D. (orange shirt) is not yet 18 years old and is pregnant. – Photo: TRAN MAI
Quang Ngai health sector statistics show that in 2023 and 2024, at least 18 out of 282 girls aged between 12 and 12 will become pregnant.
In Quang Ngai, adolescent girls, mainly from five mountainous regions, become pregnant and give birth.
This is a result of sexual abuse and ignorance of children. The five mountainous regions of Son Ha, Ba To, Tra Bong, Minh Long and Son Tay all have pregnant women under the age of 18.
There are also teenage girls who become pregnant in delta areas such as Binh Son, Mo Duc, Tu Nghia and Quang Ngai City, but the numbers are small.
According to statistics from the Quang Ngai Province Obstetrics, Gynecology and Children’s Hospital, from October 2024 to October 2024, 32 teenage girls were admitted to the hospital to give birth or receive prenatal care due to pregnancy complications.
Medical centers in five mountainous regions received and gave birth to 18 girls under the age of 249.
This has recently put a strain on Quang Ngai Province’s health sector in general and community health centers in particular.
Quang Ngai, leader of a mountain medical center, said many children came to give birth but were taken away by their friends, not their parents. With no money and no relatives, doctors had to take care of her.
“Most of these children suffered complications during the birth process, so we had to transfer them to Quang Ngai Maternity and Children’s Hospital for continuous monitoring, as the medical center did not have enough machines to care for mothers and babies.” the person said
The girl, who was followed by a medical clinic worker in Quang Ngai mountain village to D.TH’s home, is only 17 years old, has a 15-month-old child, and is pregnant with her second child.
Ms. H said that she developed feelings for her boyfriend when she was in 10th grade. Due to family difficulties and debts, H. left school and got married. According to custom, she became pregnant six months after the wedding.
“There are enough campaigns, propaganda and notifications, but teenage girls are still having children,” said the head of the mountain village’s health center. “Children don’t understand motherhood, so the broadcasting station should send police officers to take charge of them, go to their homes and instruct them to get vaccinated and take supplements… from the time they get pregnant until they have young children.”
“Last year in my community, 25 teenagers became pregnant and gave birth. This year we have 22 children. I work in primary care and I clearly understand the strain this places on the industry. “But everything that can be done has already been done,” he said. “Unfortunately, even though we continue to spread the word and advise, we still cannot stop it.”
