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.