Socioeconomic inequalities in self-reported chronic non-communicable diseases in urban Hanoi, Vietnam

ABSTRACT

This study measures and decomposes socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of self-reported chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in urban Hanoi, Vietnam. A cross-sectional survey of 1211 selected households was carried out in four urban districts in both slum and non-slum areas of Hanoi city in 2013. The respondents were asked if a doctor or health worker had diagnosed any household members with an NCD, such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory, diabetes or cancer, during last 12 months. Information from 3736 individuals, aged 15 years and over, was used for the analysis. The concentration index (CI) was used to measure inequalities in self-reported NCD prevalence, and it was also decomposed into contributing factors. The prevalence of chronic NCDs in the slum and non-slum areas was 7.9% and 11.6%, respectively. The CIs show gradients disadvantageous to both the slum (CI = −0.103) and non-slum (CI = −0.165) areas. Lower socioeconomic status and aging significantly contributed to inequalities in the self-reported NCDs, particularly for those living in the slum areas. The findings confirm the existence of substantial socioeconomic inequalities linked to NCDs in urban Vietnam. Future policies should target these vulnerable areas.

KEYWORDS:

• Inequality
• non-communicable diseases
• decomposition
• urban
• Vietnam

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank health staff of district health centres at Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Ba Dinh, and Hoan Kiem districts for providing support and preparing fieldwork for this study. We would like to acknowledge medical students and senior researchers at Hanoi Medical University for their contribution to data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research is supported by grants from the Center for Health System Research, Hanoi Medical University. Vu Duy Kien was supported by the grants from the Umeå Centre for Global Health Research, with support from FAS, the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research [grant number 2006–1512].