Grant Consultant’s Report

Project Number: 38581 June 2006

Socialist Republic of Viet Nam: HIV/AIDS Prevention Among Youth Project (Financed by Asian Development Fund IX Grants Program)

Thematic Report on Puberty Reproductive and Sexual Health of Vietnamese Young People Ha Noi 2010

Prepared by Dr. Dao Xuan Dung

Savy 2 Consultant

For Asian Development Bank

This consultant’s report does not necessarily reflect the views of ADB or the Government concerned, and ADB and the Government cannot be held liable for its contents. (For project preparatory technical assistance: All the views expressed herein may not be incorporated into the proposed project’s design.

The Survey Assessment of Vietnamese Youth 2 (SAVY 2) 2009

THEMATIC REPORT PUBERTY REPRODUCTIVE AnD SEXUAL HEALTH OF VIETnAMESE YOUng PEOPLE

Dr. DAO XUAn DUng

Ha noi, 2010

Puberty Reproductive and sexual health of Vietnamese young people

Introduction

The development of adolescents and youth is always a matter of primary concern in as well as many countries around the world. This is the generation to decide the future and destiny of the country. In Vietnam, adolescents and young adults aged 14-25 are the largest population group, accounting for nearly a quarter of the national population (over 20 million people - the General Statistics Office, Census and Housing 2009). The catch is these fundamental characteristics related to social life, attitudes, aspirations and challenges in the development of this population group is very important

In the framework of the HIV/AIDS prevention among youth, the General office of Population and Family Planning and the General Statistics Office conducted the 2nd round of the Survey Assessment of Vietnamese Youth (SAVY).

SAVY (round 1 and 2) is the large and most comprehensive survey about youth in Vietnam. The 2nd round of the survey was a collaboration between many national and international agencies and organizations in the country, from central to local levels, with the participation of 10,044 young people be - tween 14-25 years old in 63 provinces/cities, from urban to rural and remote mountainous areas. SAVY 2 data provided a comprehensive picture of the young Vietnam today as well as their changes compared with there same co - horts 5 years ago. SAVY 2 helps us see the aspects related to the development of youth such as education, employment, health (including reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, drug use, Injuries and violence. Besides the positive signs, SAVY2 also shows young people were facing the challenge to adapt to exten - sively transformed social and economic environment. Vulnerable youth groups of ethnic minorities, remote areas... also face the difficulties of material conditions, education and employment. The survey helps us understand more profoundly the thoughts, attitudes, desires and ambitions of Vietnam youth today and towards the future. SAVY2 overall results was launched in June 2010

On the basis of survey data, the financial assistance of Asian Development Bank and technical support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the General office of Population and Family planning in collabo - ration with national researchers compiled 9 thematic reports and policy briefs. Topics include

3 Puberty Reproductive and sexual health of Vietnamese young people

1. Education

2. Employment

3. Puberty – Sexual and Reproductive health

4. Mental Health

5. Access and use of means of mass media

6. Attitudes of Vietnam towards some social issues

7. Injuries and violence

8. Substances use

9. Knowledge and attitude of Vietnam youth about HIV/AIDS and peo - ple living with HIV/AIDS.

We hope that the findings of social life, attitudes and aspirations of Viet - nam youth and the policy implications from 9 policies will contribute effi - ciently and practically to the policy making and the implementation