A preliminary study of reproductive health of unmarried urban young people in China in the 1990s: a case study of reproductive health survey on 3,034 unmarried young people in Beijing
Zhang, J.; Cao, J.; Shi, Y.; Jiang, S.
Chinese Journal of Population Science 8(3): 281-293
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 1044-8403 PMID: 12320619 Document Number: 206830
This study is based on the analysis of data from a 1993-94 survey of 3034 unmarried men and women (1477 men and 1557 women) who visited the Beijing Hospital for Women and Children in Beijing, China. Visits were for premarital health care. Ages ranged from 18 years to 29 years. 49.97% were state employees or technical personnel, 31.1% were workers, 2.90% were self-employed, and 2.24% were in the military. 44.59% had a college-level or higher education, 39.02% had a senior high school or vocational school education, and 1.579% had a junior high school education. No one was illiterate. 29.83% had a relationship with their spouse-to-be lasting over 3 years before the decision to marry was made. The time-to-marriage period rose with an increase in educational level. 31.61% met through mutual friends; 43.18% of the self-employed met by chance. Meeting by chance increased as educational level rose. 90% viewed emotional harmony as the most important requirement for spouse selection. Women tended to focus on economic conditions, occupation, and family environment. Secondary reasons for spouse selection varied with occupation and educational level. 56.72% planned to begin childbearing within 2 years after marriage. 11.01% desired childlessness. Delayed childbearing or childlessness was greater as educational level increased. 45.32% had premarital sex, of whom 85% used contraception. Only 23.96% had contraceptive knowledge. Knowledge increased with educational level. Over 80% learned about contraception from books. Many experienced an interest in sex beginning in high school. 50.71% of men and 19.59% of women masturbated. 60.48% learned about sex from books. 91.20% placed great importance on premarital sex.