--

6 (1) 2016

Vietnamese female sex workers’ perception of the healthcare quality in cervical cancer screening in Ho Chi Minh city


Author - Affiliation:
Le Thi Ngoc Phuc - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam
Corresponding author: Le Thi Ngoc Phuc - ngocphuc@hotmail.com

Abstract
The objectives of this paper are to explore issues relating to the quality of care received in reproductive health service, especially cervical cancer screening from perspective of Vietnamese female sex workers (FSWs) in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). From the findings, we make recommendations to improve the quality of reproductive health care service. This is a qualitative study using observation and in-depth interview with 15 female sex workers aged
18-44 years.
The research findings indicate that physician-client relationship, gender of doctor, information, privacy and technique competency are elements influencing their decision on cervical cancer screening.

Keywords
Cervical cancer; Female sex worker; Quality of health care

Full Text:
PDF

References

Abdullahi, A., Copping, J., Kessel, A., Luck, M., & Bonell, C. (2009). Cervical screening: Perceptions and barriers to uptake among Somali women in Camden. Public Health, 123(10), 680-685.


Agurto, I., Bishop, A., Sanchez, G., Betancourt, Z., & Robles, S. (2004). Perceived barriers and benefits to cervical cancer screening in Latin America. Prev Med, 39(1), 91-98.


Anorlu, R. I. (2008). Cervical cancer: the sub-Saharan African perspective. Reprod Health Matters, 16(32), 41-49.


Boonmongkon, P., Nichter, M., & Pylypa, J. (2001). Mot Luuk problems in northeast Thailand: why women's own health concerns matter as much as disease rates. Social Science & Medicine, 53(8), 1095-1112.


Braun, V., & Gavey, N. (1999). Bad girls” And “Good girls? sexuality and cervical cancer. Women's Studies International Forum, 22(2), 203-213.


Bruce, J. (1990). Fundamental elements of the quality of care: A simple framework. Studies in Family Planning, 21, 61-69.


Campbell, S. M., Roland, M. O., & Buetow, S. A. (2000). Defining quality of care. Social Science & Medicine, 51(11), 1611-1625.


Chakrapani, V., Newman, P. A., Shunmugam, M., Kurian, A. K., & Dubrow, R. (2009). Barriers to free antiretroviral treatment access for female sex workers in Chennai, India. AIDS Patient Care STDS, 23(11), 973-980.


Donabedian, A. (1988). The quality of care: How can it be assessed? Journal of American Medical Association, 260, 1743-1748.


Ghimire, L., Smith, W. C., & Van Teijlingen, E. R. (2011). Utilisation of sexual health services by female sex workers in Nepal. BMC Health Serv Res, 11, 79.


Helman, C. G. (1990). Culture, Health and Illness: An introduction for health professionals (second ed.). Great Britain: Courier International Ltd.,


ICRW (2004). Understanding HIV and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination in Vietnam. Ha Noi.


Lee, E. E., Tripp-Reimer, T., Miller, A. M., Sadler, G. R., & Lee, S. Y. (2007). Korean American women's beliefs about breast and cervical cancer and associated symbolic meanings. Oncol Nurs Forum, 34(3), 713-720.


Markovic, M., Kesic, V., Topic, L., & Matejic, B. (2005). Barriers to cervical cancer screening: a qualitative study with women in Serbia. Soc Sci Med, 61(12), 2528-2535.


McQuestion, M. J. (2006). Quality of care. Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved from http://ocw.jhsph.edu/courses/immunizationPrograms/PDFs/Lecture7.pdf


Ndhlovu, L. (1995). Quality of care in family planning service delivery in Kenya: Clients' and providers' perspectives. Nairobi, Kenya: The Population Council's Africa OR/TA Project.


Ngo MD MIPH Mphil, A. D., Ratliff, E. A., McCurdy, S. A., Ross, M. W., Markham, C., & Pham, H. T. B. (2007). Health seeking behavior for sexually transmitted infections and HIV testing among female sex workers in


Vietnam. AIDS Care: Psychological and Socio-medical aspect of AIDS/HIV, 19(7), 878-887.


Steinwachs, D. M. & Hughes, R. G. (2008). Health Services Research: Scope and Significance. In Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US) (Chapter 8). Hughes, R. G.


Whittaker, A. (1996). Quality of care for women in northeast Thailand: intersections of class, gender, and ethnicity. Health Care Women Int, 17(5), 435-447.




Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.