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Other factors positively associated with knowledge of STIs were students being in Grade 10, and who had studied STIs including HIV/AIDS.

In this study, approximately half of the participants were aware of safe sex and had knowledge of STIs. There is a need to have comprehensive sexual education, particularly emphasising family planning, STIs, and HIV/AIDS for all grades in school.

In this study, approximately half of the participants were aware of safe sex and had knowledge of STIs. There is a need to have comprehensive sexual education, particularly emphasising family planning, STIs, and HIV/AIDS for all grades in school.

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes. In addition, Lao PDR has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in southeast Asia and a high maternal mortality ratio.

This study aimed to provide a comprehensive exploration of factors that influence SRH knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adolescents in Bokeo Province, Lao PDR.

Data from the Adolescent Girl Situation Analysis cross-sectional study, collected in 2018 using a mixed-method approach with 837 adolescents aged 10-19, and key informant interviews, were analysed. Regression analyses were used to identify predictors of modern contraception knowledge, autonomy, gender-based violence, sexual activity, and contraception use. This was complemented with qualitative thematic content analysis.

Adolescents living in two rural districts had lower sexual and reproductive health knowledge compared to urban district residents. Findings showed misconceptions about the birth control pill, a belief that sex education isvestment in training and monitoring teachers.

The study helps to understand the views and perceptions of adolescents and key informants on gender equality and gender-based violence. Three main areas require more effort and greater investment to improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health knowledge and use of contraceptives, gender inequality, and autonomy. There is poor knowledge of contraceptive methods, indicating a need to further integrate comprehensive sexual education, introduced in primary school, and to increase investment in training and monitoring teachers.

The transition from childhood to adolescence is a critical transitional period for girls, and as they experience these changes, having knowledge of, and being able to practice, good menstruation hygiene management is crucial. The objective of this study was to understand in and out of school adolescents’ menstrual hygiene management practice, sources of information and attitudes towards menstruation.

A cross sectional, descriptive study was conducted between November 2018 and May 2019. The sampling included adolescent girls aged 11-19years in higher secondary schools in Khammouane and Champassak provinces and out-of-school adolescent girls. Out of the total number of 433 participants enrolled in the study, only 343 girls had reached menarche and were included in the study. Factors associated with menstruation hygiene management practice were examined with bivariate and multivariate analyses.

Out of 343 subjects who had reached menarche, 44% reported good menstrual hygiene management practice. Over half e optimal menstruation hygiene management. EIDD-1931 This is important as good menstrual hygiene management is associated with better health and being able to participate fully in education and work. Further education is needed, but it is also important to ensure that all adolescent girls have access to the necessary tools for effective menstruation hygiene management.

Adolescents are at high risk of unintended pregnancy and consequent unsafe abortion. Evidence from Lao PDR suggests a high but underreported prevalence of induced abortion, especially amongst adolescents. Research suggests adolescents are less likely to have an unsafe abortion when they have accurate knowledge about abortion and hold positive attitudes towards abortion.

The purpose of this study was to investigate awareness and attitudes towards abortion and associated factors in Lao PDR.

This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional design. The study was conducted between January and May 2019 in two different provinces within Lao PDR, namely, Khammouane and Champasack provinces. Participants included in- and out-of-school male and female adolescents (n=800). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and entered into the EPI Data version 3.1. All analysis was undertaken using STATA v.13. Univariate analysis and frequency distributions were used to study the pattern of responses and bivariate as parents, community members and healthcare workers.

In the case of unintended or unwanted pregnancy, adolescents must also have adequate knowledge and access to safe abortion and associated counselling services. This study suggests a need to increase sexual and reproductive health literacy including information about safe abortion. This requires a holistic approach to sexual education and needs the support and involvement of adolescents themselves as well as parents, community members and healthcare workers.

In Lao PDR, 15% of the married women want to postpone or prevent having a child, yet most are not using contraceptives to achieve this. Literature shows that usage of contraceptives is strongly dependent on the quality of family planning services. However, little is known about the quality of family planning services in Lao PDR.

To assess the quality of family planning services provided in public health facilities in Lao PDR.

Using a cross-sectional study design, public health facilities in three provinces in Lao PDR were assessed on structure, process and outcome measures of quality. Following the Quick Investigation of Quality approach, client exit interviews (n=393), structured observations (n=218) and facility audits (n=17) were conducted.

Facility audits, observations and client exit interviews painted different pictures of the overall quality of family planning services. Taking all together, the quality was rated as moderate to high. Only marginal differences in quality were found between family planning services located in different geographical areas.