Introduction: Health literacy (HL) is an important determinant of health outcomes, particularly among older adults who often experience cognitive decline and limited access to health information. In Vietnam, evidence on HL and its social and behavioral determinants among urban older populations remains limited. This study assessed the prevalence of HL and associated factors among older adults in Hanoi. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 168 adults aged≥60 years in Tay Mo ward, Hanoi, using door-to-door convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, social support, and health behaviors. HL was measured using the 12-item HLS-SF12, standardized to a 0–50 index and categorized as inadequate (≤33) or adequate (34–50). Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Overall, 79.2% of participants had inadequate HL. Inadequacy was most common in the health care (70.8%) and disease-prevention (67.9%) domains, and least common in health promotion (51.2%). Higher education was associated with adequate HL (OR=2.35; P=0.03). Several behavioral factors were positively associated with adequate HL, including frequent social activities, access to health communication, social media use, and sports participation. In multivariable analysis, social media use (OR=2.90; P=0.03) and sports participation (OR=5.75; P=0.006) remained significant predictors. Conclusion: Most urban older adults in Hanoi had inadequate health literacy. Social media use and physical activity were key predictors of adequate HL, highlighting the potential of community-based and digital health-promotion strategies to support healthy ageing in Vietnam.
Luu et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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