Women's health care and the workplace in the People's Republic of China

Health care is provided through the workplace in the People's Republic of China through settings such as factories in the cities and commune health stations in rural areas. A special emphasis is placed on the protection of women workers through 4 critical periods: menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, and lactation. These periods are considered to pose greater health risks to women. Factories provide specially designed rooms with spray baths and supplies for women during the menstrual period, and the woman's menstrual period is recorded on a health record kept in the factory health service. Permission to marry must be given by the supervisor of the workplace and a premarital examinaton is required to rule out heriditary diseases. Permisson must also be obtained to have a child. Pregnant women workers receive food supplements and are allowed to do lighter work. Care is taken to protect pregnant workers from insecticides or other harmful substances. After delivery, a leave of 56-70 days with full pay is granted. Couples with 1-child certificates may have extended leave up to 1 year with 70% pay. Breastfeeding mothers are allowed 1/2 hour breads twice day to nurse their infants. Day care and nursery facilities are available in factories and communes. The 1-child policy has extended the family planning period to close to 30 years, making it imperative that contraceptive technology and information be available to the masses. In general, rural women tend to choose the IUD; those who do not want more children opt for sterilization; and urban couples select the pill, injectables, and condoms. Health care for women in the workplaces is an effective means of implementing official population control policies. It is suggested that the approach of using nursing personnel at the local level for providing primary health care could be implemented in other countries to reduce rising health care costs.