Principles of Counseling and Supporting Children in Reproductive Health Care

Accordingly, Circular 33 stipulates principles in consultation and support, including:

- Respecting, sharing, and empathizing with children;- Being appropriate to the age, psychological characteristics, and health condition of children;- Being suitable to the capacity and conditions of the consultation and support facility.

At the same time, Circular 33 also stipulates that in consultation and support, the following requirements must be met:

- The consultant and supporter must meet the professional and practice conditions as prescribed by law and be trained in providing child-friendly services;- During consultation and support, it must ensure to be friendly, discreet, confidential, private, and sharing; use language appropriate to the age and understanding of the children;- Directly consult children of appropriate age or consult parents or guardians;- Explain to children, parents, or guardians about the purpose, meaning, and examination process in case it is necessary to examine the children.

Additionally, Circular 33 enumerates some requirements for consultation and support facilities, including:

- Having private and discreet consultation and examination places;- Having adequate and appropriate human resources;- Having a mechanism for linkage and referral between different consultation and support facilities in the same area or specialized intervention fields.

See details Circular 33/2017/TT-BYT, effective from October 1, 2017.

-Thao Uyen-

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