A reproductive health survey of 22,000 young people by the National Working Committee on Children and Women found that over 50 percent of sexually active respondents said they did not use contraception the first time they had sex.
According to China Daily, 21.3 percent of sexually active women in the survey said they had had an unwanted pregnancy, 91 percent of which were aborted. 19 percent of those who aborted an initial pregnancy said they later had more.
Over 13 million abortions are carried out every year on the Chinese mainland.
Mo Lixia, deputy director of the family development department under the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said a top priority will be put on reproductive health education for young people, such as college students.
She called on schools, universities and communities to help improve young people’s knowledge of safe sex.
A vast majority of Chinese parents reportedly favour greater sex education in schools and universities, as well as a staggering abortion rate, the frequency of HIV infection among university-aged Chinese is rising.
Shanghai residents in need of condoms can get them for free from the municipal government, there’s even an app to help you find a convenient dispensary.
[Image credit: @loop_oh]
