A hospital in Ho Chi Minh City claimed to have treated more than 500 cases of adolescent pregnancy in 2023.

Statistics from the hospital reveal that out of the nearly 43,600 births and abortions it handled last year, 528 involved minors, or approximately 1.5 pregnant minors per day.

Of these, less than 10 percent benefited from the Dandelion program – an initiative which offers screening, treatment, counseling, and onsite support for women and children who have experienced violence and sexual abuse.

The program, which launched in March 2023, has addressed 51 cases since its inception, as reported on Wednesday by Tran Thi Kim Thanh, head of Child Care Protection and Gender Equality at the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs.

Of these, 13 were elementary school children and 14 were middle school children. 

In addition, 14 children reported engaging in risky behaviors such as alcohol consumption and multiple sexual partners.

According to Thanh, many victims are coerced or manipulated into silence, with the perpetrators often being the family members or individuals they know.

Hung Vuong Hospital, located at 128 Hong Bang Street in District 5, serves as the primary facility for receiving, examining, and treating these emergency cases. 

It collaborates with investigative agencies and the Ho Chi Minh City Forensic Examination Center to compile documentation for further investigation and case handling.

The Ho Chi Minh City Youth Vocational Education and Social Work Center in Go Vap District provides temporary shelter, ensuring the victims have a safe living environment, access to food, and support during childbirth.

On average, the city's budget provided approximately VND15.2 million (US$340) in support for each case.

Le Van Thinh, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs, admitted that during the one-year trial of the program, despite initial successes, challenges such as insufficient expertise and unprofessional case management persist. 

“This marks the inception of our efforts,” he said.

“The units overseeing the model will keep evaluating and suggesting its extension to other hospitals and districts, thereby broadening its reach and fortifying protection for women and children who are victims of violence and abuse."

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