Go Vivian F, Quan Vu Minh, A Chung, Zenilman Jonathan M, Moulton Lawrence H, Celentano David D
Department of Epidemiology, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 North Wolfe Street, Room E7133, Baltimore, MD 21205, USa.
Sex Transm Dis. 2002 Apr;29(4):201-6. doi: 10.1097/00007435-200204000-00003.
Vietnamese women may be especially vulnerable to reproductive tract infections (RTIs) and their biological and social sequelae. Few data are available on the prevalence of and health-seeking behavior for RTIs among women in Vietnam.
To assess prevalence of RTI symptoms, describe treatment-seeking behaviors, and identify barriers to care among Vietnamese women.
A population-based survey was conducted among 1163 Vietnamese women aged 18 years to 49 years.
Five hundred seven women (43.6%) reported RTI symptoms in the previous 6 months, including abnormal vaginal discharge (78.3%), lower abdominal pain (46.7%), and genital ulcers (3.6%). Sixty-four percent of these women sought care at some type of medical venue: health station (i.e., government clinic; 24.7%), hospital (15.8%), pharmacy (15.2%), or private doctor (8.1%). The remaining women ignored symptoms (24.8%) or were self-treated (11.4%). In multivariate analysis, stigma associated with sexually transmitted infections (odds ratio [OR] = 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.25-2.70); not seeking informal advice (OR = 2.90; 95% CI = 1.82-4.62); mildness of symptoms (OR = 3.01; 95% CI = 1.45-6.23); absence of perceived morbidity (OR = 3.56; 95% CI = 2.20-5.77); and short duration of symptoms (OR = 2.53; 95% CI = 1.04-6.16) were significantly associated with ignoring RTI symptoms.
A substantial number of women in northern Vietnam who reported RTI symptoms did not seek care. Interventions to raise awareness about RTI symptoms and their consequences, dissipate negative stereotypes, and encourage open discussion about RTIs should facilitate appropriate care-seeking for RTIs.
越南女性可能特别容易感染生殖道感染（RTIs）及其生物学和社会后果。关于越南女性生殖道感染的患病率及就医行为的数据很少。
评估越南女性生殖道感染症状的患病率，描述其就医行为，并确定就医障碍。
对1163名年龄在18岁至49岁之间的越南女性进行了一项基于人群的调查。
507名女性（43.6%）报告在过去6个月出现生殖道感染症状，包括异常阴道分泌物（78.3%）、下腹部疼痛（46.7%）和生殖器溃疡（3.6%）。这些女性中有64%在某种医疗场所寻求治疗：卫生站（即政府诊所；24.7%）、医院（15.8%）、药店（15.2%）或私人医生处（8.1%）。其余女性忽略症状（24.8%）或自行治疗（11.4%）。在多变量分析中，与性传播感染相关的耻辱感（比值比[OR]=1.83；95%置信区间[CI]=1.25 - 2.70）；不寻求非正式建议（OR = 2.90；95% CI = 1.82 - 4.62）；症状轻微（OR = 3.01；95% CI = 1.45 - 6.23）；未察觉到发病（OR = 3.56；95% CI = 2.20 - 5.77）；以及症状持续时间短（OR = 2.53；95% CI = 1.04 - 6.16）与忽略生殖道感染症状显著相关。
在越南北部，大量报告有生殖道感染症状的女性未寻求治疗。提高对生殖道感染症状及其后果的认识、消除负面刻板印象并鼓励公开讨论生殖道感染的干预措施应有助于促进对生殖道感染的适当就医。
