Vietnam seeks stronger reproductive healthcare as safe sex awareness remains low

According to the ministry, reproductive and sexual healthcare for adolescents and young people in Vietnam saw many positive shifts in awareness during the 2021-25 period.

However, the rapid rise of social media and changing lifestyle behaviors have created a range of new challenges, revealing a significant gap between awareness and safe practices among young people.

According to the 2024 National Health Survey, the average age of the first sexual experience among young Vietnamese people was 18.7 years. 

However, the trend toward earlier sexual activity is becoming more and more evident.

More concerningly, levels of sexual safety remain low, with only around 54 percent of young people using contraception during their first sexual experience.

Condom use among those engaging in early sexual activity remains limited.

Although abortion rates among adolescents and young adults have shown a downward trend, they remain widespread.

In 2022, the abortion rate in this group stood at 2.12 percent.

It fell to 1.36 percent in the first nine months of 2024, but still remained above the target of below one percent.

Half of new HIV cases aged 15 to 29

Beyond the risk of unintended pregnancy, young people are also facing growing risks of sexually transmitted infections.

The 15-29 age group currently accounts for around 50 percent of new HIV cases, with the epidemic increasingly concentrated among young men who have sex with men.

Sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea are also rising rapidly among young people.

At the Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital, the number of cases in this age group doubled between 2021 and 2023.

Meanwhile, they still face significant barriers in accessing information and healthcare services.

Many studies show that fewer than 20-30 percent of adolescents and young adults are aware of youth-friendly, quality-assured healthcare services, with awareness particularly low among ethnic minorities and migrant workers from other provinces.

Toward better sex education

Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Health is drafting a reproductive and sexual healthcare plan for adolescents and young people for the 2026–30 period, with multiple targets.

Among them are expanding sex education in schools and improving young people’s access to modern contraceptive methods.

Under the draft proposal, the ministry aims for 85 percent of young people aged 15–24 to have accurate and comprehensive knowledge of preventing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections by 2030.

The plan seeks to ensure that 100 percent of middle schools, high schools, and vocational education institutions incorporate sex education, reproductive healthcare, and sexual health content into either their formal curriculum or extracurricular activities.

In addition, reproductive healthcare programs will be introduced in 50 percent of boarding schools for ethnic minority students.

According to the Ministry of Health, communication efforts will focus on issues closely related to young people, including safe sex, preventing unintended pregnancies, preventing sexually transmitted infections, and information on youth-friendly healthcare services.

The plan also outlines a broader range of approaches, with activities to be delivered through formats such as discussion sessions, peer support clubs, extracurricular events, short-form social media videos, digital applications, and anonymous counseling chatbots.

The ministry has proposed developing a national digital platform providing accurate reproductive and sexual health information, integrating online consultations and a map of youth-friendly healthcare facilities to help reduce hesitation in accessing services.

Young factory workers, ethnic minorities, and internal migrants will receive tailored communication packages designed to fit their living and working conditions.

Private and non-judgmental counseling

Under its service provision strategy, the Ministry of Health aims for 50 percent of public healthcare facilities at the basic level and above to meet national standards for adolescent- and youth-friendly services by 2030.

Accordingly, community health stations and medical facilities are encouraged to establish 'friendly corners' or separate consultation pathways to ensure privacy and provide non-judgmental counseling for young people.

The proposal also seeks to develop new models, including reproductive healthcare clinics in industrial zones, essential healthcare service packages for young factory workers, and mobile medical teams serving remote and underserved areas.

It plans to integrate psychological counseling with reproductive healthcare services in schools and establish youth-friendly pharmacies.

The ministry is also encouraging broader access to condoms and modern contraceptive methods at supermarkets and convenience stores to make them more accessible to young people.

Under the plan’s targets, 80 percent of the demand for modern contraceptive methods among women aged 15-24 is expected to be met by 2030.

The proposal identifies several priority groups for intervention, including adolescents aged 10-13, unmarried young people, people with disabilities, internal migrants, ethnic minorities, young workers in industrial zones, and same-sex groups.

Beyond, parents, teachers, youth union officials, and healthcare workers are also considered key groups requiring training and enhanced counseling skills.

According to the Ministry of Health, reproductive and sexual healthcare for young people is not only a healthcare issue but it is also directly linked to population quality, mental well-being, the future workforce, and broader social development.