TTLA: The role of H'Mong ethnic men in the Northwest region in reproductive health care (Case study of Huoi Mot commune, Song Ma district, Son La province).

INFORMATION ABOUT DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name of the researcher:Pham Thu Ha                  

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: 08 - 03 - 1982

4. Place of birth: Mai Son - Son La

5. Decision on recognition of PhD students No. 3202/QD-SDH, dated November 8, 2010 of the Director of Hanoi National University.

6. Changes in the training process: Decision to adjust the thesis topic name No. 923a/QD-SHD dated July 6, 2014 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

7. Thesis topic name:The role of H'Mong ethnic men in the Northwest region in reproductive health care (Case study of Huoi Mot commune, Song Ma district, Son La province).

8. Major: Sociology Code: 62 31 30 01

9. Scientific instructor:Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Van Quyet

10. Summary of new results of the thesis:

1. Since the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994, the issue of population and reproductive health care has been of interest to many countries around the world. In Vietnam, up to now, there have been many studies focusing on reproductive health care, especially reproductive health care for ethnic minorities. It is worth noting that studies targeting men are very few, and are only focused on sensitive issues such as homosexuality, sexuality or infertility. However, men's participation in reproductive health care is one of the important strategies of ICPD in Cairo, so more studies are needed to understand the role of men in reproductive health care.

2. Hmong men have somewhat recognized their role in implementing family planning and taking care of pregnant mothers' health. This is reflected in the percentage of men who know about issues related to family planning such as the number of children allowed, the age of marriage of young men and women according to State regulations and contraceptive methods. Regarding maternal health care, more than half of men said that they clearly know that pregnant women must have prenatal check-ups at medical facilities, and be properly rested and nourished. Although this is only a subjective assessment of men, their understanding is only initial, knowing that pregnant women must have prenatal check-ups, but most of them do not know how many times and when to go for check-ups. However, that initial understanding can also show that men are interested in implementing family planning and taking care of pregnant mothers' health.

3. The role of Hmong men in family planning and health care for pregnant mothers is still limited. Specifically, men are the ones who decide the number of children in the family. In the research area, no family stops at 2 children. Families with 2 children are young and will still have more children because in the Hmong community, the least number of children is 4 or 5. Most of the men interviewed got married when they were only 17 or 18 years old. The rate of using contraceptives to share the burden with women is only over 10%. Taking their wives for prenatal check-ups is mainly to know the gender of the fetus, not because they care about the mother's health and the development of the fetus. Hmong women still participate in normal labor until they give birth, and even now there are still cases of giving birth in the fields. Women also have many secret desires, but because they do not dare to express their desires and requests to their husbands, we think that Hmong women do not care about anything other than diligently fulfilling their duties as wives and mothers. In reality, women do not dare to ask or demand anything for fear of being ridiculed and condemned by the community.

4. Barriers to the role of men in implementing family planning and maternal health care are customs and practices such as concepts of marriage and family; concepts of the number of children and the value of sons; the concept of childbirth as a woman's job and taboos in childbirth. In addition, there are limitations in education and communication work is not yet extensive. Another barrier that is considered is geographical, far from commune centers, health stations and district hospitals.

In summary: The above situation shows that men have not fulfilled their role well in implementing family planning and taking care of pregnant mothers' health. Currently, society expects men to have practical actions to share the burden with women in implementing family planning, during pregnancy and childbirth. However, the investigation process shows that men in the research area have not fulfilled their roles corresponding to their status. The biggest barrier is that traditional customs have become unchangeable patterns, causing many men today, although more or less aware of the requirements for implementing family planning and taking care of pregnant mothers' health, still act according to traditional habits. The picture of men's role in reproductive health care shows that there is still a long distance from words, thoughts to actions. Perhaps more time and determination are needed for the above situation to improve.

11. Practical application:

It is a good reference document for planning and management of population and reproductive health care, community health work and family relations, ethnic minorities; and is also a valuable reference document in teaching and research in this field in our country today.

12. Further research directions:

Gender role assignment in ethnic minority families in the Northwest; The issue of female cadres in the Northwest.

13. Published works related to the thesis:

- Pham Thu Ha (2012), “Health care issues for pregnant mothers of the H'mong ethnic group in Huoi Mot commune, Song Ma district, Son La province”, Proceedings of the international conferenceSharing international experiences in social work and social security,National University Publishing House, pp. 638-647.

- Pham Thu Ha (2013), “Husband's participation in health care for pregnant wives in the H'mong ethnic group”,Journal of Ethnology(4), pp. 34-43.

- Pham Thu Ha (2014), “Hmong men's awareness of the need for regular prenatal check-ups for pregnant mothers”, Proceedings of the Scientific ConferenceYoung staff and postgraduate students of the 2013-2014 school year,National University Publishing House, pp. 813-822.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name: Pham Thu Ha 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: Mach, 8^th, 1982 4. Place of birth: Mai Son-Son La

5. Admission decision number: 3202/QD-SDH Dated: November, 8^th, 2010 by President of The Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process: Decision number 923a/QD-SHD on adjusting the thesis title dated: July, 6^th, 2014 By the Rector of University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

7. Official thesis title: The role of ethnic Hmong men in the North West of reproductive health care (case study Huoi A, Song Ma district, Son La province).

8. Majoy: Sociology 9. Code: 62 31 30 01

10. Supervisors: Prof. PHD. Pham Van Quyet

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

1. After International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in 1994, Population and Reproductive health care has attracted many coutries' interest. Vietnam recently has many studies focus on the field of reproductive health care, especially reproductive health care for ethnic minority groups. It is significantly noted that the study focuses very little on men, and confined to sensitive issues such as gay men, sex or infertility. However, the participation of men in reproductive health care is one of the important strategy of the ICPD in Cairo, thus calling for more research to further explore the role of men in health care reproduction.

2. Men from H' Mong group has somewhat realized thier own role in the implementation of family planning and reproductive pregnant women' health care. This is shown in increasing percentage of men understanding about family planning number of children allowed; age of marriage of young men and women as per Vietnamese' law. Only half of men noticing pregnant woman need to be examined on the basis of fetal health, rest and receive proper training. Although the understanding is just basic but not indetailed like how many times pregnant women should have health check, the initial study has been shown that men had an interest in the implementation of family planning and health care for pregnant mothers.

3. The participation of men in implementation of family planning and maternal health care for pregnancy is limited. It is men who decide the number of children in the family. In the study area, the number of children in Hmong families is 4 to 5; no one stop at 2 as per Vietnamese law. Most men are married when at the age of 17 or 18. The rate of men usingg contraceptive method to share the burden with the new woman stands is over 10%. Men only care about the fetus sex rather than interest in maternal health and fetal development when going with their wives for health check. Hmong women still have to work until the date of birth delivery. Women dare not to express what they want and their desires for their husbands, which leads to the wrong thoughts that they are not interested in anything but their duties and responsibilities of being wives and condemnation in public.

4. Traditional concept and custom like giving birth is women's responsibility or son is more important than daughters ect is one of barriers for men in implementation of family planning and reproductive health care. Besides, limitation in reproductive knowledge and communication from local agency are also main factors. Health care center or hospital often located in commune center where is far from some ethic minority group is also a reason leading to mentioned matter.

It is concluded that men did not play their role well in reproductive health care for pregnant women and planning family. While men are more expected from society to share burden in shoulder's women in reproductive health care and during pregnancy and giving birth.However, the study results show that men (in study area) have not proven their role well. The biggest barrier is traditional practices and customs. Although some of them know more or less about family planning and reproductive health care, they still act as old custom It is far from thinking to action. The improvement still takes times and a lot of effort from the whole community.

12. Practical applicability:

A good reference for the planning and management of population and reproductive health, public health community and family ties, ethnic ethnic groups; as well as a reference value in teaching, research in this field in our country today.

13. Further research directions:

Assigning the role of gender in the family of ethnic backgrounds in the Northwest; Problem female officers in the Northwest.

14. Thesis - related publications:

- Pham Thu Ha (2012), "The issue of maternal health care for pregnant ethnic Hmong Huoi A, Song Ma District, Son La Province",Proceedings ofthe international conference of international experience sharing of social work and social welfare, National University Press, pp. 638-647.

- Pham Thu Ha (2013), "The participation of the husband in health care for pregnant women in Hmong group",Journal ofEthnic Studies(4), pp. 34-43.

- Pham Thu Ha (2014), "Perceptions of the Hmong men who require routine antenatal visits for pregnant women",Proceedings of theConference Scientific Officer young and postgraduate students of the school year 2013 - 2014, National University Press, pp. 813-822.