Perceptions and attitudes in relation to reproductive tract infections including sexually transmitted infections in rural Vietnam: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore perceptions, attitudes and health-seeking patterns for reproductive tract infections including sexually transmitted infections (RTI/STI) among men and women in rural Vietnam.


METHODS
Ten focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 46 women and 27 men aged 15-49 in Bavi district, northern Vietnam. A pre-designed discussion guide was used during the discussions. Content analysis was applied for data analysis. Each sentence/paragraph was coded. Similar codes were clustered and collapsed into sub-categories and categories. Two main themes 'community perceptions of RTI/STI' and 'attitudes towards RTI/STI' were created, based on the relationship between categories.


RESULTS
Complex terminology with many different terms was used by participants to describe and discuss RTI/STI. "Inflammation" [RTI], Gonorrhoea, Syphilis was described as three stages of STI. Health-seeking patterns for RTI/STI were reported to differ between men and women: self-medication was mentioned as a common practice among women, while men were more likely to seek health care from private providers. Complaints were voiced about clinicians' negative attitudes towards RTI/STI patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Rural dwellers in a district of Vietnam expressed a variety of misconceptions regarding RTI/STI. Designing health education strategies to provide comprehensive RTI/STI information to the community and improving communication between RTI/STI patients and clinicians are urgently needed.
Lan
Pham Thi
PT
Division of International Health (IHCAR), Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam. landhy2003@yahoo.com
Faxelid
Elisabeth
E
Chuc
Nguyen Thi Kim
NT
Mogren
Ingrid
I
Lundborg
Cecilia Stålsby
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D018456:Reproductive Medicine; D012424:Rural Population; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D014744:Vietnam