According to data released by the Department of Mothers and Children, Ministry of Health on August 26, the average age of first sexual intercourse for Vietnamese people is 18.7 years old. However, only about 54% use contraception during their first intercourse in the 10-24 age group.
Dr. Tran An Chung - Head of Reproductive Health Care Department, Department of Mothers and Children - said that in 2025, the number of teenage pregnancies tends to decrease but still accounts for about 2.5% of the total number of pregnant women.
The teen birth rate in 2025 is 32.27‰, down from 34.57‰ in 2024. The teen abortion rate also decreased from 1.77% to 1.43%.
However, the gap between rural and urban areas is still very large. In the period 2019-2024, the teenage birth rate in rural areas is about 59 live births/1,000 women, much higher than the level of 18 children/1,000 women in urban areas.
Not only unwanted pregnancies, teenagers also face the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases and HIV. The 15-29 age group currently accounts for about 50% of new HIV infections.
According to Dr. Tran An Chung, less than 30% of adolescents and young people know the addresses of friendly healthcare services. The psychology of fear of judgment, concern about lack of privacy and barriers in accessing services makes many young people not proactively seek medical support.
To narrow the above gaps, the Project on reproductive health care and sexual health for adolescents and youth in the period 2026-2030 sets out many specific goals.
By 2030, 50% of public health facilities from basic level and above will meet the standards of being friendly to adolescents. The health sector also sets a target of 85% of adolescents aged 15-24 years old having a correct understanding of unwanted pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted diseases.
Notably, 100% of secondary schools, high schools and vocational education institutions are oriented to include sex education in the official and extracurricular programs.
The project also sets a target of meeting 80% of modern contraception needs in women aged 15-24; 60% of industrial parks with over 2,000 workers deploy consulting and providing reproductive health and sexual health care services for young workers.
In addition, the health sector is oriented to build websites, mobile applications, anonymous consulting chatbots and maps of friendly service facilities so that young people can easily find information, consult and support when needed.
The ultimate goal is to create a confidential, friendly and unbiased reproductive health care environment, helping teenagers have enough knowledge and necessary services to proactively protect their health.
