Health Officials in China Worry Abortion Statistics Reflect Gaps in Sex Education

According to statistics recently released by Chinese health officials, "more than 13 million abortions are performed each year in China, far more than any other country in the world," the New York Times reports (McDonald, 7/30). Officials attribute the country's high abortion rate to a lack of sex education and an increase in the number of sexually active young people, Reuters/Washington Post reports (7/30). "A survey done by 411 Hospital of PLA (People's Liberation Army) in Shanghai, for example, found that less than 30 percent of callers to a hotline knew how to avoid pregnancy, and only 17 percent were aware of venereal diseases. More than 70 percent said they did not know sexual transmission is the major contributor to the spread of HIV/AIDS," China Daily reports (Juan and Yanfeng, 7/30).

Back to other news for July 2009

Search the Newsroom archive