Health literacy of adult Vietnamese population in relation to common eye conditions and factors for not seeking an eye examination
摘要
Background: The aim of this study was to assess the health literacy of adult Vietnamese population in relation to common eye conditions and identify factors associated with respondents never having had an eye examination.
Methods: Four hundred households from two districts of Ba Ria-Vung Tau (BRVT) province were selected by multistage cluster random sampling. One adult from each household was administered a pre-tested knowledge, attitude and practices toward eye health questionnaire. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.
Results: Of the 400 subjects interviewed (mean age: 51.5±14.5 years; range, 30–90 years), 53.5% reported never having had an eye examination and 38.0% had spectacles. Awareness of eye conditions ranged from 7.0% for glaucoma to 52.8% for red eye. Low awareness of these conditions was significantly associated with rural habitation (odds ratio ranged from 1.65 to 2.78), lower educational attainment (odds ratio ranged from 1.78 to 2.59) and non-spectacle wear (odds ratio ranged from 1.88 to 4.55). Significant barriers to eye examination included lower educational attainment, reported absence of eye problems, non-spectacle wear, lack of affordability, and lack of health insurance.
Conclusions: Knowledge of and attitude or practices to eye health is low within the general public in Vietnam, especially among those who have never had an eye examination, are less educated and live in rural areas. Eye health promotion activities are warranted for the population and specific factors that influence eye examination visits should be addressed.
Methods: Four hundred households from two districts of Ba Ria-Vung Tau (BRVT) province were selected by multistage cluster random sampling. One adult from each household was administered a pre-tested knowledge, attitude and practices toward eye health questionnaire. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.
Results: Of the 400 subjects interviewed (mean age: 51.5±14.5 years; range, 30–90 years), 53.5% reported never having had an eye examination and 38.0% had spectacles. Awareness of eye conditions ranged from 7.0% for glaucoma to 52.8% for red eye. Low awareness of these conditions was significantly associated with rural habitation (odds ratio ranged from 1.65 to 2.78), lower educational attainment (odds ratio ranged from 1.78 to 2.59) and non-spectacle wear (odds ratio ranged from 1.88 to 4.55). Significant barriers to eye examination included lower educational attainment, reported absence of eye problems, non-spectacle wear, lack of affordability, and lack of health insurance.
Conclusions: Knowledge of and attitude or practices to eye health is low within the general public in Vietnam, especially among those who have never had an eye examination, are less educated and live in rural areas. Eye health promotion activities are warranted for the population and specific factors that influence eye examination visits should be addressed.
