Sex Differences in Quality of Life and Health Services Utilization among Elderly People in Rural Vietnam
In Vietnam, as in much of the world, the elderly population is growing rapidly. Two-thirds of Vietnam’s elderly live in rural areas, where there may be unique health profiles and needs. Furthermore, the sex ratio in the elderly population is highly skewed. The relationship between sex, hea...
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doaj-1d2f41e6075f47d0813d07f1dd40a76b2020-11-24T23:54:21ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012018-12-011616910.3390/ijerph16010069ijerph16010069Sex Differences in Quality of Life and Health Services Utilization among Elderly People in Rural VietnamThang Pham0Nguyen Thao Thi Nguyen1Sophie Bao ChieuTo2Tuan Le Pham3Thanh Xuan Nguyen4Huong Thu Thi Nguyen5Tam Ngoc Nguyen6Thu Hoai Thi Nguyen7Quang Nhat Nguyen8Bach Xuan Tran9Long Hoang Nguyen10Giang Hai Ha11Carl A. Latkin12Cyrus S. H. Ho13Roger C. M. Ho14Anh Trung Nguyen15Huyen Thi Thanh Vu16Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, VietnamDuke University, Durham, NC 27708, USADepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USADepartment of Family Medicine, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, VietnamDepartment of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, VietnamDepartment of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, VietnamDepartment of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, VietnamDepartment of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, VietnamUniversité Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, FranceInstitute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, VietnamCenter of Excellence in Behavioral Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 770000, VietnamInstitute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, VietnamBloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USADepartment of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, SingaporeCenter of Excellence in Behavioral Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City 770000, VietnamDepartment of Family Medicine, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, VietnamDepartment of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, VietnamIn Vietnam, as in much of the world, the elderly population is growing rapidly. Two-thirds of Vietnam’s elderly live in rural areas, where there may be unique health profiles and needs. Furthermore, the sex ratio in the elderly population is highly skewed. The relationship between sex, health-seeking behavior, and health outcomes in elderly individuals residing in rural areas has not been well-characterized, and needs to be elucidated in order to better serve this population. This study sought to explore the associations of sex with health and health-seeking behavior among the elderly in Soc Son, a rural district of Hanoi. A cross-sectional design was employed; elderly women and men were surveyed across the domains of socioeconomic information, health status, and healthcare service utilization. We found differences between women and men in sociodemographic characteristics, quality of life, health outcomes, and patterns of health services utilization. Overall, women had poorer health and quality of life, but no difference was found between sexes regarding level of health services utilization. Future research should expand upon these findings and, moreover, characterize their underlying systemic, sociocultural, and psychological mechanisms, in order to help bring solutions to improve the health of elderly persons in rural parts of Vietnam.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/1/69agingelderlysex differencesruralquality of lifehealth services utilizationVietnam |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
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 Huyen Thi Thanh Vu |
spellingShingle |
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 Huyen Thi Thanh Vu Sex Differences in Quality of Life and Health Services Utilization among Elderly People in Rural Vietnam International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health aging elderly sex differences rural quality of life health services utilization Vietnam |
author_facet |
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 Huyen Thi Thanh Vu |
author_sort |
Thang Pham |
title |
Sex Differences in Quality of Life and Health Services Utilization among Elderly People in Rural Vietnam |
title_short |
Sex Differences in Quality of Life and Health Services Utilization among Elderly People in Rural Vietnam |
title_full |
Sex Differences in Quality of Life and Health Services Utilization among Elderly People in Rural Vietnam |
title_fullStr |
Sex Differences in Quality of Life and Health Services Utilization among Elderly People in Rural Vietnam |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sex Differences in Quality of Life and Health Services Utilization among Elderly People in Rural Vietnam |
title_sort |
sex differences in quality of life and health services utilization among elderly people in rural vietnam |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2018-12-01 |
description |
In Vietnam, as in much of the world, the elderly population is growing rapidly. Two-thirds of Vietnam’s elderly live in rural areas, where there may be unique health profiles and needs. Furthermore, the sex ratio in the elderly population is highly skewed. The relationship between sex, health-seeking behavior, and health outcomes in elderly individuals residing in rural areas has not been well-characterized, and needs to be elucidated in order to better serve this population. This study sought to explore the associations of sex with health and health-seeking behavior among the elderly in Soc Son, a rural district of Hanoi. A cross-sectional design was employed; elderly women and men were surveyed across the domains of socioeconomic information, health status, and healthcare service utilization. We found differences between women and men in sociodemographic characteristics, quality of life, health outcomes, and patterns of health services utilization. Overall, women had poorer health and quality of life, but no difference was found between sexes regarding level of health services utilization. Future research should expand upon these findings and, moreover, characterize their underlying systemic, sociocultural, and psychological mechanisms, in order to help bring solutions to improve the health of elderly persons in rural parts of Vietnam. |
topic |
aging elderly sex differences rural quality of life health services utilization Vietnam |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/1/69 |
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