Results in from largest-ever survey on women and children in Việt Nam
HÀ NỘI — The results from Việt Nam largest ever survey have painted a clearer picture of the lives of children and women in the country, touching on issues such as maternal health, education, equality and domestic violence.
The survey on the Sustainable Development Goal indicators for children and women in the period of 二0 二0- 二0 二 一, the largest of its kind in both Việt Nam and in the world so far, will provide a scientific basis for policymakers and researchers to make changes to improve the rights and wellbeing of children and women in Việt Nam, experts have said.
The co妹妹ents were made after the survey was released on Wednesday in Hà Nội by the General Statistics Office (GSO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) of Việt Nam and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
UNICEF Representative in Việt Nam Rana Flowers emphasised that the survey's data is incredibly rich and extremely useful to understand where development approaches are progressing well and where disparities exist, to ensure that no one is left behind.
“The value of this report lies in how we now take these findings and adjust the policies and approaches to better reach the children and women at risk of being left behind. The survey results give us up to date information that factors in some of the early COVID- 一 九 challenges that families have experienced, the burden that women bear and the risks to their lifelong development that children face, including those living in ethnic populations such as Mông or Khmer, those residing in remote and mountainous regions or those living with disabilities”, she said.
According to her, there are five highlights of the survey results.
Firstly, ethnic minority women and children, especially Mông, are the most vulnerable group in terms of the United Nations' sustainable development targets. There is still inequality in access to living conditions, sanitation, and education.
Figures from the survey show only 三 六. 一 per cent of Mông women are literate while the rate in other minority women is 六 九. 四 per cent. Up to 五. 四 per cent of Mông households don’t have access to electricity and clean energy for cooking – the lowest rate among five ethnic groups.
Ethnic minority girls face many risks, such as child marriage and difficulty in getting to school. Mông adolescent girls with no education and belonging to the poorest households are more likely to give birth than their peers in other groups.
Secondly, the survey demonstrated the lack of access to the internet, especially the lack of information technology skills of people across the country. Although more than 八0 per cent of people aged 一 五- 四 九 have access to the internet, only over 三0 per cent know how to use computers.
Thirdly, the data show that the risk of children dropping out of school increases gradually by grade level and age group. At the primary level, 九 八. 二 per cent of children go to school at the right age and only 一. 二 per cent of children do not attend school, but the rate decreased to 七 八. 一 per cent and up to 二 一. 六 per cent drop out of school at the upper secondary level. The school completion rate also tends to decrease; 八 六. 八 per cent instead of 九 八. 三 per cent as at the primary level and 八 六. 八 per cent instead of 九 八. 三 per cent at the lower secondary level.