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8m abortions every year in China: survey
By Lu Feiran |
September 26, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
EACH year in China more than 8 million abortions are carried out, according to a recent survey.
More than half the women involved are not undergoing their first abortion, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday, citing the survey by the China Medical Association.
Cheng Linan, an official with the family planning branch of the association, said the rate remained high because many young people have a poor understanding of birth control.
The survey showed that 88 percent of those questioned were confused about birth control. And about half of the abortion cases were a result of birth control not being used. Less than 2 percent of abortions were carried out for medical reasons.
A belief that a woman can't become pregnant again soon after an abortion also contributed to the figure, Cheng said.
In fact, more than three quarters of women can be fertilized a week after undergoing an abortion, she said.
Repeated abortions damage a woman's health, as the risk of complications grows, Cheng said. Repeated abortions increase the risk of miscarriages or premature birth.
Almost 90 percent of the women suffering infertility have a history of abortions, she added.
"Young people should regard birth control as part of a healthy lifestyle," said Cheng.
She also said commercials advertising "pain-free abortions" were misleading and should be banned.
The association and the National Population and Family Planning Commission is to raise a fund promoting birth control knowledge and provide after-abortion care.
Last year, Shanghai medical experts suggested the Ministry of Health set out guidelines on when a fetus should be aborted in certain circumstances.
Doctors said this would protect both mother and child, while reducing unnecessary abortions.
These would apply to families whose unborn child has a disease or deformity.
More than half the women involved are not undergoing their first abortion, Xinhua news agency reported yesterday, citing the survey by the China Medical Association.
Cheng Linan, an official with the family planning branch of the association, said the rate remained high because many young people have a poor understanding of birth control.
The survey showed that 88 percent of those questioned were confused about birth control. And about half of the abortion cases were a result of birth control not being used. Less than 2 percent of abortions were carried out for medical reasons.
A belief that a woman can't become pregnant again soon after an abortion also contributed to the figure, Cheng said.
In fact, more than three quarters of women can be fertilized a week after undergoing an abortion, she said.
Repeated abortions damage a woman's health, as the risk of complications grows, Cheng said. Repeated abortions increase the risk of miscarriages or premature birth.
Almost 90 percent of the women suffering infertility have a history of abortions, she added.
"Young people should regard birth control as part of a healthy lifestyle," said Cheng.
She also said commercials advertising "pain-free abortions" were misleading and should be banned.
The association and the National Population and Family Planning Commission is to raise a fund promoting birth control knowledge and provide after-abortion care.
Last year, Shanghai medical experts suggested the Ministry of Health set out guidelines on when a fetus should be aborted in certain circumstances.
Doctors said this would protect both mother and child, while reducing unnecessary abortions.
These would apply to families whose unborn child has a disease or deformity.
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