old and assess the association of risk factor with the conditions. A total of 5244 aged 30 to 69 years old were participated in this cross-sectional study, using nationally representative sampling frame. All participants were taking blood sample to measure fasting blood glucose level and 2-hour postload oral glucose tolerance test by National Hospital of Endocrinology, Vietnam. Multinomial logistic regressions with baseline-category logit models were conducted to identify factors associated with diabetes and prediabetes among respondents. The prediabetes prevalence was in 17.9% and diabetes in 7.3%. Patients who were male (reference group vs female OR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.64, 0.97), in the 50 to 59 years old group (OR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.28, 2.00), have hypertension and WHR risk have higher prevalence to have prediabetes (OR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.53; OR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.70, respectively). Male patients (reference group vs female OR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.84), patients who were in 40 to 49; 50 to 59; 60 to 69 years old, those who were housewife (OR = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.43, 3.28; OR = 2.85; 95% CI: 1.91, 4.27; OR = 3.12; 95% CI: 2.08, 4.69; OR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.22, 2.40, respectively). Diabetes have significant associated with participants have hypertension (OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.72, 2.70). The common factor directly related to prediabetes and diabetes in both genders is age. Other factors directly associated with prediabetes and diabetes include BMI, WHR, hypertension, educational level, and job.

Alongside raising awareness and creating activities to develop a harm-reduction approach in the HIV/AIDS campaign since the end of the 2000s, broader harm-reduction interventions in Vietnam were also deployed that included several positive steps. Police forces, a fundamental sector in reducing the supply of illicit drugs, were also involved, partly to concretize this approach. As the first paper to examine the role of police in harm-reduction interventions in Vietnam, the current study utilizes qualitative approaches relying on in-depth interviews conducted with multiple key informants from government and its related bodies, United Nations personnel, and non-government organizations (NGOs), as well as police officers. We uncover noticeable progress in changing minds and approaches to apply harm reduction in drug policy, particularly within policing. However, major barriers in regulations, slow acceptance by police forces, and a lack of curriculum and courses in police training have limited harm-reduction approaches. As the first study to review and assess the policy of harm reduction after one decade, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the nature of Vietnam’s police provisions to balance and improve harm reduction in drug control.