17 March 2006
“Alarming” maternal death rates in TAR, Xinjiang and Qinghai
(Xinhua) Women's health across the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has declined slightly in the past decade, according to a report released by the China Women Research Institute. "This is caused by the growing gender imbalance among newborns, the high death rate of baby girls, and high death toll among pregnant women in some areas", according to the "Report on China Gender Equality and Women Development: 1995-2005". Across the PRC, the average death rate among pregnant women declined from an average of 61.9 in 100,000 in 1995 to 48.3 in 100,000 in 2004. However, the report said, there is a regional disparity that is alarming. In areas such as the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), Xinjiang and Qinghai province, the maternity death rates all exceed 100 in 100,000, with the highest [unidentified] being 310.4 in 100,000. The report has been hailed by the state media as China's first comprehensive study on gender equality and women’s development.