Induced abortion patterns and determinants among married women in China: 1979 to 2010

This study assesses trends in and determinants of induced abortion among married women aged 20–49 in China from 1979 to 2010, using data from national statistics and nationally representative sample surveys. The incidence of induced abortions among married women aged 20–49 began to decrease in the mid-1990s. The induced abortion rate reached its highest level in the early 1980s (56.07%) and its lowest level in the 2000s (18.04%), with an average annual rate of 28.95% among married women 20–49 years old. The likelihood of a pregnant woman undergoing an induced abortion during this period depended not only on individual characteristics (including ethnicity, age, education level, household registration, number of children, and sex of children), but also on the stringency of the family planning policy in place. The less stringent the family planning policy, the less likely married women were to undergo an induced abortion.Résumé: La Chine a lancé la politique de l’enfant unique en 1979 pour maîtriser sa croissance démographique rapide. Les autorités locales chinoises, chargées de limiter les taux de natalité au niveau régional, ont fréquemment imposé des avortements. Après 1994, la politique de planification familiale a été relativement assouplie et les avortements obligatoires ont été remplacés par une politique contraceptive centrée sur les clients et le choix éclairé, ainsi que par la politique d’indemnisation sociale. Cette étude évalue les ten...

Source: Reproductive Health Matters - June 1, 2014 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Cuntong Wang Source Type: research