Results indicate a need for interventions based on culturally specific meanings and contexts of health, illness and risk. By understanding how culture impacts risk and protective behaviours among ethnic Vietnamese IDUs, clinicians and other service providers will be better equipped to meet the needs of this vulnerable group.
ObjectivesTo understand, describe and analyse the experiences of women with breast cancer in Vietnam when accessing and using breast cancer services.DesignDescriptive qualitative study. Women were interviewed about their experiences from the first time they became aware of symptoms or changes to their body through treatment and post-treatment. This study is the first descriptive study on breast cancer in Vietnam from the perspective of women with a breast cancer diagnosis.ParticipantsWomen (n=13) who had completed or were still receiving treatment for breast cancer, purposively recruited from the north and south of Vietnam.ResultsAn analysis of the experiences of women with breast cancer in Vietnam revealed a lack of awareness and knowledge about breast cancer and symptoms. Family and social support were described as key factors influencing whether a woman accesses and uses breast cancer services. Cost of treatment and out-of-pocket expenditures limited access to services and resulted in significant financial challenges for women and their families.ConclusionsVietnam has made huge strides in improving cancer care, and is tackling a complex and expanding public health challenge, however, there are a number of areas requiring strengthening and future research. While Vietnam has successfully expanded social health insurance coverage, changes that increase the percentage of costs covered for specific treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, could benefit women and their families.
An important factor for monitoring health transition is the collection of valid and reliable population data over time. 1 However, given the weaknesses of the national health information systems in low-and middle-income countries such as Vietnam, especially in the area of generating high-quality population-based information, health and demographic surveillance systems (HDSSs) have been shown to generate high-quality population-based data and scientific evidence on the levels, patterns, and trends in health and health care transitions in a country.
Early evidence shows that amphetamine-type stimulant (ATS) use has been rapidly increasing in Vietnam. Female sex workers (FSWs) who use ATSs have increased sexual risks for HIV infection. This paper presents qualitative data from a mixed-method study conducted from 2010 to 2011 that aimed to explore the use of ATS among FSWs in three major cities and to identify HIV-related sexual risks among this group. A total of 37 in-depth interviews were conducted, and thematic analysis was performed using NVIVO 8.0 software. Study participants reported that they perceive ATS to be more 'stylish', 'higher class' and much less 'addictive' than heroin. The study highlights multiple sexual risks among this group, including having prolonged sex; sex with multiple simultaneous partners or clients; lack of negotiation for safe sex; increased likelihood of group sex in the context of drug pooling and extended drug and sexual network; as well as unprotected sex. There is an urgent need to promote contextually appropriate interventions to reduce the HIV-related sexual risks among this group.
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