Health-related quality of life among injured farmers in rural Vietnam: an analysis using EQ-5D-5 L

Agricultural work-related injuries may substantially impair health-related quality of life (HRQoL), yet evidence from rural Vietnam remains limited, particularly regarding gender-specific patterns. This study aimed to assess HRQoL among injured farmers and explore gender-stratified determinants in Thai Binh province, Vietnam. A cross-sectional study was conducted in six rural communes using the EQ-5D-5 L instrument. A total of 411 farmers who had experienced at least one work-related injury in the previous six months were recruited through multistage random sampling and interviewed at home using a structured questionnaire. The mean EQ-5D-5 L index score was 0.811 (SD = 0.096), with no significant difference between genders (0.809 in males vs. 0.812 in females; p = 0.606). Multivariate Tobit regression identified repeated injuries, machinery-related injuries, heatstroke, and older age as significant predictors of lower HRQoL in both sexes. The most affected EQ-5D-5 L domains were usual activities, pain/discomfort, and mobility. These findings highlight the detrimental impact of agricultural injuries on rural farmers’ well-being and emphasize the need for gender-sensitive occupational health policies and targeted injury prevention strategies in Vietnam’s agricultural sector.