Tuyển tập các nghiên cứu khoa học của trường đại học Huế đề tài: Xem xét văn hóa trong nhận thức của cộng đồng áp dụng khám bệnh bằng lời nói. | JOURNAL OF SCIENCE Hue University N0 61 2010 CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS IN COMMUNITY S PERCEPTIONS OF APPLYING VERBAL AUTOPSY Nguyen Thai Quynh Chi Le Thi Hai Ha Hanoi School of Public Health Megan Jennaway Zoe Dawkins University of Queensland SUMMARY In Vietnam mortality information are compiled independently through different sources hence the results may sometimes conflict due to divergent interests. In this context verbalautopsy VA is an effective alternative method to enhance the reliability and quality of mortality statistics. This qualitative study is a part of the Mortality Studies component of the VINE1 project. To identify the community s perceptions of applying VA method and the barriers of reporting death in the community. Methods 50 in-depth interviews and 10 focus group discussions were conducted in 5 socio-culturally diversity regional research clusters that had undergone the quantitative VA. Nvivo 7 software was used to analysed the data. Results People in the community suggest 4 main factors that need to be considered in conducting VA interviews The time to visit respondents interviews should be conducted face-to-face and within family home Local health officals should conduct the interviews and respondents should be fully aware of VA research purpose. Three barriers in death reporting were identified No awareness of the importance of death reporting no link between death reporting with financial incentives and unclear procedure of death reporting. Conclusions Cultural considerations should be taken into account when widely applying VA to improve the quality of mortality information. Local authorities should be awared of the barriers of not reporting death in the community to improve the death report procedure. 1. Introduction Mortality data are considered to be essential for developing evidence-based health policy. The World Health Organization WHO has recognized the importance of mortality data in measuring the health status of populations and .
