Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Dr. Tran Dang Khoa, Deputy Director of theministry’s Department of Maternal and Child Health, said the average height forwomen and men rose by 3.3 and 5.8 centimeters during the 2000-2020 period toreach 155.6 centimeters and 168.1 centimeters, respectively.
Vietnamese are still getting taller over the pasttwo decades but not as fast as others in Asia, he noted.
According to the official, maternal and child healthcare in Vietnam has seen many positive changes, but there remains a disparitybetween regions and among ethnic groups.
He noted that the rate of pregnant women receivingantenatal care at least four times during pregnancy surpassed 80%. The rate of womengiving birth supported by medical staff stood at 95 - 97%, and around 80%receive postpartum care in the first week.
However, the maternal mortality rate in the Mongethnic group is 7-8 times higher than that of theỉr Kinh and Tay sisters,and the mortality rate of infants aged under 1 in rural areas is twice as highas in urban areas.
In addition, neonatal mortality is still high,accounting for 70-80% of deaths among under-1-year-old infants.
The rate of stunting among ethnic minority children(31.4%) is two times higher than that of children of the Kinh ethnic group(15%).
Explaining reasons for these problems, Khoa saidthat the first is the lack of human resources, especially specialists inobstetrics, paediatrics, anesthesiology and resuscitation.
The second is the lack of medical facilities andequipment, he stated, adding that in disadvantaged areas, the capacity ofmedical staff in obstetric and neonatal emergencies, in stages such asscreening, diagnosis, and prognosis and treatment, is limited./.
VNA
