Client perspectives on quality of reproductive health services in Viet Nam

Abstract

Vietnam's family planning program got underway in the early 1960s. Since then, it has successfully encouraged the population to have smaller families. According to the 1997 Demographic and Health Survey, the total fertility rate 12 months before the survey was 2.37, down from 4.0 in 1988. Also, the use of modern contraceptive methods has increased from 38% of couples in 1988 to 56% in 1997. The program's major achievement has been in creating a demand for family planning. However, in the years ahead, the growing demand for family planning will challenge the national program. Improvements must therefore be made in the quality of reproductive health services in order to maintain the past success of the population program and to continue to meet the demand for reproductive health methods and services. A number of efforts have been launched to research and evaluate the quality of family planning services and policies related to the program. The Ministry of Health is collaborating with a number of national and international nongovernmental organizations to improve the quality and delivery of health services. Findings are presented from a study conducted during 1997-98 to assess client perspectives on the quality of reproductive health services.