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.