HUMAN RESOURCE ASSESSMENT FOR NUTRITION ACTIVITIES ACROSS VIETNAM'S 63 PROVINCES AND CITIES, 2025
Main Article Content
Abstract
Aims: This study aims to assess the current status of the quantity, quality, and distribution of the nutrition workforce at the Centers for Disease Control, District Health Centers, and Commune Health Stations across all 63 provinces/cities in Vietnam. Based on the findings, it seeks to project human resource needs for the next 5–10 years and propose policy and training solutions to meet national health objectives, particularly those set out in the National Nutrition Strategy for the period 2021–2030.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, targeting nutrition focal staff at the Centers for Disease Control, District Health Centers, and Commune Health Stations across provincial, district, and commune levels in all 63 provinces/cities. Data were collected online using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Epidata, Stata, and Excel software.
Results: Although the number of nutrition personnel has increased, significant challenges remain regarding workforce quality and distribution. The proportion of staff with university or postgraduate qualifications decreases progressively from the provincial level (80%) to the district (65%) and commune levels (26%). The percentage of personnel holding a bachelor's or master's degree specifically in nutrition is very low—4.5% at the provincial level, 1% at the district level, and only 0.1% at the commune level. A high proportion of staff, particularly at the commune level (61%), have never received formal nutrition training.
Conclusion: Nutrition human resources in Vietnam remain limited in quality and unevenly distributed, particularly at the grassroots level. The study provides a foundation for developing a comprehensive strategy tailored to each level of the health system, prioritizing disadvantaged areas and drawing on international experience. Incorporating qualitative analysis in future research will help strengthen the evidence base for more effective policy planning.
Keywords
Nutrition workforce, human resource distribution, professional training, National Nutrition Strategy, double burden of malnutrition, public health
Article Details
References
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