Development of a Culturally Sensitive Educational Intervention Program to Reduce the High Incidence of Tuberculosis Among Foreign-Born Vietnamese

OBJECTIVE: In Los Angeles County and Orange County, 98% of Asians with tuberculosis (TB) were foreign born; newly arrived Vietnamese immigrants had the highest TB risk: i.e. > 100 times higher than that of the USA. The study objective was to find ways to reduce the high incidence of tuberculosis among the Vietnamese by: (1) identifying and understanding the cultural health beliefs and barriers among the Vietnamese population of Orange County, California; and (2) developing a partnership between UCLA/VA/RAND MEDTEP, key Vietnamese community-based organizations, and community leaders in Orange County to develop and implement a comprehensive, culturally sensitive educational intervention program. DESIGN: Vietnamese residing in Orange County were recruited to obtain qualitative and quantitative data in 1998 and 1999, respectively. The study design included focus groups, in-depth interviews, and community surveys. Data were collected via qualitative reports, computer-assisted random telephone interviews, and self-administered questionnaires. RESULTS: A conceptual schema was identified within the Vietnamese health belief system that recognized two different forms of tuberculosis: non-infectious psychological and infectious physical tuberculosis. It was possible to engage community organizations in developing programs to combat TB in the Vietnamese population. CONCLUSION: The Health beliefs of Vietnamese will be important considerations in developing a culturally sensitive educational intervention program to service this at-risk population.