Drug use and health-seeking behavior for childhood illness in Vietnam--a qualitative study

To describe and understand health-seeking behavior and drug use among caregivers, in particular antibiotics, for childhood illnesses in Vietnam.

A total of six focus group discussions were conducted with child care providers. A thematised interview guide was used and qualitative content analysis was applied. Meaning units in the texts dealing with the same content material were identified, condensed and compared until several emerging themes were found. Finally, similarities and differences in the views between rural and urban groups were described.

Self-treatment and self-medication were prominent in the urban groups, whereas compliance and trust in doctors were more common among the rural participants. Misuse and misconceptions regarding the properties of drugs were reported leading to worries about irrational drug use in the community. Despite the widespread use of private services in both areas, the public health service was reported to be the most trusted recourse for serious cases.

Qualitatively different ways of using drug and health care services are reported for childhood sickness in rural and urban Vietnam. These results provide rich information for the development of quantitative studies on drug use for children and point to the need to involve all health facilities in consideration.