Information on the thesis "Knowledge about illness and treatment choices of the Tay people in rural mountainous areas of Yen Bai province (case study of Kien Thanh commune, Tran Yen district)" by graduate student Nguyen Thu Quynh, majoring in Ethnology.1. Student's Full Name: Nguyen Thu Quynh 2. Gender: Female 3. Date of Birth: November 1, 1987 4. Place of Birth: Minh Quan, Tran Yen District, Yen Bai Province 5. Decision No. 1528/QD-XHNV-KH&SDH dated October 14, 2009, issued by the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 6. Changes during the training process: None 7. Thesis Title: Knowledge of Illness and Treatment Choices of the Tay People in Rural Mountainous Areas of Yen Bai Province (Case Study of Kien Thanh Commune, Tran Yen District) 8. Major: Ethnology; Code: 602270 9. Scientific Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Department of Anthropology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. 10. Summary of the thesis results: This study investigates the knowledge of illness and the treatment choices of the Tay people in the rural mountainous areas of Northern Vietnam. The study stems from the hypothesis that there are certain differences between the people's knowledge and scientific knowledge about illness. The people explain illness through their perceptions and experiences inherited from previous generations and within their community. Their explanations of illness are often expressed through traditional beliefs about the mechanisms of disease, primarily the relationship between HOT and COLD, but sometimes also through spiritual perspectives, through the relationship between invisible SUPERNATURAL forces and HUMANS in the real world. Therefore, these explanations often have a religious, mystical, and even somewhat irrational tone. Based on this, the study aims to explore people's knowledge and perceptions of illness to understand how this knowledge influences their healthcare practices. The study indicates that knowledge about illness and traditional treatments is passed down from generation to generation, with women playing a crucial role in preserving this knowledge. While perceptions of illness significantly impact treatment choices, other factors such as the patient's family's ability to pay, the availability of healthcare services in their area, and transportation also influence their treatment choices and processes. Furthermore, treatment decisions are rarely made by an individual, or even a family (nuclear family), with kinship ties playing a significant role. Typically, treatment decisions are made after discussions among the entire family and relatives, with the head of the household or clan usually having the final say. Based on shared knowledge about illness and the context of each family, people choose different treatment areas according to various models. They may seek treatment at multiple medical facilities, or visit them sequentially; or combine both models. From the main findings of a case study of a Tay community in Tran Yen, it can be concluded that traditional culture and socio-economic conditions are the two main factors influencing the Tay people's decision-making regarding treatment methods. 11. Practical Applications: By clarifying the relationship between knowledge about illness and treatment choices, and how that relationship impacts human health, this study provides insights into the perceptions and behaviors of the Tay people of Tran Yen regarding illness and disease, and how they choose treatment methods. The main findings of this study are considered useful for developing healthcare programs for the Tay people in particular and ethnic minority communities in general. 12. Future Research Directions: Further research on this issue is needed on a broader scale, using a comparative approach to knowledge and healthcare services across different regions and ethnic groups to yield more practical implications for future actions.
INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS
1. Full name: NGUYEN THU Quynh 2. Gender: Female 3. Date of birth: November 1, 2987 4. Place of birth: Minh Quan, Tran Yen, Yen Bai 5. Admission decision number: 1528/ QD – XHNV – KH&SĐH Dated October 14, 2009 6. Changes in academic process: 7. Official thesis title: Local knowledge on sickness and treatment options of Tay people in Yen Bai province (A case study in Kien Thanh commune, Tran Yen district) 8. Major: Ethnology; Code: 602270 9. Supervisor: Assoc. Prof., Dr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Department of Anthropology, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. 10. Thesis summary: This study is ethnography on the Tay people's knowledge on the sickness and their choices of treatments. The study first explores the traditional concepts of the Tay ethnic group in Tran Yen Commune, Yen Bai province, then analyzes the factors contributing into the way how the local people choose the treatment remedies. It is based on the proposition that there are differences in the local knowledge and modern scientific points of views regarding the state of illness, particularly with regards to the diagnosis of the causes of sickness from which the treatment methods are selected. Physically, it is believed that the heat and coldness are basic elements in traditional diagnosis of sickness while the interaction between human beings and supernatural forces is considered to be the major causes of illness. Based on the diagnosis of sickness causes, the treatment choices are made, ranging from seeking for the traditional medicine, traditional healers, hospitals, shamans or buying western medicine. This knowledge about the illness and treatment is shared and handed down from generation to generation among community members, in which women play an important role in the process. The concept of illness has a large impact on their behavior of treatment options; However, there are also other factors considering the decisions and process of treatment such as the patient's affordability, the ability to provide services from medical sectors, and means of transportation. In many cases, it is found that individuals and their nuclear family members rarely make the final decision of treatment remedies but the voices of the heads of extended family are usually listened and obeyed. On the basis of sharing the common knowledge about illness, and based on the situation of each patient, treatment options in different areas are chosen, ranging from following the traditional healing to modern health care or combination of two. Our study indicates that traditional culture and family's socio-economic conditions have a strong impact on decision making of treatment for illness of the Tay. 11. Applicability in practice: By providing an ethnography on the relationship between knowledge about illness and treatment options as well as its impact on humans' health, this study contributes to practical actions for health care programs among the Tay in particular, and ethnic settlements in Yen Bai general. . 12. Further research directions: Further research on a larger scale and comparative approach could provide more useful information for practical purposes.
