Study on sexual and reproductive health behaviors of unmarried female migrants in China

  1. Dian He1,2,
  2. You Zhou1,2,
  3. Ning Ji1,2,
  4. Shizhong Wu3,
  5. Zhijin Wang4,
  6. Peter Decat5,
  7. Eileen Moyer6,
  8. Meile Minkauskiene7,
  9. Cheng Pang1,2 and
  10. Yimin Cheng1,2,*

Article first published online: 13 MAR 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2011.01753.x

Issue

Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research

Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research

Volume 38, Issue 4, pages 632–638, April 2012


Additional Information

How to Cite

He, D., Zhou, Y., Ji, N., Wu, S., Wang, Z., Decat, P., Moyer, E., Minkauskiene, M., Pang, C. and Cheng, Y. (2012), Study on sexual and reproductive health behaviors of unmarried female migrants in China. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 38: 632–638. doi: 10.1111/j.1447-0756.2011.01753.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College

  2. 2

    National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing

  3. 3

    Donghua Research Institute of Reproductive Health, Chengdu

  4. 4

    School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China

  5. 5

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, International Centre for Reproductive Health (ICRH), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

  6. 6

    Amsterdam School for Social Science Research, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  7. 7

    Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania

*Dr Yimin Cheng, National Research Institute for Family Planning, 12 Da Hui Si, Hai Dian District, Beijing 100081, China. Email: chengym55@gmail.com

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 26 MAR 2012
  2. Article first published online: 13 MAR 2012
  3. Received: March 28 2011.; Accepted: August 30 2011.

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Keywords:

  • attitude;
  • China;
  • condom use;
  • knowledge;
  • migrant;
  • unplanned pregnancy

Abstract

Aim:  The purpose of this study was to broadly assess the level of knowledge, attitude and behaviors related to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) among unmarried female migrants in China.

Material and Methods:  This cross-sectional study was conducted and a self-administered questionnaire was designed for collecting information on SRH including 15 items for knowledge, 8 items for attitude and some items for contraception and abortion related behaviors.

Results:  A total of 1690 unmarried female migrants were interviewed. Most of the respondents had less knowledge of SRH. Only one-third of respondents was aware of emergency contraceptives and could freely talk about SRH with their friends. Over one-third of respondents were not willing to come into contact with someone with AIDS or STDs. In this study, 10.4% participants had an unwanted pregnancy and 95% of them had an abortion. Multivariate analysis showed that having a boyfriend, duration of employment in city, knowledge on SRH and freely discussing SRH with peer were associated with having premarital sex among these unmarried female migrants.

Conclusion:  This study revealed that the unmarried female migrant was one of the most vulnerable groups concerning SRH. In some policy reforms, appropriate and cost-effective SRH services should be provided for these migrants.

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