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Birth defects rise as exams are skipped
Source: Xinhua |
September 24, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE rate of premarital physical checkups has declined drastically, leading to an increase in birth defects since the medical checkup was made voluntary in 2003.
Though some regions provide free premarital checkups, the percentage plummeted from 80 percent in 2003 to 2.67 percent in 2004. The congenital birth defect rate rose from 12.98 percent in 2003 to 15.23 percent last year.
The medical checkup includes premarital education and counseling, and newlyweds who miss it lose a good opportunity to get professional advice on how to avoid bearing children with defects, said Ren Aiguo, an official with the Ministry of Health.
After the country abolished compulsory premarital checkups, the rate of pregnant women's radiation exposure and use of medicines harmful to the fetus have doubled, a Peking University study showed.
The checkup mainly serves young people, most of whom neglect their health or are afraid to disclose disease, fearing loss of privacy, said Lu Fan, section chief with the Beijing Health Bureau.
According to a survey conducted by the bureau, 86.77 percent of those interviewed said a check up isn't necessary. But the ministry said it is a major and irreplaceable approach to lowering the rate of birth defects.
Experts said people should be better educated about the checkups and offered incentives to have them, but said the checks should not again be mandatory.
More funds will be allocated to promote the premarital medical checkups and give free checkups to targeted groups.
Though some regions provide free premarital checkups, the percentage plummeted from 80 percent in 2003 to 2.67 percent in 2004. The congenital birth defect rate rose from 12.98 percent in 2003 to 15.23 percent last year.
The medical checkup includes premarital education and counseling, and newlyweds who miss it lose a good opportunity to get professional advice on how to avoid bearing children with defects, said Ren Aiguo, an official with the Ministry of Health.
After the country abolished compulsory premarital checkups, the rate of pregnant women's radiation exposure and use of medicines harmful to the fetus have doubled, a Peking University study showed.
The checkup mainly serves young people, most of whom neglect their health or are afraid to disclose disease, fearing loss of privacy, said Lu Fan, section chief with the Beijing Health Bureau.
According to a survey conducted by the bureau, 86.77 percent of those interviewed said a check up isn't necessary. But the ministry said it is a major and irreplaceable approach to lowering the rate of birth defects.
Experts said people should be better educated about the checkups and offered incentives to have them, but said the checks should not again be mandatory.
More funds will be allocated to promote the premarital medical checkups and give free checkups to targeted groups.
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