Increasing aging population creates many challenges to the health care system in the country. The aim of the study is to describe the pattern of health care utilization and related factors among the elderly in Sa Vi district in 2011-2012. Approximately 5200 adults in the FilaBavi health and demographic surveillance site were quarterly interviewed during 2011 to 2012 about their reported illness and the use of health care services. Results showed that when they were sick, the elderly often visited private clinics (38.2 percent), went to pharmacies (29.2 percent) or self-medicate (28.7 percent)
only 15.6 percent went to hospitals and 5.2 percent visited commune health centers. Women, ethnic minorities and those who were at lower socio-economic conditions tended to go to pharmacies or self-medicated rather than visited public health facilities.