Although maternal health has improved substantially, Vietnam’smaternal mortality rate (MMR) remained unchanged between 2006 and 2009,according to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) at a recentconference in Hanoi .
To reach the MillenniumDevelopment Goal (MDG) of reducing maternal mortality by three quarters(58.3 per 100,000 live births), greater effort is needed.
According to the Health Ministry, the MMR has declined considerably inthe last two decades. Deaths have decreased from 233 per 100,000 livebirths in 1990 to 69 per 100,000 in 2009. Access to quality reproductivehealthcare has improved, including maternal and neonatal health, familyplanning and use of modern contraception. The establishment of strongerprogrammes, policies and laws for reproductive health and rights, aswell as measures to provide quality services to the poor and othervulnerable groups, has also progressed.
However, from 2006-2009 the MMR was unchanged.
Disparity remains and must be addressed, including the higher rate ofmaternal mortality in remote and ethnic minority areas. Geographicalfactors, education and traditional practices in remote areas oftenprevent mothers from accessing maternal health services.
According to WHO, it is still difficult for minority ethnic groups,young people and immigrants in Vietnam to assess reproductive healthinformation and services, including family planning. The reproductivehealthcare network is insufficient in mountainous areas where there is alack of infrastructure, low number of medical staff and unfavourableworking conditions.
The latest study shows that one-thirdof young people in Vietnam still face barriers to reproductivehealth information and services. According to the 2010 MultipleIndicator Cluster Survey (MICS), there is a demand for contraceptionamong unmarried young people. The unmet need for contraception amongyoung people aged 15-19 and 20-24 is 35.4 percent and 34.6 percent,respectively. As a result, a significant number of unwanted pregnanciesand unsafe abortions occur.
According to Health ViceMinister Nguyen Viet Tien, it is essential for Vietnam to improvethe knowledge, skills and attitude of maternal and newborn healthcareproviders. The priority should be on skilled attendance at delivery witha strengthened referral system to a centre that can providecomprehensive care, including emergency obstetric and newborn care.-VNA
To reach the MillenniumDevelopment Goal (MDG) of reducing maternal mortality by three quarters(58.3 per 100,000 live births), greater effort is needed.
According to the Health Ministry, the MMR has declined considerably inthe last two decades. Deaths have decreased from 233 per 100,000 livebirths in 1990 to 69 per 100,000 in 2009. Access to quality reproductivehealthcare has improved, including maternal and neonatal health, familyplanning and use of modern contraception. The establishment of strongerprogrammes, policies and laws for reproductive health and rights, aswell as measures to provide quality services to the poor and othervulnerable groups, has also progressed.
However, from 2006-2009 the MMR was unchanged.
Disparity remains and must be addressed, including the higher rate ofmaternal mortality in remote and ethnic minority areas. Geographicalfactors, education and traditional practices in remote areas oftenprevent mothers from accessing maternal health services.
According to WHO, it is still difficult for minority ethnic groups,young people and immigrants in Vietnam to assess reproductive healthinformation and services, including family planning. The reproductivehealthcare network is insufficient in mountainous areas where there is alack of infrastructure, low number of medical staff and unfavourableworking conditions.
The latest study shows that one-thirdof young people in Vietnam still face barriers to reproductivehealth information and services. According to the 2010 MultipleIndicator Cluster Survey (MICS), there is a demand for contraceptionamong unmarried young people. The unmet need for contraception amongyoung people aged 15-19 and 20-24 is 35.4 percent and 34.6 percent,respectively. As a result, a significant number of unwanted pregnanciesand unsafe abortions occur.
According to Health ViceMinister Nguyen Viet Tien, it is essential for Vietnam to improvethe knowledge, skills and attitude of maternal and newborn healthcareproviders. The priority should be on skilled attendance at delivery witha strengthened referral system to a centre that can providecomprehensive care, including emergency obstetric and newborn care.-VNA
