A sense of autonomy is preserved under Chinese reproductive policies.
China has had a one-child family policy since 1979 and a National Family Planning Law since 2002. This paper presents analysis of comments from members of the general public and experts in China on the question of reproductive autonomy. The Chinese concept of 'Yousheng' (healthy birth) is more appropriate than eugenics as an expression of Chinese social policy and public attitudes. The widespread support for healthy birth has policy implications. None of the persons interviewed said that they had ever used ultrasound to choose the gender of their child nor had an abortion for the reason of a fetus's gender. Despite the bad impression of abortion from their experience, most would abort a fetus with a genetic disease. Respondents in rural areas were less likely to use prenatal care, pointing to more important social problems in reproduction in China. The impressions given from the survey stands in contrast to the implications of the majority of Western papers on the Chinese situation, and indicate that people are generally satisfied with the ethical balance towards the societal needs over individual autonomy, but they still have a sense of reproductive autonomy. There needs to be further study into these issues with larger surveys and interview studies.
Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba Science City, Japan.
Baoqui
B
Su
Darryl R J
DR
Macer
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001290:Attitude; D001675:Bioethics; D002681:China; D003625:Data Collection; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D026822:Ethicists / Q000523:psychology; D005053:Eugenics; D016656:Family Planning Policy; D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007603:Jurisprudence; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D008297:Male; D026706:Paternalism; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011155:Population Control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011639:Public Opinion; D012098:Reproduction; D043762:Reproductive Behavior; D012424:Rural Population; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012922:Social Change; D012941:Social Responsibility; D012945:Social Values