Improving reproductive health care for female workers in Thanh Hoa

On December 31, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Federation of Labor held a conference to summarize the project "Improving the quality of communication, consultation and health care, preventing occupational diseases for female workers".

In the 2021-2025 period, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Federation of Labor has implemented the Project "Improving the quality of communication, consultation and health care, and prevention of occupational diseases for female workers" with many synchronous solutions, closely following reality at enterprises.

The project is implemented in 46 enterprises with trade unions, focusing on the garment, footwear, rattan and bamboo weaving, wholesale, where there are many female workers and working conditions are still under pressure.

In 5 years, the Trade Union at all levels organized 92 communication sessions, direct consultation on reproductive health and family planning for more than 15,000 female workers. The form of communication is diversified, from thematic activities, competitions, and seminars at businesses to distributing more than 270,000 leaflets and notebooks, building 12 propaganda video clips and applying the digital platform " digital Lottery Hour".

Through assessment, over 90% of female workers participated in grasping basic knowledge about reproductive health care; about 70-75% had positive changes in perception and behavior, and were more proactive in self-care of their health.

In parallel with communication, the work of medical examination is being carried out methodically. In the period of 2021-2025, 9,200 female workers at 46 enterprises have undergone gynecological examination, abdominal ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound right at the workplace.

The results showed that 60% had normal health conditions, but the remaining 40% detected gynecological diseases, mainly vaginitis and cervical inflammation.

About 20% of cases of abnormal detection via ultrasound such as uterine fibroids, ovarian follicles, endometriosis. Early detection has helped workers receive timely advice, monitoring and referral to treatment facilities.

The project also recognizes the clear effectiveness of inter-sectoral coordination. The Provincial Federation of Labor has closely coordinated with the health sector and relevant agencies in organizing examinations, consultations, and training on legal policies on female workers and occupational safety and hygiene.

More than 1,200 union officials received training on topics, gradually improving their organizational capacity, consulting and applying digital communication in health care for female workers.

At the conference, delegates discussed many good practices of units, enterprises as well as trade union officials. The delegates all expressed their gratitude and affirmed the important role of the trade union organization in caring for the health of workers, especially the reproductive health of female workers.

Speaking at the summary conference, Ms. Trinh Thi Hoa - Vice President of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Labor Federation - affirmed that reproductive health care for female workers is not only a social security activity but also an investment in the quality of human resources and sustainable development of the enterprise.

Ms. Trinh Thi Hoa emphasized that in the coming time, Trade Unions at all levels need to continue to use communication as a foundation, expand the scope of specialized examinations, prioritize enterprises with a large number of female workers, heavy and hazardous occupations, and at the same time promote digital transformation to suit the characteristics of working in shifts.

From the achieved results, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Federation of Labor proposed to continue implementing the Project for the period 2026-2031, with the attention of stabilizing funding allocation, enhancing socialization and supporting businesses.

The goal is to expand the beneficiary area, increase the rate of female workers receiving specialist examinations, thereby better protecting the rights, health and quality of life of female workers in the province.

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