Adolescent reproductive health care is a critical aspect of ensuring the well-being of human resource and empowering individuals to make informed choices about their bodies, health, and lives. In Viet Nam, adolescents are currently facing many reproductive health problems, including early sexual intercourse, unsafe sex, unwanted pregnancy, early marriage, etc. Nonetheless, adolescents often encounter significant barriers to reproductive health care behaviors, elevating their risks for unintended reproductive health issues, especially among disadvantaged groups, namely ethnic minority adolescents. This research seeks to identify and analyze some primary socio-cultural barriers hindering reproductive health care behaviors among ethnic minority adolescents in Viet Nam. This research takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining methods from both sociology and cutural anthropology. Specifically, a questionnaire survey of 350 Tay and Dao ethnic minority adolescents in a midland and mountainous province of Viet Nam, in addition to 22 in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with Tay and Dao ethnic adolescents, parents, local health officials, teachers, school leaders and local government representatives. The socio-cultural barriers include societal norms cultural beliefs and community influences leading ethnic minority adolescents’ feelings of shame and hindering access to reproductive health care due to fear of judgment or rumors. Furthermore, poor communication between parents and adolescents, parental attitudes and beliefs about adolescent sexuality and community stigma surrounding reproductive health issues, such as contraception, STIs, and utilizing reproductive health care services in adolescence further prevent adolescents from seeking necessary information and their willingness to utilize reproductive health services.

Authors:
Thuy Truong, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, Vietnam

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Truong Thi Thu Thuy is currently a senior researcher at the Institute of Human, Family and Gender Studies, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. Dr. Truong has pursued a strong academic path in sociological research at Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. Dr. Truong’s research interests are adolescents, women, violence, culture, and social development.
Dr. Truong has participated in over 10 collaborative projects with INGOs, NGOs and over 30 state projects at all levels in different roles, such as project manager, PI, team leader, field supervisor, and independent consultant. She has published approximately 30 scientific journal articles and book chapters as author and co-authors.
Dr. Truong is principal investigator of 06 qualitative and quantitative research on reproductive health care, child online protection, school violence, youth culture, family crisis. Her current research project is reproductive health care for ethnic minority adolescents.

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