Lack of knowledge

on reproductive health

Married in 2014 and had to wait 4 years for Ngoc Lan and her husband (Vinh city) to have their first child. During that waiting period, it is hard to count how many times the couple went to the South and the North for treatment. The couple also considered divorce many times because of the pressure of having children and the gossip. After finding out the cause of the couple's infertility, they learned that Ngoc Lan's hormones were higher than normal, making it difficult to have children; if she did, it would be difficult to maintain the pregnancy without treatment...

From my story, later when my friends or siblings are about to get married, I often advise them to have a health check before marriage. That will help each person understand their physical condition, detect early diseases that can affect their health. In particular, it is necessary to have a reproductive health check or do tests to check for potential diseases that can later affect pregnancy and childbirth.

In the world, premarital health check-ups are mandatory. However, in Vietnam, this is not yet focused on, and there is even a fear of it, leading to many regrettable things after marriage. Many young people also said that before getting married, they really wanted to have a check-up to check the health of both of them, but partly because they were not consulted or introduced, they did not know which facility to go to for examination and treatment. Many cases are worried that their spouse will not agree and think that it is disrespectful, affecting their feelings.

A communication session on reproductive health.

At the Provincial Family Planning Counseling and Services Center, Ms. Pham Thi Huong - a communications officer said: “Previously, when we provided consultation via the hotline, there were quite a few questions from women asking for advice and opinions on premarital health check-ups. However, when we introduced them to reputable hospitals and medical facilities, they were afraid because for a long time we often thought that only women with families go to facilities for gynecological treatment. But in reality, that is not the case. Premarital health check-ups will help us prevent diseases and prepare women to have good health for safe pregnancy and childbirth. In addition, it is also possible to detect and treat early (if possible) some diseases that affect childbirth and are the basis for improving the quality of the race, ensuring healthy children with normal development.”

Previously, since 2012, the Provincial Family Planning Counseling and Services Center has also implemented a project on pre-marital health examination and counseling for many localities in the province. Through the implementation process, it has also been shown that for many years now, health education and communication for adolescents and young people have had many limitations. The majority of adolescents who have or are in puberty have never heard of age psychology as well as basic knowledge about reproductive health care such as: Contraception, pregnancy and childbirth in adolescents, safe sex, harmful behaviors to health such as violence, substance abuse, knowledge of maternity care, skills to maintain family happiness, gender equality...

“According to a survey, in Nghe An, only about 35% of men, women and young people have limited knowledge about the pregnancy process, 25% of women and 32% of men do not have knowledge about signs that can be dangerous for women during pregnancy and labor. Most men and women have not been counseled and examined, checked their health... This is also the reason why the abortion situation in general, abortion among minors, and the rate of sexually transmitted diseases in the province are still quite high.”

Ms. Phuc Thi Hang - Director of Provincial Family Planning Counseling and Services Center

Strengthening communication on reproductive health

With the desire to act as a bridge to advise adolescents and young people preparing for marriage, in recent years, the Pre-Marital Health Examination and Counseling Project has been implemented with many practical contents such as establishing pre-marital clubs to provide information on reproductive health/family planning to help raise awareness and improve capacity for members on reproductive health. On that basis, club members will be peer educators and propagandists in the field of reproductive health and life skills for young people and adolescents in the community.

People of Do Luong district responded to the launch of population work. Photo: My Ha

In addition, the project has also implemented health consultation and examination activities for men and women preparing for marriage, providing Population/Family Planning services... In particular, in the past 2 years, in addition to organizing propaganda in communes and wards, the Provincial Family Planning Counseling and Services Center has also organized many communication sessions and direct exchanges on reproductive health care and life skills for students at schools in Vinh city, Thanh Chuong and Cua Lo town...

After nearly 7 years of implementing the premarital health examination and consultation project, positive results have been achieved. Currently, through a survey, 80% of adolescents and young people in units where the project has been implemented have been provided with information and consultation on reproductive health for adolescents and young people; 80% of men and women preparing to get married have been provided with information and consultation on reproductive health care/family planning.

Fashion show to promote contraception. Photo: My Ha

The biggest difficulty today is funding, so although in recent years, the demand for health check-ups, detection, and consultation on risks and measures to prevent the birth of children with disabilities and malformations among those preparing to get married has been quite high, the response has not been much. Meanwhile, the risk of diseases is quite high.

Specifically, out of more than 350 subjects who received premarital health examinations in 2018, 6 suspected cases were detected and referred to higher-level facilities for examination and definitive diagnosis. In addition, 2 subjects with a history of genetic diseases that could potentially give birth to children with congenital malformations were also referred to medical facilities for in-depth examination...

Adolescent and youth reproductive health counseling for Yen Thanh students. Photo: My Ha

This reality also shows that, to ensure a happy life, to have a complete family, to have safe and healthy children, pre-marital health consultation and examination is extremely important. To do so, we must first change the awareness of young people, promote propaganda and mobilization work and have separate mechanisms and policies for specific areas with many difficulties or for cases in remote areas that do not have access to medical conditions, health care...