BEIJING, China (CNN) -- The number of abortions performed in China each year tops 13 million, with inadequate knowledge of contraception playing a major role in the annual tally, state-run media reported.
Chinese officials say more use of contraception could help prevent the large number of abortions.
"Sex education needs to be strengthened, with universities and our society giving more guidance," Li Ying, a professor at Peking University, told China Daily.
Research from the National Population and Family Planning Commission's technology research center shows nearly half of the women who had abortions had not used any form of contraception, Wu Shangchun, a division director, told the newspaper.
"The challenge of reducing [the number] of women seeking abortions in China is tough," Wu said, according to China Daily.
China has a strict one-child policy, which the government has used to control its population growth. Abortion is legal in China and is widely used as a birth-control method.
The story in state-run media is a rare look into the numbers behind the nation's family planning policy.
The United States with a population roughly a quarter that of China reported less than a 10th of the number of abortions -- 820,151 -- in 2005, the most recent year figures were available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Social changes across the nation have made the task more difficult, Yu Dongyan, a hospital gynecologist, told China Daily.
"Sex is no longer considered taboo among young people today, and they believe they can learn everything they need from the Internet," according to Yu. "But it doesn't mean they've developed a proper understanding or attitude toward it."
Government statistics show that about 62 percent of the women who have abortions are aged between 20 and 29, and most are single.
The actual number of abortions performed is much higher, Wu said, because the figures are collected only from registered medical institutions. Many abortions are performed in unregistered clinics, according to Wu.
Abortions in China cost about 600 yuan, or $88, China Daily reported.
Some family planning advocates have found it difficult to promote sex education in schools because some teachers and parents believe it will encourage sex activity.
Sun Aijun, a gynecologist at Beijing Union Hospital, said many unmarried couples use condoms, but added that some women find it difficult to turn down a partner's request not to use them.
译文:
中国每年有超过1300万的人堕胎
北京, 中国 (美国有线电视新闻网) -- 据官方媒体报导：由于避孕知识的不足，中国每年有超过1300万的人堕胎。
中国官员称，性爱中更多的采用避孕方法能有效防止堕胎的发生。
“性教育需要进一步加强，我们的大学与社会在这一方面应给予更多的指导”北大教授李英在接受中国日报的采访时说。
身系部门主管的吴尚春告诉记者。国家人口和计划生育委员会旗下的技术研究中心研究显示，堕胎女性中有将近一半的人没有采用过任何避孕方式。
据中国日报消息，吴在采访时说“中国要减少女性堕胎人数任务艰巨” 。
在中国，政府实行严格的独生子女政策用以控制人口的增长。堕胎是合法的，并且它被作为一种节育手段广泛应用。
官方媒体的这方报道实属是对国家计划生育政策的一个难得剖析。
美国人口总数大约为中国人口的四分之一，而其报道的堕胎比例却不占中国的十分之一。2005年仅为820,151粒。这是美国疾病控制和预防中心最近年份统计出的数据。
妇科医生于冬艳在接受中国日报采访时说，全国范围的社会变革以使得要减少堕胎十分困难。
据于说：现在的中国年轻人不再视性为禁区了，他们认为可以在互联网上了解到任何他们需要的东西。但这并不能说明他们对性就有正确的认识和态度。
政府的统计数字显示，62%的堕胎女性年龄在20至29岁之间，而且大多数是单身。
吴说：实际堕胎的人数要高出许多，因为统计的数据只限于正式注册的医疗机构。而许多堕胎手术是在没有正规登记的诊所进行的。
据中国日报报道，堕胎在中国的花费约为600元人民币，合88美元。
计划生育的倡导者们发现在学校对性教育进行宣传的难度性很大，因为一些老师和家长们认为这会怂恿性行为的发生。
许多未婚夫妇在性爱时会选择使用避孕套，北京协和医院的妇科医生孙爱军说。但随后她又补充道，有些妇女因难耐伴侣要求而没有使用它们。