Dioxin risk reduction programme at the most severe dioxin hot spot in Vietnam: Residual knowledge, attitude and practices five years post intervention

• Published in: Global public health Vol. 11; no. 4; pp. 463 - 474
• Main Authors: Tuyet-Hanh, Tran Thi, Vu-Anh, Le, Dunne, Michael, Toms, Leisa-Maree, Tenkate, Thomas, Harden, Fiona
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 20.04.2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Attitudes; Bien Hoa Airbase; Biological properties; Biological warfare; Defoliants; Defoliation; dioxin exposure through foods; Dioxins; Dioxins - toxicity; Dung; Educational programs; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental Exposure - prevention & control; five years post intervention; Focus Groups; Global health; Health education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Households; Humans; Intervention; Interviews as Topic; KAP; Migration; Military bases; Prevention programs; Qualitative research; Quantitative analysis; Reduction; Residents; Risk Assessment; Risk communication; Risk management; Risk reduction; Risk Reduction Behavior; Storage; Surveys and Questionnaires; Sustainability; Vietnam; Vietnam Conflict; Vietnam War; Vietnam; KAP; five years post intervention; Bien Hoa Airbase; dioxin exposure through foods
• ISSN: 1744-1692; 1744-1706
• DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2015.1062904

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.