Lao Reproductive Health

Highlights:

Department of Statistics conducted the Lao Reproductive Health Survey in 2000 (LRHS 2000). The objective of LRHS 2000 was to provide up-to-date information on fertility, family planning, infant and child mortality, reproductive health and child health, including breastfeeding and knowledge of RTIs/STDs and HIV/AIDS.

Dos has developed two types of provincial data analysis reports based on LRHS 2000: a summary report of provincial level data and a detailed data analysis report for each province. The provincial reports provide a diversity of information at the provincial level. It seems that the Lao PDR is the first country in the region to report such information by province.

Introduction
- Population Distribution
- Population policy and reproductive health programme
- Reproductive health survey objectives and coverage
- rationale of the provincial analysis
- Provincial analysis
Household and respondent characteristics
- Household population and composition
- Education level
- Housing conditions and related characteristics
- Exposure to mass media
Fertility
- Current fertility
- Children ever born
- Age at first birth
- Adolescent fertility
Family planning
- Knowledge of family planning method
- Ever use of family planning methods
- Current use of family planning methods
- Intention for future use of family planning among non-users
Other proximate determinates of fertility
- Current marital status
- Median age at first marriage
- Age at first sexual intercourse
Fertility preferences
- Desire for more children
- Demand for family planning
- Ideal number of children

Purpose	To provide up-to-date information on fertility levels, determinants of fertility, fertility preferences, family planning, infant and child mortality, maternal and child health, including breastfeeding, and knowledge and attitudes concerning RTIs/STDs and HIV/AIDS. The information is intended to assist policy makers, program managers and other concerned agencies in planning, designing, implementing, improving and evaluating RH programs, including family planning (RH/FP) in the country.
Target population	All Lao households with women in the age 15 – 49.
Survey period	The data collection was done from late April to June 2000.
Survey design	Three questionnaires were used: the household questionnaire, the individual questionnaire for women and the individual questionnaire for men (husbands).
Sample design	The list of villages and households from the 1999 Agriculture Census was used as sampling frame. A two-stage sampling scheme was used. At the first stage a sample of 40 villages was selected by PPS sampling in each province. In the second stage a systematic sample of 30 households was selected in each sample village. The selection was based on an updated list of households in the villages at the time of the survey.
Sample size	720 villages, 21 459 households, 12 919 eligible women, 3083 husbands. Response rates: households 98.2 %, women 98.8 %, husbands 99.2%.
Survey content	Household questionnaire: Household composition Household characteristics Age, sex, educational level of household members Women's questionnaire: Background characteristics Reproductive history and fertility Pregnancy and breastfeeding Child health Knowledge and use of contraception Marital status Fertility preference Husband’s background Knowledge about RTIs/STDs and HIV/AIDS Men's questionnaire: Background characteristics Fertility Knowledge and use of contraception Knowledge about RTIs/STDs and HIV/AIDS

Lao Reproductive Health

Highlights:

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