Improving knowledge of reproductive health in ethnic minority areas

Doctors at Dong Van Commune Health Station (Binh Lieu District) are examining people's health.

In mountainous districts such as Binh Lieu, Ba Che, Hai Ha, etc., pregnancy, childbirth, and family planning were previously sensitive topics that were difficult to discuss in community communication sessions, even within families. However, in reality, there have been many positive changes. Women in these localities have proactively gone to medical facilities and actively participated in communication sessions on reproductive health. They know how to take care of themselves during pregnancy, raise children with modern medical knowledge, and become bright spots in the journey to raise community awareness.

Ms. Phun Tai Mui (Dong Van commune, Binh Lieu district) shared: “With the propaganda and guidance of the commune health staff, I maintain regular pregnancy check-ups, eat nutritious food, and get vaccinated on schedule. Before, I often listened to the advice of adults to abstain from many things, sometimes even not daring to eat enough, but now I know that eating enough and resting well will make my baby healthy.”

These changes come from many regularly organized community communication sessions. In 2024 alone, the whole province organized over 250 direct communication sessions on reproductive health care, family planning, child malnutrition prevention, etc.; attracting a large number of ethnic minority women to participate. The content of the communication sessions mainly provides familiar and easy-to-understand knowledge about reproductive health care for women, how to care for mothers before, during and after giving birth; nutrition for women during pregnancy, breastfeeding; nutritional care for children according to age, etc.

The Provincial Women's Union, in coordination with the Department of Health and the Provincial Center for Disease Control, organized dozens of training courses from commune to district levels. In Van Don and Cam Pha districts, classes on premarital health check-ups, pre- and post-natal screening, and nutrition for children under 5 years old attracted hundreds of participants. In Binh Lieu, Hai Ha, Ba Che, and Dam Ha, conferences on preventing early marriage and giving birth in accordance with population policies created open conversations, helping ethnic minority women to boldly share and make changes.

In Ba Che district, the Women's Union coordinated with the Department of Culture and Information and the Department of Health to organize 46 training sessions in villages, attracting over 1,500 participants. In Dam Ha district, over 200 women's union members of Quang An commune received free gynecological examinations, and children were weighed and fully vaccinated. In Quang Lam commune, 22 propaganda sessions on caring for malnourished children attracted over 400 participants.

Population officers at the Quang Son Commune Health Station (Hai Ha District) are advising local people on reproductive health care and family planning.

Pregnancy screening and management of high-risk pregnant mothers in the community are also emphasized. Thanks to this, births are better controlled, limiting complications.

Doctor Pham Ngoc Dung, Head of the Quang Son Commune Health Station (Hai Ha District), said: In the past, many women were afraid to come to the station, but now they proactively ask about family planning, safe childbirth, postnatal care, etc. That is a huge change. We also regularly go to homes to communicate and guide pregnant mothers on pregnancy management, nutrition, and safe childbirth at medical facilities.

Not only for pregnant women or women with young children, the program also focuses on reproductive health education for adolescents, a vulnerable group. In schools in mountainous areas, the education sector coordinates with the health sector to provide knowledge about gender, personal hygiene, and prevention of unwanted pregnancies to ethnic minority students. Lessons that were once avoided are now lively, practical, and very useful.

Project 7 is gradually creating clear changes in the awareness and behavior of ethnic minority communities in Quang Ninh. The close coordination between the Women's Union, the health sector, the education sector and mass organizations is an important factor, helping ethnic minority women in mountainous areas to improve their knowledge, proactively take care of their health, give birth safely and raise their children with scientific knowledge. Thanks to that, the rate of pregnant ethnic minority women receiving at least 3 prenatal check-ups is increasing; the majority of births in mountainous areas are performed at medical facilities; the situation of child marriage in some localities has shown signs of significant reduction...

Nguyen Hoa

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/nang-cao-kien-thuc-ve-suc-khoe-sinh-san-o-vung-dan-toc-thieu-so-3352205.html