Accessibility and use of contraceptives by women with children under 1 year of age in 8 South central coast provinces in Viet Nam

Abstract

        Accessibility and use of contraceptives by women plays a key role in the family planning program.This study is part of a project entitled "Factors related to gender inequity in reproductive health in 8 south central coast provinces in Viet Nam". The study aimed to describe the current situation on accessibility and use of contraceptive methods and factors related to the use of contraceptives by women with children under 1 year old. The study used secondary data with a design of cross-sectional descriptive analysis using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. Findings show that 69.8% of women are currently using one of any contraceptives, in which the IUD is used the most with 39.4%. Places where women have access to contraceptive methods are mainly health facilities (64.1%) followed by pharmacies and health workers/population collaborators. Accessibility and use of contraceptives of the mothers are limited and lower than those in other regions. Ethnicity factors, exchange of spouses, access to contraceptive methods are the factors affecting the use of contraceptives by women. Recommendations made by the study are group counselling or direct counselling in the community for both husband and wife and the ethnic minority groups, and integration of family planning programs in other health activities in the locality.