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UNFPA in Lao PDR

Providing young rural families with sexual and reproductive health services

By Women at the Center

August 11^th, 2015

Family Planning Access in Lao PDR

Lao People’s Democratic Republic has one of the youngest populations in southeast Asia, with more than 60% of the population under the age of 24. The country also has the highest adolescent birth rate in East Asia and the Pacific – almost one in ten girls aged 15 to 19 has given birth. Today, at least 20% of Lao women want to stop or delay childbearing, but are not able to access modern contraception. To meet the needs of Lao women and families, The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Lao PDR staff and volunteers are hard at work, supplying rural health centers with contraceptives and family planning services.

A pregnant woman receiving antenatal care from the nurse in Savannakhet Provincial Hospital

In Lao PDR the demand for family planning is high, but contraceptive supplies are often unavailable. With the launch of UNFPA’s program, women and families are becoming more and more interested in child spacing, and more and more able to access contraceptive methods that work for them.

Family Planning services were introduced to the country in the 1980’s but it wasn’t until 1995 that these services became available to non-married couples and individuals. Yet, there was still the issue of getting family planning services to rural areas. This program works by training community volunteers or community based distributers (CBDs) to offer families and individuals counseling in their family planning options and distribute contraceptives. Both services are free. Program volunteers, who provide the backbone of service provision, are esteemed community members, and proud of their role in assisting women.

A young couple waiting for antennal care in Savannakhet Provincial Hospital

Mr Bounthone Kongfongma, a Community Based Distributor (CBD), providing Family Planning information and services to a local couple in Meuang

Young mothers taking care of their kids at home, in Meuangvang village, Vilabouly District, Savannakhet Province

Pictured above is Bounthone Kongphongma, 56, a community volunteer, who travels by motor bike to rural villages to guide families through family planning. This work is so important to him because of his family’s experience. He says, “in the past there were no contraceptives and no family planning…If only my wife and I knew early enough about family planning and could access services, we would have had four children – not 14, as we did”. Only eight of Kongphongma’s children survived to adulthood because of health issues. This is why Kongphongma volunteers, so that young families have the information and tools to space their children.

A group of children playing, after school in Meuangvang Village, Vilabouly District, Savannakhet Province

Ms. Alisa Xaysithideth, a youth volunteer is heading to the Counselling Room to receive SRH information at Kaisone District Hospital, Savann

Meuangvang Village on a sleepy afternoon.

70% of the population in Lao PDR, lives in rural areas. UNFPA is the primary provider of contraceptive commodities, ensuring that supplies reach people in both cities and villages around the country. One barrier the program is seeing is that out of the 74 community based distributors, only one is a woman. In this society men are still dominant and the cultural norm is for women to stay home. As UNFPA trains women in midwifery there is hope that this will change and perhaps more families and women will be reached.

As the program gains ground, UNFPA staff say they are seeing improved economic status as families are able to work their land and earn additional income while spacing their pregnancies. Women’s empowerment is also on the rise as women are able to earn more income and thus have more power to negotiate with their husbands. These effects are reaching children as well, as families are more able to ensure their children spend time in school.

Mrs Amvilay, a Health Service provider checking commodities at the Vilabouly District Warehouse

The nurse is looking for her next patient in a crowded Waiting Room in Savannakhet Provincial Hospital.

Stocks of condoms stored in an orderly manner at the Vilabouly District Warehouse

Women at the Center asked UNFPA Lao PDR staff about their hopes and dreams for their program. This is their inspiring response: “Our biggest hope is that men, women and young people can access quality family planning services whenever they need them, and that unmet need is fully met. The success of the program means that men, women, and young people are able to decide when to start having children, how many to have, and at what period in their lives. Obviously success in this program will also help with maternal, infant and child mortality rates, improved nutrition, and women’s empowerment.”

Mr Douangchay, a Health Service provider at Vilabouly District Warehouse, packing stocks of condoms for distribution at Health Centers.

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