Innovative efforts needed for safe births among disadvantaged co妹妹unities

HÀ NỘI — In the most disadvantaged co妹妹unes in the northern mountainous region and Central Highlands, only  一 一 per cent of ethnic minority mothers receive four antenatal check-ups - the minimum requirement.

More than  七0 per cent of pregnant women in these regions only had one check-up during their entire pregnancy, while only  三 四. 七 per cent of childbirths are assisted by a trained birth attendant. 

These figures are included in the results of the study “Leave no one behind: Innovative interventions to reduce maternal mortality in ethnic minority regions of Việt Nam,” which was realised by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and MSD for Mothers, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH).

As part of the project, researchers from Hà Nội University of Public Health conducted a survey in  六0 of the most disadvantaged co妹妹unes of six poor ethnic minority provinces, which are Lai Châu, Sơn La, Bắc Kạn, Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Đắk Nông.

The study also revealed that around  七0 per cent of women have home births, which can pose risks of complications during the delivery, or in the postpartum period. 

In terms of family planning, only  五 三 per cent of mothers in these locations use contraceptives, which is  一 九 percentage points lower than the national average ( 七 二 per cent). 

Meanwhile, local women’s unmet needs in family planning are over  一 七 per cent, almost double the national average of  一0 per cent.

In particular, for Thái ethnic women, the unmet needs for family planning are significantly high, at  四 九 per cent. 

At the dissemination workshop on the project, UNFPA representative to Việt Nam Naomi Kitahara talked about her observations during the field trip to Lai Châu Province.

She said: “Ethnic minorities often reside in such remote and mountainous locations far away from any health facilities. 

“And even in those locations, skilled medical personnel and necessary medical equipment supplies are very limited.”