Increasing engagement in adolescent health care communications

A reproductive health communication session at a school in Cam Lo district - Photo: TB

A communication session on reproductive health care organized by Quang Tri College of Education in collaboration with Dong Ha City Medical Center at the school in February 2025. The atmosphere of the communication session was lively with interactions between students and medical staff.

Students boldly asked questions related to reproductive health for their age group, while the media staff enthusiastically imparted the necessary knowledge and skills. It was no longer a “monologue” of the media as before, students are now much more aware of the content related to themselves.

Gia Bao, a 9th grade student at Quang Tri College of Education, shared: “The exchange and dialogue program on adolescent reproductive health is very useful. Previously, I had many questions and concerns about reproductive health issues, but after participating in the dialogue sessions, I have a better understanding of changes in my body as well as potential risks if I do not have the knowledge and skills to protect myself.”

According to Ms. Le Thi Hai Loc, Head of Population Department, Dong Ha City Medical Center, in the past, reporters often "acted alone", few students interacted or were very shy when talking about gender issues, body parts and contraception...

However, the atmosphere at the media session was lively, with students enthusiastically exchanging and interacting. Many students boldly asked questions and discussed changes in their bodies during puberty, romantic relationships with the opposite sex, safe sex, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases...

Regarding this content, every year, the Quang Tri Department of Population coordinates with schools in the province to organize many propaganda sessions to improve knowledge of adolescent reproductive health for students. For the communication sessions to be effective, the assigned staff often grasp the situation, characteristics and content of propaganda of each school.

Depending on the age of students in educational institutions, population officers will prepare appropriate propaganda content.

During the sessions, the speakers often shared basic knowledge about reproductive health care for adolescents, with special attention to measures to prevent sexual abuse and unwanted pregnancies. This information helps students be more proactive in protecting their health and preventing negative behaviors.

In the annual program of activities, the Provincial Department of Population coordinates with departments, branches and organizations to strengthen communication activities to equip knowledge and skills on reproductive health care and safe contraceptive methods for the general public, including adolescents. In addition, the unit also strengthens communication on mass media channels, organizes contests to learn about reproductive health knowledge to spread information to the general public, especially adolescents.

This activity helps students become more aware of reproductive health, gain skills to take care of themselves, and thereby build a healthy life physically and mentally. Talking about the significance of this communication activity, Mr. Do Thien Trung, Head of the Youth Union, Trieu Tai Primary and Secondary School, Trieu Phong District, said: The school's coordination with the health and population sectors to directly communicate about reproductive health to students is very important.

During the 90 minutes, students will gain more knowledge, thereby grasping more deeply information related to reproductive health to move towards a healthy and safe lifestyle. "Regarding reproductive health education for students, the school regularly conducts it through integrated activities in teaching and extracurricular activities.

Along with the coordination, the propaganda activities on this content will be more in-depth. The good news is that the school's students are increasingly bold in sharing their questions about gender, health, etc. to get timely answers. Thanks to that, the propaganda sessions on this content are always welcomed by the students," Mr. Trung shared.

In reality, sex education activities are still mainly organized as extracurricular activities in educational institutions through flag-raising ceremonies, weekly activities, etc., so the time and content of information are often limited. Many schools have not yet cooperated with population officials to promote reproductive health education for students.

At home, many parents still hold the notion that proactively talking about sex with their children before adulthood is "unnecessary", believing that "children will know when they grow up".

However, in the digital age, young people have access to many different sources of information about reproductive health, including much unverified information that is not age-appropriate. Therefore, to ensure the safety of children, families, schools and society need to continue to strengthen communication and counseling on sex education and reproductive health for students in the right way.

In the coming time, the Provincial Department of Population will continue to proactively coordinate closely with the education sector in strengthening sex education for adolescents. One of the important contents that the sector aims for is direct communication, especially organizing extracurricular communication activities for students at secondary and high schools in the area.

Communication about reproductive health in schools aims to diversify products, innovate approaches, content and propaganda messages. The communication form is suitable for students in the digital age, in which it is necessary to focus on the form of dramatization.

Instead of dry lectures, students can experience and transform themselves into characters, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of the consequences of a lack of sexual knowledge. This is a very effective form of communication, suitable for adolescents.

In addition, parents need to be close, caring, and educate their children on how to protect and take care of themselves. Parents should not avoid but tactfully accompany the school and society in guiding children to have the right perceptions about friendship, love, and reproductive health, especially for female students.

Anh Thu

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/tang-tuong-tac-trong-truyen-thong-ve-cham-soc-suc-khoe-vi-thanh-nien-192888.htm