When Culture Meets Public Health…
A comparison of differences and similarities of public health in the
United States of America and Vietnam
Priya Chandan, Annie Tran, Brian Le
Overview
Description of Eastern and Western cultures General cultural implications for public health Specific illustrations of differences and
similarities in Vietnam and America
Cultural Components
EAST Native Vietnamese Southeast Asian
Culture Western Culture
WEST European Various Immigrant
Groups Eastern…?
Values
EAST Communal
Relationships
Extended Family Gratitude towards
previous generations
WEST Individual
Reason
Immediate Family Mainly just parents and
children
Values
EAST EducationSuccess
Teachers
WEST Many pathsSuccess
Peter Jennings/Oprah
VS.
Social Interactions
Personal Questions Eastern=family, marital status, hometown Western=individual likes/dislikes
Interactions Between Genders Eastern=B-B, G-G, or B-B + G-G Western=B-G is common
Guest-Host Bond
Cultural Implications for Public Health
Expression of pain Willingness to seek medical help Vietnam
South=more likely to see the doctor and be willing to pay for healthcare
North=more likely to self-medicate
Sites
Hanoi University of Pharmacy CHILILAB Bach Mai, Hanoi Medical University
Hanoi University of Pharmacy
Patient Compliance Self-medication
Philosophy of Medicine East=homeopathic
“Like cures like” West=allopathic
Treat with opposites
Traditional Medicine
80% of peopleherbalist South
Vietnamese medicine Importance of ethno-medicinal plants (EMPs) Mainly herbalist-centered
North Chinese medicine has additional components Acupuncture Food Cures Manipulative Massage
Examples
Scarring Turmeric vs. Neosporin
Fever Bittermelon vs. Analgesics
Cough Ginger vs. Robutussin
CHILILAB
Research Person-based vs. Disease-based
Rehabilitation Center of the Bach Mai University Hospital
Family involvement Care for veterans
Veteran’s Administration Types of rehabilitation Prosthetics Similarities
Lower back problems Misunderstanding of techniques by patients Requests for fancy, advanced therapy
Natural Disasters-Flooding
Public health concern Diarrhea, typhoid, Dengue fever, conjunctivitis,
acute respiratory infections, skin diseases Rampant in Vietnam Recently in America—Katrina Responses
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Preparedness Program
CDC’s Healthy People 2010 vs. HSPH’s National Health Priorities
DIFFERENCES Arthritis Osteoporosis Cancer Chronic Kidney Disease Disability Food Safety Violence Drugs/Tobacco Abuse Vision and Hearing Physical Activity and
Fitness
SIMILARITIES Educational and
Community-Based Programs
Heart Disease HIV/AIDS Maternal, Infant and Child
Health Mental Disorders
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