Bayer Supports the Authoritative Release of '2022 Report on Reproductive Health Among Chinese Women of Childbearing Age'

Shanghai, March 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 5, 2022, the "Report on the Reproductive Health of Women of Childbearing Age in China 2022," authoritatively released by the Fudan University Research Institute of Health Communication, was officially announced. Bayer, as a public welfare supporter, joined hands with authoritative institutions to further enhance the awareness of health management throughout the entire life cycle of women, continuously contributing to the comprehensive development of women and children and the realization of the goal of "Healthy China."

This survey was jointly initiated by the Health Communication Research Institute of Fudan University and "Eight O'Clock Health News," a professional media outlet in China's healthcare field, with public welfare support provided by Bayer, a globally renowned enterprise committed to promoting women's health management throughout their entire life cycle. A total of 3,153 women of childbearing age (15-49 years old) from 31 provinces (municipalities, autonomous regions) across China participated in this survey. The report investigates and studies the current status of reproductive health knowledge and behaviors among women of childbearing age in China, as well as the influencing factors, providing a scientific basis for future exploration and practice aimed at enhancing women's health management awareness.

Focusing on women's reproductive health helps improve the national health level from the source.

"International Women's Day on March 8th" is approaching,The release of "China's Report on the Reproductive Health of Women of Childbearing Age 2022" at this time is of great significance for the whole society to enhance the awareness of women's health management, especially in promoting the popularization of knowledge related to reproductive health. The concept of "reproductive health" first appeared in the 1960s, and the World Health Organization defined it as: a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being in all stages of life and throughout the reproductive process, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The reproductive health literacy of women of childbearing age is a component of citizens' health literacy and a key focus for sustainable development.

However, the issues concerning women's reproductive health in China are prominent, and the mastery of reproductive health knowledge is far from optimistic. On the other hand, the first 1,000 days of life, as "the critical window for early infant nutrition improvement" and "the key period for rapid brain neuron development," make related health knowledge especially important for women of childbearing age. The "Healthy China Action (2019-2030)" explicitly states that maternal and child health forms the foundation of national health. Implementing actions to promote maternal and child health is an important measure to protect the health rights of women and children, advance their overall development, and safeguard reproductive health, which helps improve the national health level from its source and foundation.

Bayer collaborates with all sectors of society,Advocate for the health management of women throughout their entire life cycle

As a company with high popularity in the field of women's health, Bayer has numerous products closely related to women's health, such as widely used highly effective contraceptive products, menopause management and gynecological treatments, and Canesten, which protects women's intimate health.^®, Elevit providing comprehensive nutritional support throughout pregnancy^®etc. Bayer deeply understands the importance of women's reproductive health and the first 1,000 days of life. It has long been committed to advocating for the health management of women throughout their entire life cycle. Relying on its expertise in the healthcare field, Bayer provides Chinese women with treatment options and health solutions that span their entire life cycle. At the same time, Bayer has actively collaborated with all sectors of society, launching a series of public welfare projects for science popularization and patient education, promoting the development and progress of the obstetrics and gynecology field, helping women improve their health literacy, protecting women's reproductive health, and safeguarding maternal and child health.

Bayer and the China Women's Development Foundation (CWDF) have carried out numerous impactful public welfare collaborations in multiple fields of women’s whole-life-cycle health management, ranging from scientific contraception and post-abortion care to the promotion of reproductive health knowledge and the establishment and promotion of peri-conception health standards. Among these, the Post-Abortion Care (PAC) project in China, sponsored by Bayer, has been ongoing for eight years. This project aims to establish standardized post-abortion care services in hospitals, promote highly effective contraceptive methods among women undergoing abortions, and prevent repeated abortions from harming women. Currently, 838 medical institutions across 300 prefecture-level cities in 30 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China have set up PAC clinics. Last year, with Bayer’s support, the CWDF launched a platform through the Women’s Reproductive Health Promotion Project to enhance professional knowledge exchange among pharmacy professionals in national chain pharmacies, improving pharmacists' expertise in gynecology and advancing specialized services for women's health, benefiting many women. From initially recognizing the severe challenges faced by Chinese women in reproductive health to supporting various participating organizations in carrying out the PAC project and the Women’s Reproductive Health Promotion Project, Bayer has continuously strived to improve the reproductive health standards of women in China.

The first 1000 days of life are a critical period that determines one's lifelong health, and the mother’s health forms the foundation for the baby’s well-being. Focusing on women’s health management throughout the entire pregnancy journey, starting from preconception, is an essential step in safeguarding maternal and child health and improving the quality of China’s newborn population. Over the years, Bayer has supported and initiated a series of professional academic activities aimed at enhancing the expertise of grassroots personnel, promoting the establishment of perinatal health standards, and disseminating expert consensus. Additionally, Bayer has launched public welfare science popularization projects to raise awareness about birth defects and comprehensive nutrition during the periconceptional period, disseminate basic knowledge of maternal and infant health care, and improve the health literacy of pregnant women. In line with its corporate vision of "Health for All, Hunger for None," Bayer also launched the "First 1000 Days of Life Nutritional Supplementation Program" last year. Through the Sichuan Women and Children Foundation, Bayer donated calcium supplements worth over 5 million RMB to underdeveloped areas within Sichuan province, benefiting more than 15,000 women in the second half of their pregnancies who were experiencing calcium deficiency. By implementing nutritional interventions, education, and promotional campaigns, the program aims to comprehensively enhance regional awareness of prenatal nutrition supplementation and encourage timely medical visits, creating an optimal environment for better births and healthier child-rearing.

The report provides scientific evidence to make health the sail that helps women navigate through challenges.

The importance of women's reproductive health and the first 1,000 days of life is gradually being recognized by society. The research report shows that women of childbearing age have a generally acceptable grasp of knowledge related to reproductive health and the health of the first 1,000 days of life, but there is still significant room for improvement, particularly in areas where obvious misconceptions exist, such as scientific contraception and nutrition intake during the first 1,000 days of life. The study also indicates that women of childbearing age with lower education levels, lower income, or rural residency tend to have poorer knowledge of health matters. Therefore, health education for women of childbearing age should focus on these groups with weaker health knowledge. Health is one of the most fundamental human rights; the government and all sectors of society should join hands to provide more policy support and charitable assistance to improve the health literacy of these populations.

Healthy behaviors serve as the link between health awareness and health status. The higher the level of health awareness, the more likely individuals are to adopt healthy behaviors, thereby improving their health status. The release of this research report provides a scientific basis for future exploration and practice in enhancing women's health management awareness. However, improving the level of full-life-cycle health management awareness among Chinese women remains a significant challenge that relies on the joint efforts of the government and society. Moving forward, Bayer will remain committed to its mission of safeguarding women's health, continue to collaborate with various sectors of society, and further expand the breadth and depth of women's health education. By leveraging scientific methods to enhance women's health protection, Bayer will consistently focus on women's reproductive health, protect maternal and child health, and make health a "sail" that empowers women to navigate life’s challenges.