A Study of Reproductive Health Status and Services among Middle-Age Women in Rural China

Xiaoming Sun, Nanjing College for Population Program Management (NCPPM)

Background: As the reproductive health/family planning program mainly focused on the young women’s contraception for fertility control in China, the women aged 40-64 became a vulnerable group suffering RTIs and other women’s diseases. Methods: A nationwide survey was conducted among women aged 40-64 in rural China, and 3458 study subjects were recruited. An interviewed questionnaire survey was used to evaluate KAPB towards reproductive health and services. Results: 97.0% participants once received contraceptive services and 81.4% were still in use, however, 26.9% had abortion at least once. One third had suffered serious climacteric syndrome. Among 1147 participants who used IUD as contraception, 21.5% of them did not have IUD removed after their menopause. 57.3% reported they once suffered RTIs and only 41.0% had formal medical treatment. Conclusions: The survey shows that a comprehensive framework of reproductive health services should be well-designed and the service priority for middle-age women should be focused.