Tuyển tập báo cáo nghiên cứu khoa học trường đại học huế đề tài: Tìm hiểu về bệnh đường hô hấp ở nước Lào. | JOURNAL OF SCIENCE Hue University N0 61 2010 HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENTS FOR RESPIRATORY ILLNESS IN THE LAO PEOPLE S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC LAOS Vanphanom Sychareun 1 Visanou Hansana 1 Bouachanh Sengphilom 1 LatsamyOulay 1 Vatsana Thamavongsa 1 Vatsana Somphet1 Chansathit Taykeophithoune 1 Soudavanh Nathavong 1 Johnly Phanthady 1 Phetsavanh Chanthavilay 1 Bounthanom 3 Mayfong Mayxay 12 1 Faculty of Post Graduate Studies University of Health Sciences Vientiane Lao PDR 2 Wellcome Trust - Mahosot Hospital - Oxford University Tropical Medicine Research Collaboration Mahosot Hospital Vientiane Lao PDR 3 National Center for Laboratory and Epidemiology Vientiane Lao PDR SUMMARY Respiratory illness RI remains a public health problem in Laos but little is known about its burden and people s health seeking behavior. Among 1 751 households 9 114 people studied 317 9 114 had RI fever cough and sore-throat 30 days before the survey in rural and in peri-urban areas P . Of all sick persons 77 sought treatment 94 in peri-urban and 48 in rural areas P and of them selfmedicated in peri-urban and 29 in rural areas P . Sick people in peri-urban areas preferred to chose private clinics and pharmacies as their first treatment option while in rural areas they frequently consulted with village health volunteers and visited the health centre as their first choice. Distance costs of care and service availability are the most important determinants of seeking care. The differences in the RI burden and health seeking behavior between the two areas of Laos are probably due to the difference in health service availability and socio-economic status Keywords Respiratory illness health seeking behaviour Laos 1. Introduction Respiratory illness is a leading cause of death and disease burden worldwide Bryce 2005 and about 95 of the deaths occurred in developing countries Wardlaw et al. 2006 . In the Lao PDR Laos it is an important cause of morbidity and .
