VietNamNet Bridge - Each year 3,500 children are exposed to violence and sexual abuse, including more  than 1,000 rapes. Some females get pregnant at the age of 12 or 13.

These figures were released at a conference on the implementation of the law on the care for reproductive and sexual health of minors and youth held by the Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, and Children of the National Assembly and the United Nations Population Fund early this week.

Dr. Le Hoai Chuong, deputy director of the Central Obstetrics Hospital, said: "According to the Vietnam Association of Family Planning, abortions among adolescents are up to 300,000 cases each year, accounting for 20%."

The rate of abortion among minors in Vietnam has been increasing and the number of abortion cases may be more than 300,000 since the statistics are inaccurate.

According to an annual statistical report of the Central Obstetrics Hospital in Hanoi, the abortion rate of minors is only 1-2%.

"There are pregnant women at the age of 12 or 13. Abortions by minors at the Central Obstetrics Hospital is at a low rate perhaps because kids are afraid to go to hospital and they prefer abortion services at private clinics," said Dr. Chuong.

According to Dr. Hoang Thi Diem Tuyet, deputy director of Tu Du Obstetrics Hospital in HCM City, every year, the hospital has about 26,655 cases of abortions, of which the minors account for 6.05%. This rate has not fluctuated much over the years, but it is still high compared to other countries around the world.

Another participant said that, according to statistics, every year there are 3,500 children exposed to violence and sexual abuse, including more than 1,000 children who are the victims of rape.

Renewal of sex education

The National Assembly Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, and Children has asked the Government to add sex education, reproductive health, sexual health and life skills in the curriculum starting in junior secondary education.

Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Tam Dan, former chair of the NA Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children, said this task should be assigned to the Youth Union.

Tien Phong