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Influence of gender equity awareness on women's reproductive healthcare in rural areas of midwest China
Author(s) -
Wang Lei,
Cui Ying,
Zhang Li,
Wang Chao,
Jiang Yan,
Shi Wei
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2013.05.023
Subject(s) - medicine , china , gender equity , equity (law) , rural area , demography , health care , reproductive tract , pregnancy , reproductive health , family medicine , obstetrics , environmental health , population , gender studies , geography , economic growth , archaeology , pathology , sociology , biology , political science , law , genetics , economics
Objective To investigate the impact of married women's gender equity awareness on use of reproductive healthcare services in rural China. Methods The questionnaire‐based study recruited 1500 married women who were aged 15–49 years, had at least 1 pregnancy, and were living in rural Gansu, Qinghai, Shanxi, or Xinjiang, China, between October and December 2010. “Gender equity awareness” was quantified by responses to 7 statements, graded in accordance with a system scoring the strength of overall belief (≥ 19, strong; 15–18, moderate; and ≤ 14, weak). Results Only 383 women (26.3%) demonstrated high gender equity awareness. The percentage of women who received consistent prenatal care was highest in the group scoring 15 points or more ( P < 0.001); the percentage of women with hospital delivery and gynecologic examination ( P < 0.001) was highest in the group scoring 19 points or more; and the percentage of women with reproductive tract infections was highest in the group with the lowest scores ( P < 0.001). Conclusion Women's gender equity awareness is not strong in rural midwest China. There was a positive correlation between gender equity awareness and use of reproductive healthcare services. There should be an emphasis on various activities to educate women so that they can fully access reproductive healthcare.