Poor education both in official channels and in family is a major cause of the rising teenage abortions, which now account for more than 20 percent of the total number of abortions in Vietnam, according to the General Office for Population and Family Planning.

According to a survey conducted by the Centre for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP) at two junior high schools in Hanoi early this year, 60 percent of nearly 250 interviewed students said their parents did not make any discussions of gender and reproductive health matters with them within the past year, while 14 percent said their parents have never even mentioned the issues.

Most of the parents hesitated or avoided questions from children about sexual matters, resulting in adolescent unintended pregnancies and abortions.

A lack of gender knowledge also exposes young people to a high risk of sexual abuse and psychological disorders.

At the same time, the Office said the number of abortions has been declining over the past decade.-VNA