CONTENTS ABBREVIATION 3 SUMMARY 4 1. BACKGROUND 6 2. SUBJECTS AND RESEARCH METHODS 6 2.1. Study design. 6 2.2. Subjects 6 2.3. Time 6 2.4. Location 6 2.5. Sample size and sampling technique 6 2.6. Data analysis 7 2.7. Ethical approval. 7 3. RESULTS 7 3.1. The current situation of the CHC service needs and use of population in some Vietnamese regions in 2014 7 3.2. The capacity to deliver health care services of CHC in some Vietnamese regions in 2014 8 3.3. Factors associated with the capacity to deliver health care services of CHC in some Vietnamese regions in 2014 10 4. DISCUSSION 11 4.1. The current situation of the CHC service needs and use of population 11 4.2. Factors associated with the capacity to deliver health care services of CHCs 14 5. CONCLUSION 15 5.1. The current situation of the CHC service needs and use of population in some Vietnamese regions in 2014 15 5.2. The capacity to deliver health care services of CHC in some Vietnamese regions in 2014 15 RECOMMENDATIONS 16 REFERENCES 18 ANNEX – LIST OF RESEARCH TEAM 19 ABBREVIATIONS CHC Commune Health Centre MoH Ministry of Health SUMMARY A crosssectional study, combining both qualitative and quantitative approach, was conducted to describe the current situation of services delivery of commune health centres (CHCs) in some Vietnamese regions and its associated factors. The quantitative study was conducted on 600 households (equivalent to 2023 individual residents), while the qualitative studies comprised indepth interviews with 9 leaders at district health levels; focus group discussion with 53 medical staffs of CHCs and 63 leaders of government and local organizations at commune level. Facilities of ninety CHCs were observed and secondary data of 240 CHCs was collected in eight provinces which represented Vietnamese ecological regions in 2014. The findings showed that the proportion of residents suffering acute diseases was 8.5%, of which the percentage was the highest in urban areas with 10.2%. When having those illness, 44.0% people went to CHCs based on some reasons: having health insurance (50%), conveniencenear house (20.8%); habit (12%); meanwhile, 25.7% people went to the hospital because of: health insurance (61.5%), modernadequate equipments (7.7%). The proportion of residents suffering chronic diseases was 15.2%, of which the percentage was the highest in urban areas with 19.3%.When having those illness, 48.7% people went to the hospital because of: health insurance (69.4%), transfer from lower levels of health system (13.9%); meanwhile, 37.1% people went to CHCs based on some reasons: having health insurance (44.1%), conveniencenear house (20.6%) and having been treated before (13.7%). The reason why residents did not use health care services in CHCs included inadequate equipments (26.1%), inadequate drug (19.7%), and inconvenience of health insurance mechanism (18.5%). The findings also showed the concerned capacity of CHCs to deliver services: About human resources: 64.4% CHCs did not reach the National standards for human resources (insufficiency in both quantity and components of medical staffs): 40.4% CHCs did not have a medical doctor, 37.8% did not have obstetrical assistant doctors. Facilites and equipments: the proportion of CHCs having laboratory and sterilization room was low, of which the lowest proportion was in mountainous areas. CHCs had the average of 4569 equipments as requirement of Ministry of Health (MoH); only a third of CHCs reached the National standard of equipments for traditional medicine, earnosethroat, dental and testing. Drugs: > 70% CHCs had adequate drug categories according to the list of MoH, but the quantity of each category was insufficient. Performing medical techniques at CHCs: 95% CHCs performed 70% CHCs had adequate drug categories according to the list of MoH, but the quantity of each category was insufficient Guidelines: CHCs have inadequate guidelines for malaria, tuberculosis, diabetes, cardiovascular Family planning: 8% CHCs had 100% equipments, 50% CHCs reached