| Abstract: | A national sampling survey carried out in China in 1988 showed that 90.71% of the population were using some form of contraception: male sterilization (10.99%); female sterilization (38.24%); and IUDs (41.48%). Compared with 1982, the figures gathered in 1988 showed an increase in male sterilization and female sterilization and a decrease in condoms, oral or injected contraceptives, IUDs and spermicides. A great difference was found between the contraceptive methods used by women in rural areas as compared to women in urban areas. In urban areas IUDs accounted for 58%, female sterilization for 15%, male sterilization for 1% and condoms for 13%. In the country, female sterilization accounted for 42%, IUDs for 39%, male sterilization 15%, condoms 1% and oral contraceptives for 4%. There was also a strong difference between women of certain ages; the use of IUDs was highest among women between the ages of 15-29 years, while female sterilization was more prevalent for women over the age of 30. There was also a considerable difference between the birth control taken by women with children and those without; the majority of women (31%) without children used condoms; the majority of children (78%) with 1 child used IUDs; the majority of women (65%) with 2 children were sterilized. The sample study shows that 91% of the women using contraception used long-acting contraception. |
