Reproductive Tract Infections in Rural Vietnam, Women's Knowledge, and Health-Seeking Behavior: A Cross-Sectional Study

Health Care Women Int. 2016;37(4):392-411. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2014.920021. Epub 2014 Jul 24.

Abstract

We interviewed 1,805 women in a rural setting in Vietnam with the aim of investigating women's knowledge regarding reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and their health-seeking behavior. We found that women's overall knowledge was poor. Furthermore, only one-third of the symptomatic women sought health care. RTIs affect millions of women globally each year. Most vulnerable are women in low- and middle-income countries where poverty and gender inequities affect their access to health care services. Findings from our study can be used in similar rural settings worldwide to understand and manage the widespread problem of RTIs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Behavior
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / ethnology*
  • Health Services
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Humans
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / ethnology
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Poverty
  • Prevalence
  • Qualitative Research
  • Reproductive Tract Infections / ethnology*
  • Rural Population / statistics & numerical data
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Vietnam / epidemiology
  • Women's Health Services / statistics & numerical data