To improve the quality of reproductive health care, the local health sector has increased communications in the community, especially among adolescents and students, in various forms, including via the public address system and meetings of villages. Models for child and consanguineous marriage prevention as well as clubs giving reproductive health advice have also been brought into play.

In the first six months, more than 1,000 sessions sharing knowledge about reproductive health have been organised on the occasion of meetings, conferences and clubs’ activities. Besides, nearly 3,400 leaflets, booklets and videos about reproductive health, population and family planning have also been distributed.

Specialised in obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatrics, the Obstetrics and Paediatrics Hospital of Yen Bai province has effectively carried out many reproductive healthcare activities in the community across the province.

Doctor Tran Van Hien, Deputy Director of the hospital, said every year, the hospital builds a plan for implementing reproductive healthcare activities at local medical centres; distributes micronutrients, information materials and other supplies under the reproductive healthcare programme to expectant mothers; and organises many online classes and telemedicine sessions to confer with central hospitals on obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatrics.

At present, the rate of home births has declined while the rate of women receiving sufficient four antenatal check-ups during their pregnancy has increased to more than 70%, he added.

In addition, thanks to more investment made, the reproductive healthcare network has gained better infrastructure, equipment and medicine, thus facilitating locals’ access to medical services and advice while helping narrow the gap of reproductive health awareness among regions.

With many comprehensive measures taken, Yen Bai has managed to gradually improve people’s reproductive health as well as the quality of population and human resources, which in turn has contributed to its socio-economic development.

In the first half of 2022, Yen Bai recorded 11,150 pregnant women with over 16,700 arrivals in medical establishments for examination. Among them, nearly 3,500 expectant mothers received antenatal check-ups at least four times. Of the nearly 5,000 women giving birth, more than 3,300 received postnatal care at home in the first week after birth and over 4,200 in the second - sixth week.

Meanwhile, an additional 5,500 people used modern contraceptive methods. Medical establishments also provided gynaecologic check-ups to over 35,500 women and treatment to nearly 15,000.