Prevalence and Social Risk Factors of Infertility in Vietnam

Abstract

Despite of significant social meaning of childlessness in Vietnam, there have been less scientific interests and social concerns about infertility during the past decades. This study aimed to measure infertility prevalence rate among Vietnamese married women and identifies the risk factors associated with vulnerability of infertility in social perspectives. A total of 11,715 married women aged between 20 and 44 years were selected from two rounds of Vietnam Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey in 2011 and 2014. The study applied a demographic definition of infertility; refers to an absence of live birth in the past 24 months among married women having desire of child and not using any contraceptive method. Primary infertility prevalence was decreased from 1.6% in 2011 to 1.1% in 2014, while secondary infertility increased from 3.5% to 3.7% during the same period. Multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that age of women and husband, education, wealth index and age at first marriage were significantly associated with primary infertility, while education, wealth index and age at first marriage were significantly associated with secondary infertility. Despite some limitations, this study is helpful to understand infertility dynamics and some influencing factors increasing the risk of infertility in social context of the Vietnam.