https://doi.org/10.1177/1010539518800344 Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health 1–11 © 2018 APJPH Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/1010539518800344 journals.sagepub.com/home/aph Original Article Water Supply, Sanitation, and Medical Waste Treatment and Disposal at Commune Health Centers in Vietnam Le Thi Thanh Huong, PhD 1 , Le Thi Kim Anh, PhD 1 , Tran Khanh Long, MPH 2 , Tran Thi Van Anh, BPH 1 , Nguyen Thi Huong, MSc 1 , Nguyen Thanh Ha, PhD 3 , and Tran Thi Tuyet-Hanh, PhD 1 Abstract Water hygiene, sanitation, and proper management of health care wastes at health care facilities are important in preventing infections and improving health and the environment. This article describes the access to safe water and sanitation facilities and the disposal of medical wastes at commune health centers (CHCs) in Vietnam. Data was extracted from the 2015 World Bank Vietnam District and Commune Health Facility Survey. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was applied to identify associations of CHCs’ access to improved water and sanitation and their medical waste management. Overall, 72.76% CHCs had access to both improved water and sanitation facilities, and better access was found in the richest communes. Rural CHCs had higher prevalence of appropriate wastewater treatment. The majority of CHCs combusted medical solid wastes by specialized incinerations, contracted out with sanitation companies, or transported them to district health centers. However, the data was insufficient to give in-depth analysis and conclusion on water and sanitation conditions and the management of medical wastes at CHCs. More information should be collected for further analysis and conclusion. Keywords water, sanitation, medical wastes, disposal, commune health centers Introduction In order to prevent the spread of various diseases, health care facilities require adequate water supply, good sanitation, and procedures for medical waste management that meet the needs of 1 Hanoi University of Public Health, Hanoi, Vietnam 2 Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia 3 Vietnam Health Environment Management Agency, Ministry of Health, Hanoi, Vietnam Corresponding Author: Le Thi Kim Anh, Hanoi University of Public Health, 1A Duc Thang, Duc Thang Ward, North Tu Liem District, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam. Email: ltka@huph.edu.vn 800344APH XX X 10.1177/1010539518800344Asia Pacific Journal of Public HealthLe et al research-article 2018