Pham Phuong Lien1*, Nguyen Phuong Thuy1, Nguyen Hai Yen2, Tran Thi My Hanh1, Nguyen Minh Hoang1, Do Mai Hoa1
1Hanoi University of Public Health
2Cau Giay District Health Center
Objective: 1) To describe the current situation of health services utilization among elderly in Hoàng Mai district, Ha Noi, 2015; 2) To identify relevant factors to the using health services utilization among elderly in Hoàng Mai district, Ha Noi, 2015.
Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive method has been employed in this research. The sample consisted of 480 elderly (60-year-old and older) in Hoang Mai district, Hanoi in 2015.
Main fndings: Proportion of elderly who had been sick within 4 weeks preceding the survey was 54%. The most common diseases are high blood pressure, osteoarthritis and diabetes ect; The proportion of elderly who was being sick using self-medication treatment was 37,1%; and using outpatient treatment was 54,8%; Approximately 80% of aging patients utilised outpatient treatment at provincial and central hospitals, only 1 case went to commune health station. There is signifcant statistical correlation between having health insurance card and using of health services by the old people when they get sick (OR: 2,3 p<0,05).
Conclusions: The proportion of elderly who was being sick using self-medication treatment was relatively high (approximately 40%); The proportion of aging patients utilised outpatient treatment at provincial and central medical facitities was high (approximately 80%). Elderly having health insurance cards are likely to be able to go for medical treatment 2.3 times higher than those without a health insurance card.
Keywords: Service utilization, health services, elderly
*Corresponding author: Pham Phuong Lien
Work place: Hanoi University of Public Health
Email: ppl1@huph.edu.vn