Different tuberculosis in men and women: beliefs from focus groups in Vietnam

After decades in decline, tuberculosis (TB) has been increasing worldwide. In 1993, the World Health Organisation declared TB a global emergency. Pass ive case-finding is an important part of TB control programmes, and this is strongly affected by people's perceptions and beliefs of TB and society's behaviour towards TB sufferers. The aim of this study was to describe the p erceptions and beliefs of Vietnamese people regarding TB and its risk facto rs with special reference to differences between men and women. Sixteen foc us group discussions (FGDs) were organised in four districts representing d ifferent regions in Vietnam and consisting of men and women, TB patients an d non-TB participants. In general, participants had good knowledge of TB be ing a dangerous, contagious and infectious disease, caused by germs. Howeve r, traditional beliefs in different types of TB still exist, mainly among o lder people in rural areas, but also resorted to by other people once ill. Four main types of TB were reported: (1) 'Lao truyen' (hereditary TB), hand ed down from older generations to latter ones through 'family blood', regar dless of sexes; (2) 'Lao luc' (physical TB), caused by hard work, more men affected; (3) 'Lao tam' (mental TB), caused by too much worrying-more women affected; and (4) 'Lao phoi' (lung TB). dangerous and caused by TB germs, transmitted through the respiratory system-more men affected. Other general risk factors were also mentioned. Men were perceived to get TB more often than women, as they were more exposed to risk factors during both work and leisure time. These traditional beliefs may contribute to long delays to TB diagnosis and increased social stigma and isolation of TB patients and the ir families due to erroneous beliefs in transmission routes. Our findings d emonstrate areas where TB control programmes may be improved. (C) 1999 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.