Contraception and abortion among migrant women in Changzhou, China

Migrant women in China's industrial cities face particular contraceptive challenges, which have changed in recent years as family planning policy has shifted. Little is known about recent trends in contraception and abortion among China's large internal migrant population. We conducted a survey to examine these issues among factory workers in a large Chinese city.

Married migrant women (N = 801) aged 20-39 years and working in Changzhou, China, completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire giving details about their sociodemographic background, work and migration situations, and reproductive health.

Current contraceptive use was reported by 86.6% of women. Condoms, which have largely replaced longer acting contraceptive methods in this population in recent years, were being used by 54.9% of contraceptive users. Only 41.2% used a longer acting method, mostly an intrauterine device (IUD). A lifetime history of abortion was reported by 40.4%. In the past year, 5.5% had had an unintended pregnancy and 5.2% had had an induced abortion. Older age, lower level of education, lower income, area of origin and husband's residency were associated with IUD use. Lower income, husband's residency and stronger fertility desire were associated with recent unintended pregnancy.

The results of the study provide evidence that migrant women in China are relying more than ever on less effective methods of contraception. Unintended pregnancy and abortion are common. China's current informed choice model needs to be improved with the provision of better health education before and after migration and easy access to health and reproductive health care services.