Health care experiences of Vietnamese families in Nottingham

There is a dearth of information on the health needs of Vietnamese refugees in Britain. In May 1993, a structured interview survey was undertaken to determine the health care experiences and health-related behaviour of Vietnamese adults living in Nottingham Health District. One hundred and thirty-five adults (66 women) were successfully interviewed in Vietnamese or Cantonese, from 71 to 77 eligible households. Levels of English usage were extremely low, and between 27% and 69% of respondents reported considerable difficulty during the various stages of a consultation with their general practitioner. Data on breast screening services suggested a pattern of low uptake, and the prevalence of male smoking was estimated to be 47%. These results suggest that Vietnamese communities suffer high levels of disadvantage in their use of primary care services; remedial action is required.