This study-using multinomial logistic regressions-analyzed a national sample of 2977 older adults to examine factors associated with their health services utilization in four types of health providers-namely, commune health stations (CHSs), private clinics, private hospitals, and public hospitals in Vietnam. Older Vietnamese favored using public hospitals for their health consultancies, even for regular health checkups. For nonsevere illness, the relative risk ratio of choosing private clinics was three times (95% CI: 2.2-4.1) that of CHSs. Possession of public health insurance was a key enabling factor that influenced the older adults' choice of CHSs over private clinics. Older adults of ethnic minority and living in rural areas were more likely to use CHSs than other health facilities. This study suggests a substantial quality improvement of services at CHSs, an innovative reform toward a diversified structure of private and public clinics to address diverse needs and to strengthen primary care for older adults.
Keywords: Vietnam; health disparity; older adults; primary care; private clinics; utilization.