Changes in contraceptive use in Vietnam.

Area of Science:

• Demography
• Public Health
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Contraceptive use is a key indicator of reproductive health and family planning program effectiveness.
• Understanding trends and determinants of contraceptive use is crucial for public health interventions in Vietnam.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze changes in contraceptive use in Vietnam from 1988 to 1997.
• To identify individual, household, and community factors associated with modern contraceptive use.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of the 1997 Vietnamese Demographic and Health Survey (VN-DHS 1997) data.
• Multinomial logistic regression to assess determinants of modern contraceptive use among married women.

Main Results:

• Overall contraceptive use and modern method use increased significantly from 1988 to 1997.
• Intrauterine devices (IUDs) were the primary method, with substantial use increase.
• Younger women, those desiring more children, and illiterate women were less likely to use modern contraception.
• Urban residence and higher living standards were associated with increased contraceptive use.
• Community factors like family planning worker availability and quality of care positively impacted contraceptive use.

Conclusions:

• Significant progress in contraceptive uptake occurred in Vietnam by 1997.
• Education, desire for children, residence, and community support are critical for effective family planning programs.
• Targeted interventions are needed for younger women and those in rural or less developed areas to improve contraceptive access and utilization.