Unmet Healthcare Needs and Associated Factors in Rural and Suburban Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ju Young Kim, Dae In Kim, Hwa Yeon Park, Yuliya Pak, Phap Ngoc Hoang Tran, Truc Thanh Thai, Mai Thi Thanh Thuy and Do Van Dung
Additional contact information
Ju Young Kim: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Korea
Dae In Kim: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Korea
Hwa Yeon Park: Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Korea
Yuliya Pak: Office of External Affairs, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam 13620, Korea
Phap Ngoc Hoang Tran: Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City 72714, Vietnam
Truc Thanh Thai: Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City 72714, Vietnam
Mai Thi Thanh Thuy: Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City 72714, Vietnam
Do Van Dung: Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City 72714, Vietnam

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-12

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the current utilization of healthcare services, exploring unmet healthcare needs and the associated factors among people living in rural Vietnam. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 233 participants in a rural area. The methods included face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire, and anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. We considered participants to have unmet health needs if they had any kind of health problem during the past 12 months for which they were unable to see a healthcare provider. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors associated with unmet healthcare needs. Of the participants, 18% ( n = 43) had unmet healthcare needs, for reasons like transportation (30%), a lack of available doctors or medicine (47%), and communication issues with healthcare providers (16%). The multivariate logistic regression showed that living in a rural area, having stage 2 hypertension, and having insurance were associated with unmet healthcare needs. To better meet the healthcare needs in rural or suburban areas of Vietnam, allocation of adequate healthcare resources should be distributed in rural areas and insurance coverage for personalized healthcare needs might be required. Efforts should focus on availability of medicine, improvement of transportation systems, and communication skills of healthcare providers to improve access to healthcare services.

Keywords: health services accessibility; medically underserved area; healthcare disparities; assessment of healthcare needs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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