Sociocultural influences on preventive health behaviours in Vietnamese migrants: InSight-CALD Study

Background

Despite great efforts in promoting health equity in preventive care, yet limited understanding of low access to care existed for migrants. This study aims to gain insights into cultural and societal factors influencing preventive and care‑seeking behaviours for heart disease among Vietnamese migrants in Australia and identify cultural-specific needs to foster positive health behaviours in an intercultural context.

Methods

A cross-sectional, mixed-methods study was employed using the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice (KAP) semi-structured interview to gather experiences and perspectives on risk, prevention, and care-seeking for heart disease in Vietnamese migrants in community. Qualitative data were thematically analysed into domains of knowledge, attitudes, practices and needs; quantitative data was analysed and comprehensively interpreted with thematic outcomes.

Results

In-depth interviews were conducted with 17 adult Vietnamese migrants (mean age 42 ± 16.17 years), 65% were female. All participants had health insurance, and length of residence varied (2–46 years). Findings showed strong knowledge of heart disease, risk factors and prevention, but limited understanding of Australian services and the heart attack action plan, particularly among recent arrivals. Culturally shaped norms in prevention and health-seeking reflecting positive attitudes to prevention and screening, yet prevention was often viewed as difficult or unnecessary until symptoms occurred, leading to reactive care. Care‑seeking was GP‑centred, screening and emergency responses were delayed and cost-dependent. Key challenges included limited Vietnamese‑language resources, low health literacy, and reliance on family members for communication, especially among older migrants.

Conclusions

Findings support for scaling bilingual prevention programs, embedding interpreting service in primary care, and improving service navigation to increase early screening, timely emergency response, and equity.

Key messages

• Targeted bilingual prevention and interpreting service in primary care can improve early screening, timely emergency response, and reduce preventable delays in seeking care.

• Improving service navigation and culturally appropriate services can translate knowledge into action, reduce inequities, improve outcomes for Vietnamese migrants and transferable to other migrants.