Gender Differences in Quality of Life and Health Services Utilization among Elderly People in Rural Vietnam

Thang Pham, Nguyen Thao Thi Nguyen, Sophie Bao ChieuTo, Tuan Le Pham, Thanh Xuan Nguyen, Huong Thu Thi Nguyen, Tam Ngoc Nguyen, Thu Hoai Thi Nguyen, Quang Nhat Nguyen, Bach Xuan Tran, Long Hoang Nguyen, Giang Hai Ha, Carl A. Latkin, Cyrus S.H. Ho, Roger C.M. Ho, Anh Trung Nguyen and Huyen Thi Thanh Vu
Additional contact information
Thang Pham: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Nguyen Thao Thi Nguyen: Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
Sophie Bao ChieuTo: Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
Tuan Le Pham: Department of Family Medicine, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Thanh Xuan Nguyen: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Huong Thu Thi Nguyen: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Tam Ngoc Nguyen: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Thu Hoai Thi Nguyen: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Quang Nhat Nguyen: Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
Bach Xuan Tran: Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam, 100000
Long Hoang Nguyen: Center of Excellence in Behavioral Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 770000, Vietnam
Giang Hai Ha: Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam
Carl A. Latkin: Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Cyrus S.H. Ho: Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, Singapore
Roger C.M. Ho: Center of Excellence in Behavioral Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 770000, Vietnam
Anh Trung Nguyen: Department of Family Medicine, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam
Huyen Thi Thanh Vu: Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: As in much of the world, the elderly population in Vietnam is growing rapidly with two-thirds of them currently living in rural areas. Besides limited access to quality healthcare services, they also have unique health profiles and needs due to various factors, including the highly skewed sex ratio of more women residing in rural areas. However, the relationship between gender, health-seeking behaviors, and health outcomes in this under-served population has not been well characterized. This study sought to explore the associations of gender with health-related quality of life and health-seeking behavior among the elderly in Soc Son, a rural district of Hanoi, Vietnam. A cross-sectional design was used; elderly individuals were surveyed across the domains of socioeconomic information, health status, and healthcare service utilization. We found that overall, women had poorer health and quality of life even though gender difference did not appear to significantly influence their levels of health services utilization. A greater understanding of the systemic, sociocultural, and psychological factors underlying such differences may help better inform future healthcare service delivery strategies targeting this growing population in rural areas.

Keywords: aging; elderly; gender differences; rural; quality of life; health services utilization; Vietnam (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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