How the Reproductive Health Needs of Unmarried Youth Be Concerned in Quality Services in Family Planning/ Reproductive Health？

Since the Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994 and the Beijing World Women Conference in 1995, new thoughts and conceptions have been introduced to China’s family planning/ reproductive health (FP/RH). It is advocat…

How the Reproductive Health Needs of Unmarried Youth Be Concerned in Quality Services in Family Planning/ Reproductive Health?

Objective To understand the reproductive health needs of unmarried youth so as to provide them better quality services. Method Data were drawn from a baseline questionnaire survey of provision of repro- ductive health information and services for unmarried youth aged 16-20 years in rural areas of Chengdu, Southwest China in 2001-2002. Results The study comprised of 1 895 valid subjects. More than 70% subjects felt that the knowledge, information and services in relation to sexual and reproductive health provided by the society were rather insufficient. Near 95% thought that unmarried young people seeking sexual and reproductive health counseling and services were quite normal, although some of them had different misgivings. Their preferred services in reproductive health included: counseling in relation to sexual and reproductive health, how to cope with unexpected sex and unwanted pregnancy, how to select the appropriate contraceptives for unmarried youth, etc. About 2/3 subjects agreed to provide contraceptive services to unmarried youth actively by the society. And they thought the difficulties and obstacles in provision of contraceptive services for un- married youth were in the following order: restriction of the traditional conceptions, shyness of unmarried youth in accept of such services, disapproval of parents/school teachers, and so forth. Conclusion To improve reproductive health status of unmarried youth and meet their needs is a challenge to quality service of family planning/reproductive health program in China. The related departments and service providers should pay attention to this matter and take the strategies and measures to provide appropriate, specific, friendly and accessibly services for unmarried young people.