A doctor guides women how to choose the best contraceptive method (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A workshop on benefits of contraception was held in Hanoi on September 26 in response to World Contraception Day to raise public awareness of contraception and prevent unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion.
The event was co-hosted by the Ministry of Health’s General Office for Population and Family Planning and the Vietnam Women’s Union with more than 300 local and foreign delegates in attendance.
The workshop updated the participants on the family planning situation and demand for contraceptive measures in Vietnam, the reality of abortion in the world and the country, benefits of contraception and communication campaigns to raise public awareness of the issue.
According the office, there are about 24.2 million women of reproductive ages (aged 15 - 49) in Vietnam and the number is on the rise. It was estimated that about 77.6 percent of them used a birth control method last year and 66.8 percent of them used a modern measure.
Up to 250,000-300,000 abortion cases have been officially reported across the country each year.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien highlighted the importance of safe contraception, especially to juveniles and.
Proactive contraception helps women avoid unwanted pregnancies and prevent long-term negative health effects, for example, pregnancy complications, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), stillbirths, and birth defects, he said.
For every USD spent on family planning efforts, society can save 31 USD, the deputy minister added.
In 2017, the General Office for Population and Family Planning teamed up with the Vietnam Women’s Union to organise a programme “La phu nu, toi chon song chu dong” (As a woman, I choose to live an active life), including a series of seminars across 12 cities and provinces, to provide knowledge on family planning and introduce different methods of birth control to women. The seminars were attended by over 1,200 women.
An online contest and painting competition are also underway to raise awareness of modern contraceptives among teenagers and youths in an attempt to reduce abortion, unwanted pregnancies and improve population quality.
The workshop also witnessed the launching of a 3-year action programme on family planning for community health, aiming to provide scientific information and updates on modern contraceptives, including birth control pills, to people of reproductive ages.-VNA
VNA
