Sign in Subscribe
Pregnant women

Adolescent Pregnancy Remains a Pressing Issue in Vietnam

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Vietnamese government is implementing activities under the theme "No teenage pregnancy - for your future and happiness" to raise awareness among young people about responsible sexual behavior, rights to reproductive healthcare, and the importance of safe contraceptive methods, in response to World Contraception Day. Despite improvements in family planning services, alarming realities persist, with pregnancies among adolescents aged 15-19 accounting for 2.5-3% of the national total and 3,000 abortions recorded annually at public health facilities. Experts cite uneven sexual education, limited access to youth-friendly health services, and persistent stigma as key challenges.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pregnancies among adolescents aged 15-19 account for 2.5-3% of the national total in Vietnam, with approximately 3,000 abortions recorded annually at public health facilities (Ministry of Health's Department of Maternal Health and Children, 2022).
  • The unmet need for modern contraceptives stands at 13.5% among women of reproductive age, with ethnic minority women in remote areas experiencing a higher rate of 17.7% (Ministry of Health statistics).
  • Family planning services have improved, but gaps remain, with 49.3% of women using modern contraceptives, yet unmet need remains high.
  • Experts stress that uneven sexual education, limited access to youth-friendly health services, and persistent stigma discourage adolescents from seeking care.
  • Safe abortions, particularly late-term procedures, pose severe risks, including ectopic pregnancy, haemorrhage, infection, and even death.
  • Abortion remains a leading cause of infertility in Vietnam, where 20-25% of couples face the condition.
  • The Ministry of Health issued updated national guidelines on adolescent and youth reproductive health services under Decision 3261/QA-BYT in November 2024, highlighting the importance of equipping young people with life skills and safe and consensual sexual relations.
  • Localities are organizing reproductive health and contraception education programmes, while health facilities are expanding counselling services through in-person sessions, smartphone apps, and social media platforms.
  • Vietnam has deepened its commitments on the international stage by signing the national FP2030 pledge, which prioritizes expanding access in rural and ethnic minority areas and building youth-friendly family planning services.
  • The country aims to ensure universal access to modern contraceptives and reduce unintended adolescent pregnancies by two-thirds through Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW adopted in 2017.

Statistics:

  • Pregnancies among adolescents aged 15-19 account for 2.5-3% of the national total (Ministry of Health's Department of Maternal Health and Children, 2022).
  • 3,000 abortions are recorded annually at public health facilities (Ministry of Health's Department of Maternal Health and Children, 2022).
  • 49.3% of women use modern contraceptives (Ministry of Health statistics).
  • Unmet need for modern contraceptives stands at 13.5% among women of reproductive age (Ministry of Health statistics).
  • Ethnic minority women in remote areas experience a higher rate of unmet need for modern contraceptives at 17.7% (Ministry of Health statistics).
  • 20-25% of couples face infertility due to abortion (Ministry of Health statistics).
  • Vietnam's population grows by nearly one million each year, with 25 million women of reproductive age (15-49) (National Statistics Office of Vietnam, 2022).

Sources:

  • Ministry of Health's Department of Maternal Health and Children (2022)
  • National Statistics Office of Vietnam (2022)
  • Ministry of Health statistics
  • Ministry of Health (Decision 3261/QA-BYT, November 2024)
  • FP2030 pledge (June 2022)
  • Resolution No. 21-NQ/TW (2017)

Read more