Nghe An: Diversifying population communication models during the epidemic season

Many risks of population growth during epidemics

Since the beginning of the year, out of 20 children born in Quynh Doi commune (Quynh Luu), there have been 7 cases.third childor more, accounting for more than 30%, 10% higher than the same period last year. Among the cases of violations of the Population - Family Planning policy, there were 2 people who gave birth to a 4th child "unplanned" while they had just given birth to a 3rd child and were breastfeeding...

Consulting people in Quynh Doi commune about using contraceptives. Photo: My Ha

Unplanned pregnancies and pregnancy during the pandemic and social distancing period are not uncommon and this is a challenge for the population work team at this time. Meanwhile, due to limited contact, propaganda and mobilization are facing many difficulties. In Quynh Doi commune, with a stable living standard, people use smart devices quite a lot, so propaganda activities this time focus on social networks or groups on Facebook and Zalo. In addition, the commune also promotes propaganda through the radio system, propaganda with banners and slogans. Particularly in high-risk cases, officials and medical staff in villages and hamlets use the form of "household visits" to each house to propagate and mobilize.

Ms. Ho Thi My - a population officer said: “Compared to many other areas, the living standards and education level of people in Quynh Doi commune are quite high, so people are aware of contraception or using family planning measures. However, at this time, the risk of having a third child or more is concentrated in well-off people, giving birth to only one child and in some cases, unwanted pregnancies. The current difficulty is in propaganda work, because during the epidemic, most communication activities have to be postponed. If people need services, they are also afraid to go to medical facilities because they are afraid of contact and disease.”

The first 6 months of 2021 were a very difficult period for population work in Quynh Luu district when all of the more than 300 population collaborators in villages and hamlets changed and transferred to part-time village and hamlet health workers. This was a huge "gap" at the grassroots level, because the new force, although having medical knowledge, had no experience and most of them were young.

Meanwhile, population work has many specific characteristics and has always been undertaken by the chairperson or vice chairperson of the women's association in villages and hamlets, so they are proficient in the job and receive the trust of the people.

This new context has also caused many activities at the grassroots level to be temporarily interrupted, especially the organization of propaganda at households and propaganda for specific subjects. In fact, in the first 6 months of the year, the increase in the third child birth rate occurred commonly in many localities in the area with a rate of over 30% - 10 - 15% higher than last year. In addition, many other activities are also difficult to implement due to the impact of the epidemic. Sharing more about this, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam - Head of the Population Communication Department, Quynh Luu District Medical Center said: "All of our concentrated communication activities can only be carried out from April onwards. In the immediate future, under current conditions, we have switched to a new form of propaganda on the loudspeaker system, through the system of billboards and posters".

Population communication for people in Thong Thu commune - Que Phong district. Photo: My Ha.

In Que Phong district, at this time, population work at the grassroots level has also been temporarily interrupted due to the impact of the epidemic. Meanwhile, the planned population communication campaign has only reached 50% of the communes in the area. Ms. Lo Thi Tam - Head of the Population - Family Planning Department, Que Phong District Health Center said: "From now until the end of the year, our goal is to continue implementing the digital campaign in the remaining communes. However, if the epidemic is not controlled, implementing activities will be very difficult, because these are all communes with little funding, and mobilizing local budgets is still limited. If we mobilize people to voluntarily implement contraceptive measures, it will be very difficult. In fact, in the first 6 months of the year, only 1 commune in the district had no people giving birth to a third child. In the rest, every locality has violators and the rate is higher than previous years".

Attention to specific subjects

Since the outbreak of the epidemic and the restriction of mass gatherings, population work has been significantly affected and is at risk of breaking the set goals, especially the increase in the number of third or more children and many people are not receiving population services. In this context, the population sector has determined that the prevention and control of the epidemic will have to be prolonged, so population work must also have appropriate adjustments in the new conditions. Accordingly, instead of organizing mass propaganda, units have switched to small group counseling, with population officers going to each house to propagate and advise people.

Testing consultation for pregnant women in Que Phong district. Photo: My Ha.

The propaganda also focuses on specific subjects, especially women and girls. This is also a topic that the whole industry promotes in the celebration of World Population Day (July 11). Specifically, the industry has directed units to promote the benefits of pre-marital health consultation and examination; the benefits of screening, diagnosis and treatment of prenatal and neonatal diseases.

At the same time, effectively implement the rights and care for reproductive health, sexual health for women and young people, adolescents; the harmful effects of abortion and solutions to reduce unwanted pregnancies and abortions among adolescents and young people. In addition, continue to pay attention to maternal and child health issues, the harmful effects of early marriage; consanguineous marriage for target groups in disadvantaged areas and ethnic minority areas. At the same time, ensure the provision of reproductive health care/family planning services for women and girls.

In the context of the epidemic, it is necessary to choose appropriate methods to deploy types of contraceptive provision, goods and improve the quality of reproductive health care/family planning services for target groups.

The main purpose is to minimize the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on people's access to reproductive health care/family planning services, especially in remote, coastal and special areas.

Previously, the message of the United Nations Population Fund this year on the occasion ofWorld Population Day(July 11) also pointed out the impacts of the epidemic on population work.

Population officers of Con Cuong district carry out population work at the grassroots level. Photo: Cong Kien.

Mr. Nguyen Ba Tan - Head of the Provincial Department of Population and Family Planning said: “The message of this year's World Population Day accurately reflects the current situation of population work and the impact of the epidemic on reproductive health/family planning issues. From the above reality, we also determined that, despite being affected by the epidemic, population activities at the grassroots level must still be maintained regularly and continuously. At the same time, it is necessary to innovate the form of operation, promptly provide enough contraceptive devices to promptly deploy the population campaign at the grassroots level in the second half of 2021 and continue to implement the proposed projects and programs".