1. Presentation by: Huynh Ba Phuong Linh1
Health literacy and associated factors among adults in Thuy Xuan precinct,
Hue city, Vietnam
Authors: Huynh Ba Phuong Linh* , Vo Van Thang**,
*Lien Chieu district medical center, Danang city, Vietnam
**Faculty of Public Health, Hue UMP, Vietnam
Presentation by: Huynh Ba Phuong Linh

2. OUTLINE 1 2 3 4 5 6 2 Introduction Objectives Methodology Results
Conclusion 6
Recommendations

3. Introduction 3
Health and social policies are being developed that highlight health literacy (HL) as a key determinant of a person’s ability to optimally manage their health and of a health system’s ability to ensure equitable access to, and use of, services1.
One study estimates the cost of limited health literacy to the Nation’s economy to be between $106 and $236 billion USD annually. When one accounts for the future costs that result from current actions (or lack of action), the real present day cost of limited health literacy might be closer to $1.6–3.6 trillion USD2.
In both developing and developed countries, health and social policies are being developed that highlight health literacy (HL) as a key determinant of a person’s ability to optimally manage their health and of a health system’s ability to ensure equitable access to, and use of, services
United Nations Economic and Social Council: Health literacy and the Millennium Development Goals: United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) regional meeting background paper. J Health Commun 2010, 15(Suppl 2):
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2010). National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy

4. Introduction 4
Increased mortality
Poorer knowledge
Lower use of preventive healthcare services
Hospitalization
Difficulty communicating with health professionals
Poor adherence to prescribed medications
Low health literacy
Low health literacy has been reported to be associated with1:
In both developing and developed countries, health and social policies are being developed that highlight health literacy (HL) as a key determinant of a person’s ability to optimally manage their health and of a health system’s ability to ensure equitable access to, and use of, services
1. Richard H Osborne et al. The grounded psychometric development and initial validation of the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). BMC Public Health 2013, 13:658

5. Introduction 5
Therefore, HL has gained considerable attention globally in the recent years1.
Nevertheless, data on HL in the population is limited for Vietnam.
1. Peter Chang, Health literacy, Asia, and its health future(2016)

6. Objectives 6
To investigate the health literacy levels among adults in Thuy Xuan precinct, Hue city, Vietnam.
To assess the association between potential factors and health literacy among adults in Thuy Xuan precinct, Hue city, Vietnam.

7. Methodology - Study design: cross-sectional survey7
- Study design: cross-sectional survey
- Random sampling: 633 participants aged 18 and older
(were assessed for HL via a face to face interview)
- Study was conducted in Thuy Xuan precinct, Hue city from October, 2015 to January, 2016.
- HL was measured using questionaire of HL survey in Asia (HL-Asia-Q), which was modified from the HL survey in Europe questionaire (HL-EU-Q).
- We used lineare regression to identify factors significantly associated with general-HL (GEN-HL).

8. Demographic Characteristics
Results 8
Table 1. Demographic Characteristics (n=633)
Demographic Characteristics n %
Gender
Male
277
43.8
Female
356
56.2
Age
18-24 70
11.1
25-34
170
26.9
35-44
111
17.5
45-54
55-64 96
15.2
>64 75
11.8
BMI
<18,5
18,5-22,9
401
63.4
≥ 23
121
19.1
Legal marital status
Not married
107
16.9
Married
495
78.2
Separated/ Divorced/ Widowed 31
4.9

9. Demographic Characteristics
Results 9
Table 1. Demographic Characteristic (n=633)
Demographic Characteristics n %
Religious belief
Yes
447
70.6 No
186
29.4
The highest attained education
Pre-primary education 23
3.6
Primary education
155
24.5
Secondary education
153
24.2
Senior high education
140
22.1
University/college of higher
162
25.6

10. Health Literacy Indices
Results 10
Table 2: Mean and Std. Deviation(SD) of HL Indices
Health Literacy Indices
Mean ± SD
General Health Literacy
28.78 ± 8.69
Health Care_HL
30.30 ± 8.13
Disease Prevention_HL
27.69 ± 10.03
Health Promotion_HL
28.29 ± 9.57
Gen-HL index ( Report on Health Literacy in Eight EU Member States, 2012):
Total sample: 33.8 ± 8.0
Ranges from 30.5 ± 9.2 (Bulgaria) to 37.1 ± 6.4 (Netherland)

11. Figure 1: Percentage distribution of general HL levels and sub-domains
Results 11
Figure 1: Percentage distribution of general HL levels and sub-domains
Health promotion
Health care
General HL

12. Personal Health Information
Results 12
Table 3: Personal Health Information
Personal Health Information n %
Health Self- statement
Very bad/bad 67
10.6
Fair
432
68.2
Good/very good
134
21.2
Long-term illness or health problem
Yes 97
15.3 No
536
84.7
Health problems limited the activities (last 6 months)
Limited
156
24.6
Not limited
477
75.4 12

13. Personal Health Information
Results 13
Table 3: Personal Health Information (n=633)
Personal Health Information n %
Health insurance cost
Required
144
22.7
Voluntary
356
56.2
Support from Government 44
7.0
None 89
14.1
Periodic health examination
Yes
367
58.0 No
266
42.0 13

14. Personal Health Information
Results 14
Table 3: Personal Health Information (n=633)
Personal Health Information n %
Smoking
Yes
143
22.6 No
490
77.4
Drinking alcohol
257
40.6
376
59.4
Exercise
302
47.7
331
52.3
Community activities
220
34.8
413
65.2 14

15. Social and Economic Information
Results 15
Table 4: Social and Economic Information (n=633)
Social and Economic Information n %
Main status of employment
Employed
583
92.1
Retirement, unemployed, permanently disabled or homemaker 50
7.9
Receiving medical training
Yes 55
8.7 No
578
91.3
Able to pay for medication
Easy
488
77.1
Difficult
145
22.9
Afford to see doctor
512
80.9
121
19.1

16. Social and Economic Information
Results 16
Table 4: Social and Economic Information (n=633)
Social and Economic Information n %
Net income per month
Poor 11
1.7
Nearly poor 5
0.8
Fairly, wealth
617
97.5
Comparing health to other with similar age and gender
Worse than other
106
16.7
Average
359
56.7
Better than other
168
26.5
Importance of health
Health weighs more than job/work
427
67.5
Other idea
206
32.5

17. University/college of higher
Results 17
Table 5:
Associated factors of Health literacy: Multiple linear regression analysis
Odds ratio (OR)
95% CI p
The highest attained education
Lower secondary * -
Senior high education
2.88
0.000
University/college of higher
1.63
0.147
Get medical-related information on the Internet
Rarely, never*
Often, sometimes
1.90
0.014
Hue, Indonesia (2015)

18. Results 18
Table 5:
Associated factors of Health literacy: Multiple linear regression analysis
Odds ratio (OR)
95% CI p
Health insurance cost
None* -
Required
0.45
0.052
Support from Government
0.21
0.018
Voluntary
0.53
0.059
Periodic health examination No
Yes*
2.07
0.001
Exercise
No *
Yes
1.65
0.019
Vietnam, Taiwan (2015)

19. Results 19
Table 5:
Associated factors of Health literacy: Multiple linear regression analysis
Odds ratio (OR)
95% CI p
Able to pay for
medication
Difficult* -
Easy
3.20
0.010
Importance of health
Other idea*
Health weighs more than job/work
1.92
0.008
Hue (2015): 1.29

20. Conclusion 20
The proportions of limited HL were high in health care, disease prevention and health promotion, especially in health promotion.
Findings of this study can be considered for local-level measurement comparisons of HL in Vietnam.

21. Conclusion Associated factors of HL Vietnam20
Associated factors of HL Vietnam
Demographic Characteristics:
The highest attained education,
Get medical-related information on the Internet.
Personal Health Information:
Health insurance cost,
Periodic health examination,
Exercise
Social and Economic Information:
Able to pay for medication,
Importance of health

22. RECOMMENDATIONS 43
Enhance both the quality and quantity of programs about health education and communication, especially the content of health promotion.
Introduction address trusted web sites widely to provide information and answer questions about the health for every people.
Expanding research on health literacy in Vietnam.

23. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION44
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION
For all