Publication: ‘Hu Hong’ (bad thing): parental perceptions of teenagers’ sexuality in urban Vietnam
Issued Date
2017
Resource Type
Language
eng
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
BioMed Central
Bibliographic Citation
BMC Public Health. Vol.17, No.1, (2017), 226
Suggested Citation
Lan Anh Thi Do, Pimpawun Boonmongkon, Seung Chun Paek, Guadamuz, Thomas E. ‘Hu Hong’ (bad thing): parental perceptions of teenagers’ sexuality in urban Vietnam. BMC Public Health. Vol.17, No.1, (2017), 226. doi:10.1186/s12889-017-4133-y Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/43734
Research Projects
Organizational Units
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Thesis
Title
‘Hu Hong’ (bad thing): parental perceptions of teenagers’ sexuality in urban Vietnam
Abstract
Background: Teenagers under 18 years old in Vietnam are considered as minors who usually lack the autonomy
to make decisions. They are also sometimes viewed as contributors to social evils including crime, violence and
substance use. Moreover, most Vietnamese teenagers have unsafe sex before marriage. The objective of this study is to
explore the parental perceptions relating to their teenagers’ sexuality, particularly the social and cultural forces, that may
hinder access to sexuality information.
Methods: Guided by a Community Advisory Board (CAB), this qualitative study uses four focus group discussions
(FGDs) consisting of 12 mothers and 12 fathers, as well as twelve individual in-depth interviews (IDIs) with a
diverse sample of parents of teens in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam. Content and discourse analysis were
conducted, based on Foucauldian concepts.
Results: Four themes emerged: 1) Meanings of sexuality and sexuality education, 2) Early sexual intercourse
destroys teenagers’ future, 3) Teenagers are not hu hong (spoil/bad thing), are innocent and virgin, and 4)
Policing and controlling of sexual intercourse among teens. Parents did not view their teenage children as
sexual beings; those who are sexual are considered hu hong. Parents believed that teens need to be policed
and controlled to prevent them from becoming hu hong, particularly girls. Controlling of sexuality information
by parents was therefore common in HCMC, but differed by gender and educational levels of parents. For example,
fathers more than mothers were not comfortable teaching their teenage children about sex and sexuality. Parents with
higher education police their teenage children’s usage of the Internet and social media, while parents with lower
education control who can be friends with their teenage children.
Conclusions: Vietnamese parents in general have negative views of sex and sexuality education for their teenage
children. Recognizing that many Vietnamese teenagers have unsafe sex before marriage, parents need to change
their perceptions and understand the importance of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), which are included in
UNESCO, UNFPA and UNICEF-developed CSE tools.