Prevalence and treatment differences between Vietnamese and American children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Abstract

Sangeeta Singg, Huong T.Viet Vo

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common and pervasive childhood disorders worldwide. Although the United States is currently leading in prevalence of this disorder, the research demonstrates that racial and ethnic disparities in prevalence and treatment exist in the United States. However, some American minorities do not represent a full range of socioeconomic levels as they exist in their countries of origin, e.g., Vietnam. Thus, we compared children with ADHD ages 5 to 17 in Vietnam and the United States to examine the prevalence and treatment differences between the two countries. The data were obtained via interviews of professionals, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, and other studies. Notable differences were found between the two countries with regard to the prevalence rates of ADHD in children, gender differences, availability of the diagnostical and treatment services for ADHD, kinds of treatments used, and cultural factors responsible for the differences in the two countries. Vietnam is a predominantly rural society with a lack of awareness of the problem of ADHD and with a lack of treatment facilities and governmental support as compared to the United States. Suggestions were made to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and treatment outcomes for the children with ADHD in Vietnam.

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