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Published in: Reproductive Health 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Folic Acid | Research

Utilization and associated factors of reproductive health services among 20–39-year-old women in rural China: a cross-sectional study

Authors: Jing Yue, Yang Luo, Chen Xu, Si Qin, Yanting Meng, Ling Fan, Min Nie

Published in: Reproductive Health | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

The use of reproductive health (RH) services is important to promote RH. However, little is known about RH services in rural areas, especially in low- and middle-income countries. China is the most populous country in the world, and 40.4% of its population is rural. Our study determined the utilization of and factors associated with RH services in rural China.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 978 20- to 39-year-old women was performed in four villages of four cities in Hunan Province. A researcher-created structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The data were entered into EpiData v3.0 and analysed using SPSS v18.0. Statistical significance was defined as a two-sided P-value of less than 0.05. Descriptive statistics were used to examine the socio-demographic factors and the use of RH services by the sample population. Chi-square tests were used to assess associations between categorical variables. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine factors that correlated with the use of RH services.

Results

The top three services used were antenatal examinations (90.2%), postpartum visits (73.0%) and free folic acid supplements (71.6%). Age, monthly household income, employment, spousal education level, and artificial abortion history were associated with RH service utilization (P < 0.05). The most desired RH service was cervical/breast cancer prevention services (58.9%). The most preferred method participants used to obtain information on RH services was the internet.

Conclusions

The utilization rate for RH services in rural China needs improvement. Future efforts should target high-risk populations of women by providing them with RH-related information and cultivating positive attitudes towards RH services.
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Metadata
Title
Utilization and associated factors of reproductive health services among 20–39-year-old women in rural China: a cross-sectional study
Authors
Jing Yue
Yang Luo
Chen Xu
Si Qin
Yanting Meng
Ling Fan
Min Nie
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Health / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1742-4755
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-021-01182-z

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