Vietnam is in the top 5 countries with the most abortions in the world.

The World Health Organization ranks Vietnam among the top 5 countries with the highest abortion rates in the world and leading in Asia.

Statistics fromtwo largest maternity hospitals in the southern regionIn Tu Du and Hung Vuong districts, the number of women having abortions over the years has almost not decreased.Doctor Nguyen Thi Bich Ty, Deputy Head of the Family Planning Department, Tu Du Hospital, said that in 2016, the hospital received 27,154 abortions, 14,159 of which were in the first six months of 2017. There were more than 1,000 abortions among minors. On average, about 80 abortions were received each day.

Dr. Hoang Thi Diem Tuyet, Director of Hung Vuong Hospital, said that in 2016, 15,129 people came to have abortions. 3,922 cases were in the 18-25 age group. In the first six months of 2017, 7,143 women came to have abortions, 1,646 cases were in the 18-25 age group. On average, the hospital receives about 60-70 cases a day.

Abortion consultation room at Hung Vuong Hospital. Photo: Le Phuong.

MEvery year, there are about 250,000-300,000 officially reported abortions nationwide.A recent survey conducted by an organization with 3,000 young people in 15 countries found that up to 64.5% of young people have unsafe sex.Every year, there are 208 million pregnancies worldwide, 41% of which are unintended, half of which end in abortion.

An estimated 33 million unintended pregnancies occur each year due to contraceptive failure or incorrect use. 11% of births occur to young mothers aged 18–19, equating to approximately 16 million teenage pregnancies each year.

Speaking on the occasion of World Contraception Day, September 26, Professor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Association of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, expressed her heartache for young girls who, due to unsafe abortions, have suffered consequences such as uterine perforation, intestinal perforation, peritonitis, damage to the uterine lining, ovarian adhesions, blocked fallopian tubes, permanent loss of the ability to become mothers, and even death... In addition, there are psychological traumas that severely affect their mental life later on.

Dr. Phuong emphasized the importance of safe sex, using modern contraceptive methods such as condoms, birth control pills... to be effective. Unsafe traditional methods such as withdrawal, menstrual cycle monitoring... can lead to a high probability of unwanted pregnancy.

According to VNE