Influence of traditional Vietnamese culture on the utilisation of mainstream health services for sexual health issues by second-generation Vietnamese Australian young women.
BACKGROUND
The present paper discusses the impact the traditional Vietnamese culture has on the uptake of mainstream health services for sexual health matters by Vietnamese Australian young women. It is part of a wider qualitative study that explored the factors that shaped the sexual behaviour of Vietnamese Australian young women living in Australia.


METHODS
A Grounded Theory methodology was used, involving in-depth interviews with 15 Vietnamese Australian young women aged 18 to 25 years who reside in Victoria, Australia.


RESULTS
The findings demonstrated that the ethnicity of the general practitioner had a clear impact on the women utilising the health service. They perceived that a Vietnamese doctor would hold the traditional view of sex as held by their parents' generation. They rationalised that due to cultural mores, optimum sexual health care could only be achieved with a non-Vietnamese health professional.


CONCLUSIONS
It is evident from the present study that cultural influences can impact on the sexual health of young people from culturally diverse backgrounds and in Australia's multicultural society, provision of sexual health services must acknowledge the specific needs of ethnically diverse young people.
Rawson
Helen
H
School of Public Health, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic. 3086, Australia.
Liamputtong
Pranee
P
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D035502:Trust; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D055815:Young Adult