Orange County Groups Tailor Health Messages to Vietnamese Residents

Social services agencies in Orange County are working to develop outreach materials and programs specifically targeted at the county's large Vietnamese community in hopes of providing more culturally sensitive information, the Los Angeles Times reports.

For example, a project focused on diabetes at UC-Irvine has reworked USDA's standard food pyramid to address a more traditional Vietnamese diet including rice bowls, vermicelli noodles and pho soup. Community groups have partnered with UC-Irvine personnel on the project and aim to help Vietnamese residents incorporate doctors' advice into their daily lives.

A project group called VietMOMS is working to provide information about pre- and post-natal care, a topic that can conflict with traditional Vietnamese practices.

In addition, the local Planned Parenthood chapter is conducting a series of focus groups and talks with Vietnamese community leaders to develop informational materials and presentations that address traditional views on sex.

Stephanie Kight, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood in Orange and San Bernardino counties, said the effort could lead to materials that could be used in Vietnamese communities nationwide (Tran, Los Angeles Times, 7/8).