Premarital sex among adolescents and youths in Vietnam: Findings from the national survey

Along with socio-economic development, adolescents and youth in Vietnam are more actively and early engaging in sexual practice, including premarital sex. This practice produces bad consequence as the fact that Vietnam now is one of the countries having highest abortion rate, for both women and adolescents/youth, in the world. The National Survey Assessment on Vietnamese Youth (SAVY) can provide a comprehensive picture of premarital sex among adolescents/youth as well as possible factors affecting this practice. Research findings reveal that 9.3 percent of adolescent and youth have had premarital sex. Various individual demographic, socio-economic, family and community factors possibly having influence, both good and bad, on shaping sexual attitude and practice of adolescents and youth are examined. Statistically significant relationships between the examined factors and sexual practice may give suggestion to policy makers and programs to address reproductive health information and services needed for this vulnerable group of population.