Adolescents in Vietnam: Looking beyond Reproduction Health

The research that has been conducted to date on Vietnamese adolescents has focused on unprotected & unsanctioned sexual activity & its health consequences, specifically abortion & sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV. The question we pose in this article is whether this concern...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Studies in family planning 2003-12, Vol.34 (4), p.249-262
Main Authors: Mensch, Barbara S, Clark, Wesley H, Anh, Dang Nguyen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abortion
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Adolescents
Health
Sexual Behavior
Venereal Diseases
Vietnam
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Summary:The research that has been conducted to date on Vietnamese adolescents has focused on unprotected & unsanctioned sexual activity & its health consequences, specifically abortion & sexually transmitted diseases, especially HIV. The question we pose in this article is whether this concern is warranted. Is the population community justified in limiting research on this population to early sexual activity & HIV risk? Even if the sexual behavior of young people can be considered problematic, are there perhaps other aspects of young peoples' lives to which more attention should be devoted? The literature on adolescent sexual behavior in Vietnam is reviewed & data on premarital sex & reproductive behavior are analyzed from a 1999 survey conducted in six provinces among nearly 1,500 adolescent boys & girls aged 15-22. Descriptive data on schooling & work are included in order to put the information on sexual activity in perspective. The data analysis reveals that, at least currently, the sexual behavior of unmarried adolescents in Vietnam is not what jeopardizes their health & well-being. 12 Tables, 5 Figures, 42 References. Adapted from the source document.
ISSN:0039-3665