Strengthening integrated communication activities in implementing the Population - Family Planning policy

Strengthening coordination

The mountainous districts of Nghe An account for about 2/3 of the province's area, but the standard of living is much lower than that of the plain and coastal districts. In particular, some districts such as Ky Son, Que Phong, Tuong Duong, Con Cuong and Quy Chau have low per capita income and limited education leading to low population quality: high birth rate, high rate of third and more children, accompanied by early marriage, incestuous marriage and unwanted pregnancies.

This situation stems from many causes, including the limitations of population communication work. Therefore, to make the communication work truly effective, it is impossible not to integrate and closely coordinate between the Population sector and local departments, branches and organizations.

We had the opportunity to visit Bao Nam commune, where nearly 100% of the Khmu people live, which is also the most disadvantaged commune in the border district of Ky Son. Mr. Pham Huu Thanh - a population officer of Bao Nam commune said that due to the limited level and receptiveness of the people, most of the population communication sessions encountered many obstacles.

Sometimes, an issue has to be discussed over and over again, but people still do not fully understand it. Time must be spent explaining every little detail, and then a local with basic knowledge must be asked to act as an “interpreter”. Therefore, the effectiveness of communication sessions is often not as expected.

Not to mention, in Bao Nam commune, the villages are often scattered, some villages are half a day away from the commune center by motorbike, while the limited financial resources make it impossible to regularly organize communication sessions. This reality forces the Commune Population Committee to coordinate with departments, branches, unions at the commune level and the Village Management Board to integrate propaganda content into community activities.

As a population officer, Mr. Pham Huu Thanh often takes the initiative to develop plans to coordinate with commune-level departments and agencies to organize propaganda. His experience is to closely follow the action plans of departments and agencies to coordinate and integrate propaganda, saving time and costs while still ensuring effectiveness.

In particular, coordinate with the Commune Women's Union and village women's associations to promote sexual health care, safe contraception, newborn care, etc.

These contents are integrated into regular meetings and activities of the No Third Child Club. Integration will be more effective when the propagandist is a women's union officer, has knowledge, and can communicate in ethnic minority languages...

Ms. Vi Thi Loan, a population officer of Mon Son commune (Con Cuong) also regularly coordinates with the Women's Union, Farmers' Union, and the Elderly Association to integrate propaganda content. Especially for the two villages of Co Phat and Khe Bung at the headwaters of the Giang River, about 20 km from the commune center, it is very difficult to organize communication programs. Coordinating with organizations such as the Women's Union is considered the most effective solution.

Long-lasting effects

It can be said that due to the specific conditions of terrain, living conditions and people's education level, the propaganda of the Population - Family Planning policy only really brings long-term effectiveness when implemented in an integrated manner. This is proven in Tay Son commune (Ky Son), where 100% of Mong people live with more than 300 households. Mong people often live on high mountain peaks and are isolated from other ethnic communities, the poverty rate is still high, and the terrain is difficult, so the reception of information is somewhat limited.

To make the propaganda work effective, the Tay Son Commune Population Committee proactively coordinates with departments, branches and organizations to integrate and promote advocacy work. In particular, coordinates with women's associations to establish a club not to have a third child, organizes regular activities to exchange experiences and help each other in life.

Thereby, contributing to changing the awareness and concept of couples in childbearing age. Thanks to that, the rate of third child birth in Tay Son is on the decline, people in childbearing age who practice contraception account for more than 83%.

Also located in the highlands, Tam Thai commune (Tuong Duong) has more than 1,000 households, of which 95% are Thai ethnic people. Although the socio-economic conditions are still difficult, the people here are always aware of implementing the Population - Family Planning policy. The birth rate of the third child or more decreases every year with an average of about 6%, the rate of implementing modern contraceptive methods reaches more than 80.5%.

According to Ms. Vi Thi Hong Tham - population officer of Tam Thai commune, the effective implementation of the Population - Family Planning policy in the area is partly due to the coordination between the Commune Population Committee and departments, branches and organizations in integrating propaganda content.

Mass organizations such as the Youth Union, Women's Union, Farmers' Association, and Veterans' Association always create conditions for the Population Committee to promote and integrate into regular meetings, thus creating a widespread effect.

Thus, the propaganda on population policy - family planning will be more effective when population officers know how to integrate and coordinate with organizations, unions, schools, and health stations at the grassroots level in implementing communication work. This is a regular and urgent requirement in mountainous and highland areas in particular and in the whole province in general.