RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To explore the reproductive pattern of women in rural Vietnam in relation to the existing family planning policies and laws. DESIGN: Cross sectional survey with question-naires on reproductive history. SETTING: Tien Hai, a district in Red River Delta area, where the population density is one of the highest in Vietnam. SUBJECTS: 1132 women who had at least one child under 5 years of age in April 1992. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Birth spacing and probability of having a third child. RESULTS: The mean age at first birth was 22.2 years. The average spacing between the first and the second child was 2.6 years. Mothers with a lower educational level, farmers, and women belonging to the Catholic religion had shorter spacing between the first and second child and also a higher probability of having a third child. In addition, women who had no sons or who had lost a previous child were more likely to have a third child. CONCLUSION: Most families do not adhere to the official family planning policy, which was introduced in 1988, stipulating that each couple should have a maximum of two children with 3-5 years' spacing in between. More consideration should be given to family planning needs and perceptions of the population, supporting the woman to be in control of her fertility. This may imply improved contraceptive services and better consideration of sex issues and cultural differences as well as improved social support for elderly people.
PIP: A 1988 decree on population and family planning issued by Viet Nam's Council of Ministers stipulated a maximum of 2 children per couple, with a spacing of 3-5 years. To assess adherence to this policy and changes in reproductive behavior associated with the transition to a market economy, a cross sectional survey was conducted in Tien Hai, a district in Red River Delta with one of the highest population densities in the country. Five communes representing different modes of production were randomly selected. The sample was comprised of 1120 households and 1132 mothers who were interviewed in their homes in 1992. 1662 pregnancies were reported between April 1987 and April 1992, 91% of which resulted in a live birth. The median age at marriage was 20.9 years, while median age at first birth was 22.2 years. The median spacing between first and second children was 2.6 years. The duration of birth spacing was significantly shorter among women whose first child died, Catholics, and younger women; it was significantly longer among women with a secondary or higher education. The sex of the first child exerted no effect on the spacing duration. 46% of the mothers interviewed had at least 3 children. Factors identified through multivariate analysis as predictive of having a third child were the death of a previous child, lack of a son, no formal maternal education, Catholicism, and involvement in farming. The widespread deviations recorded in this survey from official family policy suggest a need for greater consideration of the perceived needs of Vietnamese families. This may result in improved and more diverse contraceptive options, attention to gender issues in Vietnamese households, and social support for the elderly.
