Induced abortion among unmarried women in China

Abstract

This study uses a literature review to probe the prevalence and trends of induced abortions among unmarried women since the 1980s. Premarital pregnancy has become more and more common, and this has pushed the premarital abortion rate still higher. With the premarital abortion rate remaining markedly high in China, the percentage of women who have experienced premarital abortions has risen steadily with the passage of time. Not only has the prevalence of premarital abortions increased in China on the whole, but there is evidence that some young women have had multiple abortions. Premarital abortion is more prevalent in urban areas and among migrants and less-educated women. The huge number of premarital abortions not only signifies a palpable, unmet need for contraceptives, but also represents an immense number of unrealized births. In the years to come, it is imperative to strengthen research into premarital abortions, to optimize the approaches to data collection and analysis, and to improve reproductive health services for unmarried women.