Results of the 2019 Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) showed that fewer Vietnamese schoolchildren smoked, used drugs or were physically attacked compared to 2013. However, more children consumed fast food, were overweight and used electronic cigarettes.
WHO, the Viet Nam Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) released the 2019 results of the Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), highlighting trends in non-communicable disease (NCDs) risk factors among Vietnamese schoolchildren 13 to 17 years old.
Key staff of MoH, MOET and WHO and representatives from universities, health institutes, non-government organizations and provincial health authorities attended the livestreamed launch event which also featured a panel discussion among experts.
First rolled out in Viet Nam in 2013, the second round of the GSHS was conducted in 2019 and involved nearly 8,000 students from 81 secondary and high schools from 20 provinces.
Children’s health as a priority policy in Viet Nam
In his address, Vice Minister of Health, Professor Tran Van Thuan highlighted the importance of the report in shaping the country’s policies in child health.
“The increase in NCDs is caused by a rapid increase in preventable risk factors... Most of these factors are formed very early in life. Therefore, protecting, caring for and improving the health of children and young people through promoting the formation of healthy behaviours and preventing risk factors is a priority policy of Viet Nam,” Prof. Tran Van Thuan said.
“The evidence and scientific data from this survey will help agencies and units of the health sector and the education sector to continue to work closely to develop effective and practical policies, programs and plans,” added Prof. Tran Van Thuan.
Dr Nguyen Nho Huy, Deputy Director of the Department of Physical Education, MOET also expressed agreement with the report’s recommendations to the education and training sector: “The Education and Health Sector, together with local authorities at all levels, need to strengthen the capacity of the school health system in educational institutions associated with primary health care to improve quality and performance effectiveness, ensuring good health care conditions for students,” Dr Nguyen Nho Huy emphasized.
Positive changes identified
Compared with 2013, the 2019 GSHS results show significant progress in several health risk factors among Vietnamese schoolchildren:
- Smoking rate decreased from 5.4% to 2.8%,
- Drug use rate decreased from 1.4% to 0.65%,
- The proportion of students bullied decreased from 22.7% to 6.2%, and
- More students were physically active, from 20.5% to 24.1%, as defined by WHO as doing physical activities an hour per day, for five or more days weekly.
New challenges identified
The report also highlights the urgent need to address other risk factors:
- The proportion of students eating fast food at least once a week increased from 30.2% to 54.1%,
- The proportion of overweight students almost doubled from 5.8% to 10.6%, and
- The proportion of children using electronic cigarettes is increasing, with 2.6% across the country and 7.9% in two large cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.
The way forward for a healthier Viet Nam
WHO Representative in Viet Nam Dr Kidong Park emphasized that multisectoral efforts led by the health and education sectors are key in sustaining the gains and in addressing emerging risks among Vietnamese schoolchildren.
“Both [education and health] sectors will need to lead efforts to advocate for healthy policies including excise tax policy, food advertising policy and effective enforcement of healthy policies to create a supportive environment for health of the school children,” Dr Park said.
Dr Kidong also described the issuance of the Viet Nam’s National Programme on School Health, 2021-2025 as “a leap forward in ensuring a healthy school environment for the next generation”.
WHO continues to support the MOH and MOET in strengthening policies in improving child health and NCD prevention, towards the shared goal of a healthier and stronger Viet Nam.
Watch the livestream recording of the launch here:
https://www.facebook.com/WHOVietnam/videos/727167048453239/
The 2019 GSHS Report can be accessed via the links below:
https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/353551 (English)
https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/353552 (Vietnamese)