Staff and patient attitudes to tuberculosis and compliance with treatment: an exploratory study in a district in Vietnam.
METHODS
The study, a collaboration between the National Tuberculosis Institute, Hanoi, Vietnam and the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, was carried out in a district of Quang Ninh Province in North Vietnam.


OBJECTIVE
To describe tuberculosis (TB) services, attitudes of staff, and attitudes of patients considered as defaulters to TB treatment.


METHODS
Two focus group discussions were carried out with staff at the district hospital. Ten defaulter patients were interviewed in their homes.


CONCLUSIONS
This exploratory study has revealed some important aspects of staff and patients' attitudes to TB and its treatment. Tuberculosis is considered a 'dirty' disease, which mainly affects poor people. There is a tendency to avoid telling others about it. Obvious symptoms are explained as 'being overworked'. A patient with TB feels 'less respected' by others. The social stigmatization leads to delays in seeking medical care, often only after self-medication: anti-tuberculosis drugs can be bought without prescription in various pharmacies. The patient's economic situation is also an important determinant of compliance and non-compliance. These factors need to be taken into consideration in TB control in Vietnam.
Johansson
E
E
Department of International Health and Social Medicine (IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Diwan
V K
VK
Huong
N D
ND
Ahlberg
B M
BM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016527:Drug Costs; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D014744:Vietnam
D000995:Antitubercular Agents