The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64666

Thanh-Huyen Vu, Population Research Center, The University of Chicago, 1155 East, 60th st, Chicago, IL 60637, 773-256-6415, huyenvu@uchicago.edu

Using data from the Vietnam 1997 DHS, this paper examines the effect of maternal education and the availability of health programs on mothers’ knowledge and practice in child acute respiratory infection (ARI) care in Vietnam. Logistic regression is used for the analysis.

The results indicate that both maternal education and health programs have a strong positive impact on mothers’ knowledge of ARI care. The effect of maternal education is influenced by the differences of the availability of health programs. In areas with no or only one health program, maternal education plays an important role on mothers’ knowledge of child ARI care. By contrast, in areas with many health programs, the effect of maternal education is no longer significant. It appears that in areas with more health programs, every mother has a similar opportunity to obtain information about child ARI care, so education level is not as important in that circumstance.

I conclude that both general education and the availability of health intervention programs improve mothers’ knowledge of child health care. The availability of health programs is especially important in improving knowledge of child health care for less-educated mothers. I suggest that the Vietnamese government should both improve the level of schooling for women, and also provide them more health education regarding child ARI care. Health education programs need to pay special attention to less educated mothers as it is for these women that the impacts of programs appear to be particularly strong.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Study the effect of maternal education and the availability of health intervention programs on mothers’ knowledge and practice of child ARI care in Vietnam.
• 2. Examine the interaction between mothers’ education and health program in affecting mothers’ knowledge of child ARI care.
• 3. Suggest the Vietnamese Government should continue investments in women’s schooling and health education regarding child ARI care. Health education programs should pay special attention to less educated mothers as the impact of programs for this group appears to be particular strong.

Keywords: Child Health Promotion, Health Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.