In the Shadow of Globalization: The Provision of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services to Unmarried Youth in China

Varied forms of structural shifts associated with the process of globalization, including deteriorating state provision of health services, the spread of market ethic, economic polarization and large-scale internal migration, have altered the structural and cultural circumstances of youth access to essential sexual and reproductive health services in contemporary China. In spite of these trends, their profound impacts have never been examined before. Drawing primarily upon data from semi-structured interviews with 45 conveniently selected service providers and managers from 26 health sites in 6 provinces of China between 2009 and 2010, this study seeks to shed light on five interrelated challenges, as an illustration of the adverse impact of globalization. These five effects and dilemmas related to globalized shifts include rising user fees, weakening preventive care, pervasive commercial advertising, poorly unregulated health market, and unequal access to health care, thus contributing to a better understanding of the social determinants of sexual and reproductive health among young people. Findings from the study highlight the Chinese Government should respond to these entangled trends in a more sensitive and integrated way to meet the need of this neglected population in an era of rapid globalization.