Adolescent and youth healthcare

Unintended teenage pregnancies pose health risks to both mothers and newborns. To provide knowledge about reproductive health, relevant authorities at all levels have undertaken many practical activities, particularly in protecting and caring for the health of adolescents.

The Provincial Women's Union conducted training on reproductive health knowledge for adolescents and young people in Phong Du commune (Tien Yen district).

Awareness-raising communication activities on reproductive health have been integrated into schools. Units and schools in the province have incorporated education on reproductive health, sexual health, and gender into the curriculum for students; diversified educational forms, such as thematic talks, adolescent health clubs; and provided counseling and encouraged students to contribute opinions on the content, programs, educational activities, and other materials related to population and reproductive health.

The Adolescent Club for Comprehensive Sex Education, established by the Provincial Family Planning Association, has recently organized many beneficial activities for adolescents at schools such as the Provincial Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities, Ha Long Specialized High School, and Van Lang Primary, Secondary, and High School. These club activities have served as a "bridge" between club members and all students in schools throughout the province, facilitating in-depth access to knowledge related to gender equality, reproductive health, and sexual health.

By joining the club, students gain access to more practical and in-depth knowledge related to reproductive health and safe sexual health. Extracurricular activities also help many students become more open, confident, and assertive in sharing and resolving concerns related to preventing sexually transmitted diseases, safe sex, preventing unwanted pregnancies, and the harmful effects of unsafe abortions. They also receive pre-marital counseling and health check-ups; and advice on using appropriate contraceptive methods for adolescents and young adults.

According to Ms. Pham Thi Thu, Head of the Communications Department of the Provincial Family Planning Association, teenagers' psychological and physiological development is still unstable, so participating in these extracurricular activities provides them with knowledge about health, as well as counseling and solutions to psychological and physiological difficulties at their age. Through this activity, it contributes to promoting and encouraging the effective implementation of family planning to improve the quality of life for teenagers in the future.

The Youth Union of the Center for the Protection and Care of Children with Special Circumstances (Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs) coordinated the organization of a sex education session for teenagers.

Currently, 198 secondary schools in the province have effectively established and maintained the "Young Propagandist Team" model, promoting child health protection and care. From 2020 to the present, these units, in coordination with several sectors and localities, have trained over 500 young propagandist team members in various localities on adolescent reproductive health care; conducted communication on adolescent reproductive health care and provided pre-marital health counseling to thousands of students in the area. This has significantly contributed to reducing the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases, decreasing the rate of abortions among adolescents and young adults; and especially reducing the rate of birth defects and congenital disabilities.

In recent times, the provincial Department of Health and Population has actively coordinated with localities and educational institutions to promote communication and education; strengthening the integration of communication with the provision of counseling services, pre-marital health check-ups, and reproductive health services for adolescents and young people. In 2022, the Population and Family Planning Sub-Department (Department of Health) guided and directed six units, namely Ha Long City, Mong Cai City, Uong Bi City, Cam Pha City, Quang Yen Town, and Hai Ha District, to organize 25 communication sessions for 1,000 young people in industrial parks and factories located in the area on topics related to sexual health and family planning through thematic talks and community counseling.

The Quang Ninh CDC, in collaboration with the Dong Trieu Town Health Center, organized a training course on reproductive health education and communication for adolescents and young people at Nguyen Binh High School (Dong Trieu Town) in September 2022.

Only when young people are fully aware of their own bodies can they take care of their own health, especially regarding reproductive health and safe sex. Therefore, health care and education activities for adolescents and young people to prevent unwanted pregnancies require not only the involvement of relevant agencies but also the joint efforts of all levels, sectors, organizations, and especially families.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/cham-soc-suc-khoe-vi-thanh-nien-thanh-nien-3239352.html