Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The STEP trials

A round-up of the STEP phase 3 clinical trials evaluating semaglutide for weight loss in people with overweight or obesity.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Research article

Access to reproductive health services among the female floating population of childbearing age: a cross-sectional study in Changsha, China

Authors: Yanhui Zhou, Ting Wang, Jingxia Fu, Mingzhu Chen, Yanting Meng, Yang Luo

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2019

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

The floating population serves an important role in economic and social development. However, little is known about the floating population’s reproductive health (RH) services, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to assess the use of reproductive health services in the female floating population in China, which is a country with the largest floating population in the world.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted for more than 3 months. Six hundred twenty females of childbearing age in a floating population were recruited into the study by using random sampling, with these individuals being recruited from six community centres in Changsha, China. The use of reproductive health services was assessed by utilizing a self-designed questionnaire.

Results

A total of 555 participants returned the completed questionnaires (effective response rate of 89.5%), including 405 married women and 150 unmarried women. The utilization of RH services was poor in individuals who could access RH policies (39.3%), RH education (36.4%), RH counselling (27.4%), gratis contraceptives (36.0%), and free RH examinations (38.9%), and married women utilized these services at higher rates than unmarried women (P < 0.01), although 63.3% of the unmarried women had sexual lifestyles. The marital status was significantly associated with receiving RH education, RH counselling, gratis contraceptives, and free RH examinations. Age was significantly associated with the use of RH education and free RH examinations. The average personal monthly income had a significantly beneficial effect on the use of free RH examinations. Obstetrics and gynaecological disease prevention (67.2%) were the greatest needs of the RH services, and the use of the Internet was the best way to obtain these services. Most of the individuals (77.3%) hoped to receive gynaecological health screenings that were provided by obstetrics and gynaecology hospitals.

Conclusions

The female floating population exhibited poor awareness of RH and rarely used RH services, especially in unmarried women. The results suggest that educational interventions for the female floating population, as well as policy and resource developments should meet the demands for RH services, which are urgently needed in China.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Sippel S. ICPD beyond 2014: moving beyond missed opportunities and compromises in the fulfilment of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Glob Public Health. 2014;9(6):620–30.PubMedCrossRef
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ivanova O, Rai M, Kemigisha E. A systematic review of sexual and reproductive health knowledge, experiences and access to services among refugee, migrant and displaced girls and young women in Africa. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(8):1583.PubMedCentralCrossRef
6.
Le ATK, Tran HTD, Duong TK, Nguyen CC, Bui HTT. Reproductive tract infection and related factors among female migrants working in industrial zones in Vietnam 2013–2014. Health Care Women Int. 2018;39(4):389–403.PubMedCrossRef
7.
Sudhinaraset M, Diamond-Smith N, Thet MM, Aung T. Influence of internal migration on reproductive health in Myanmar: results from a recent cross-sectional survey. BMC Public Health. 2016;16(1):246.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
8.
Villadsen SF, Mortensen LH, Andersen AM. Care during pregnancy and childbirth for migrant women: How do we advance? Development of intervention studies--the case of the MAMAACT intervention in Denmark. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2016;32:100-12.CrossRef
9.
Xu S, Yu C, Zhou Y, Wu J, Bai T, Zhang J, Li Y. The prevalence of reproductive tract infections in a Chinese internal migrant population, and its correlation with knowledge, attitude, and practices: a cross-sectional study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(4):655.PubMedCentralCrossRef
10.
Zong Z, Yang W, Sun X, Mao J, Shu X, Hearst N. Migration experiences and reported sexual behavior among young, unmarried female migrants in Changzhou, China. Glob Health Sci Pract. 2017;5(3):516–24.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
11.
Liu Z, Zhu M, Dib HH, Li Z, Shi S, Wang Z. RH knowledge and service utilization among unmarried rural-to-urban migrants in three major cities, China. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:74.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
12.
13.
Liu H, Wang Q, Lu Z, Liu J. Reproductive health service use and social determinants among the floating population: a quantitative comparative study in Guangzhou City. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014;14:502.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
14.
Tang J, Gao X, Yu Y, Ahmed NI, Zhu H, Wang J, Du Y. Sexual knowledge, attitudes and behaviors among unmarried migrant female workers in China: a comparative analysis. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:917.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
15.
Zhu L, Liu H, Wu J, Pei L. Study on the related factors of prenatal health care among floating women in five cities of China. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi. 2014;35(4):406–10.PubMed
16.
Abajobir AA, Seme A. Reproductive health knowledge and services utilization among rural adolescents in east Gojjam zone, Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014;14:138.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
17.
Ayehu A, Kassaw T, Hailu G. Young people’s parental discussion about sexual and reproductive health issues and its associated factors in Awabel woreda, Northwest Ethiopia. Reprod Health. 2016;13:19.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
18.
Ayehu A, Kassaw T, Hailu G. Level of young people sexual and reproductive health service utilization and its associated factors among young people in Awabel District, Northwest Ethiopia. PLoS One. 2016;11(3):e151613.CrossRef
19.
Zhang Y, Luo B, Li H, Zhou Y, Zhu L, Liu J. A survey of women undergoing nonmedical induced abortions during 2010-2011 in Beijing. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2014;94(29):2304–7.PubMed
20.
Su S, Zhang F, Liu Q, Wang Y, Wen J, Tang X, Zhang L. Factors associated with utilization of reproductive healthcare services among migrant women workers in Chong Qing, China. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2014;127(1):66–8.PubMedCrossRef
21.
22.
Schmidt NC, Fargnoli V. Reproductive health among migrant women in Geneva: what are the challenges for community-based participatory research. Rev Med Suisse. 2014;10(447):1985–8.
23.
Huang YM, Merkatz R, Kang JZ, Roberts K, Hu XY, Di Donato F, Sitruk-Ware R, Cheng LN. Postpartum unintended pregnancy and contraception practice among rural-to-urban migrant women in Shanghai. Contraception. 2012;86(6):731–8.PubMedCrossRef
24.
Salisbury P, Hall L, Kulkus S, Paw MK, Tun NW, Min AM, Chotivanich K, Srikanok S, Ontuwong P, Sirinonthachai S, et al. Family planning knowledge, attitudes and practices in refugee and migrant pregnant and post-partum women on the Thailand-Myanmar border - a mixed methods study. Reprod Health. 2016;13(1):94.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
25.
Pei LJ, Zhu L, Guo C, Liu HY. Association between contraceptive choice and the risk of induced abortion among floating married women of childbearing age. Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi. 2013;34(7):677–81.PubMed
26.
Wang Y, Yao W, Shang M, Cai Y, Shi R, Ma J, Wang J, Song H. Sexual and reproductive health among unmarried rural-urban female migrants in Shanghai China: a comparative analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2013;10(8):3578–89.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
27.
Gagnon AJ, Redden KL. Reproductive health research of women migrants to Western countries: a systematic review for refining the clinical lens. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2016;32:3–14.PubMedCrossRef
28.
Dong Y, Zhang H, Wang Y, Tao H, Xu S, Xia J, Huang W, He H, Zaller N, Operario D. Multiple abortions and sexually transmitted infections among young migrant women working in entertainment venues in China. Women Health. 2015;55(5):580–94.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
29.
Alvarez-Nieto C, Pastor-Moreno G, Grande-Gascon ML, Linares-Abad M. Sexual and reproductive health beliefs and practices of female immigrants in Spain: a qualitative study. Reprod Health. 2015;12:79.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
30.
Arousell J, Carlbom A. Culture and religious beliefs in relation to reproductive health. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2016;32:77–87.PubMedCrossRef
31.
Wang C. History of the Chinese family planning program: 1970-2010. Contraception. 2012;85(6):563–9.PubMedCrossRef
32.
Schmidt NC, Fargnoli V, Epiney M, Irion O. Barriers to reproductive health care for migrant women in Geneva: a qualitative study. Reprod Health. 2018;15(1):43.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
33.
Watts J. China sex education lags behind sexual activity. Phasing out of pre-marriage health checks leaves authorities with no sexual-education tools. Lancet. 2004;363(9416):1208.PubMedCrossRef
34.
Zhou Y, Xiong J, Li J, Huang S, Shang X, Liu G, Zhang M, Yin P, Wei S, Xiong C. Urgent need for contraceptive education and services in Chinese unmarried undergraduates: a multi-campus survey. J Huazhong Univ Sci Technolog Med Sci. 2011;31(4):426.PubMedCrossRef
35.
Nahmias SB, Nahmias D. Society, sex, and STIs: human behavior and the evolution of sexually transmitted diseases and their agents. In: Nahmias A, Danielsson D, Nahmias SB, editors. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences|.*1230*1230; 2011. p. 59–73.
36.
Johnson DC, Lhaki P, Buehler CC, Kempf MC, Chamot E, Vermund SH, Shrestha S. Spatial analysis of the regional variation of reproductive tract infections and spousal migration correlates in Nepal. Geospat Health. 2017;12(1):513.PubMedCrossRef
37.
38.
Webber GC, Spitzer DL, Somrongthong R, Dat TC, Kounnavongsa S. Migrant beer promoters' experiences accessing reproductive health care in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam: lessons for planners and providers. Asia Pac J Public Health. 2015;27(2):P1228–40.CrossRef
39.
Ochoa SC, Sampalis J. Risk perception and vulnerability to STIs and HIV/AIDS among immigrant Latin-American women in Canada. Cult Health Sex. 2014;16(4):412–25.PubMedCrossRef
40.
Webber G, Spitzer D, Somrongthong R, Dat TC, Kounnavongsa S. Facilitators and barriers to accessing reproductive health care for migrant beer promoters in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam: a mixed methods study. Glob Health. 2012;8:21.CrossRef
41.
Vu LT, Nguyen NT, Tran HT, Muhajarine N. mHealth information for migrants: an e-health intervention for internal migrants in Vietnam. Reprod Health. 2016;13(1):55.PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Access to reproductive health services among the female floating population of childbearing age: a cross-sectional study in Changsha, China
Authors
Yanhui Zhou
Ting Wang
Jingxia Fu
Mingzhu Chen
Yanting Meng
Yang Luo
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4334-4

Other articles of this Issue 1/2019

BMC Health Services Research 1/2019 Go to the issue

Research article

Discussing patients’ insurance and out-of-pocket expenses during GPs’ consultations

Research article

Preferences for HIV testing services among young people in Nigeria

Research article

Clinical determinants associated with quality of life for people who live with HIV/AIDS: a Meta-analysis

Research article

Testing population-based performance measures identifies gaps in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) care

Research article

Evaluation of a community of practice for speech-language pathologists in aphasia rehabilitation: a logic analysis

Research article

Longitudinal evaluation of a knowledge translation role in occupational therapy