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Sophal Oum

Publications and source records attributed to Sophal Oum.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Determinants of skilled birth attendance in rural Cambodia.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the determinants of skilled and unskilled birth attendance. METHOD: Population-based survey in a rural area in Cambodia, of women aged 15-49 years who had delivered during the previous 3-month period. An analytical framework based on Andersen's behavioural model served to identify determinants according to delivery place (facility vs. non-facility), birth attendant at home births (skilled vs. unskilled), and change of birth attendant during delivery (changed vs. unchanged). We used logistic regression to analyse the data. RESULTS: Of 980 women included in the analyses, 19.8% had skilled attendants present during delivery. The determinants of facility delivery were different from those for having skilled attendants assisting in home births. In case of facility deliveries, previous contact with a skilled attendant through antenatal care was a significant determinant. In case of home births, the type of birth attendant (i.e. skilled or unskilled) at the preceding delivery was a significant determinant. CONCLUSION: Community-based programmes need to reach primiparas, because once a woman has delivered with the aid of an unskilled attendant, she is five to seven times less likely to seek skilled help than a primipara.

Adolescent↗

Community-based surveillance: a pilot study from rural Cambodia.

OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to assess the performance of a community-based surveillance system (CBSS), developed and implemented in seven rural communes in Cambodia from 2000 to 2002 to provide timely and representative information on major health problems and life events, and so permit rapid and effective control of outbreaks and communicable diseases in general. METHODS: Lay people were trained as Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) to report suspected outbreaks, important infectious diseases, and vital events occurring in their communities to local health staff who analysed the data and gave feedback to the volunteers during their monthly meetings. RESULTS: Over 2 years of its implementation, the system was able to detect outbreaks early, regularly monitor communicable disease trends, and to provide continuously updated information on pregnancies, births and deaths in the rural areas. In addition, the system triggered effective responses from both health staff and VHVs for disease control and prevention and in outbreaks. CONCLUSION: A CBSS can successfully fill the gaps of the current health facility-based disease surveillance system in the rapid detection of outbreaks, in the effective monitoring of communicable diseases, and in the notification of vital events in rural Cambodia. Its replication or adaptation for use in other rural areas in Cambodia and in other developing countries is likely to be beneficial and cost-effective.

Acute Disease↗