Dr. Yan Renying received the first China Population Award because, during the last 30 years, she has contributed greatly to the development of gynecology in China. She is a professor and member the National People's Congress. She has studied painless birth, premature diagnosis, nonsurgical abortion, contraceptive devices, and medicine. The 80-year-old gynecologist strives to improve the quality of health care of high risk pregnant women and survival of both mothers and infants. She believes that, in order for women to bear fewer children, they must bear healthy and bright children. Thus, the quality of women's and children's health care must improve. Family planning is linked to this care. China has expended more energy and resources to properly care for youth since the inception of its reform policy in 1978. As a result, most children are immunized, acute infectious diseases are rare, and the neonatal and maternal mortality rates have fallen to levels comparable with those of developed countries. Dr. Yan believes that the establishment of the integral network of prenatal care services for pregnant women is a measure which contributes significantly to improved maternal and child health. This improvement is responsible for the high level of acceptance of family planning in China today. Health conditions are still inadequate in many poverty-stricken areas of China, however. Dr. Yan believes that strengthening economic development in these areas should be the first priority. Economic development brings improved maternal and child health care, an increase in family planning use, and a higher standard of living. Steps to economic development in the poorest areas will result in improved health conditions.

作者：Y, Song

来源：Integration (Tokyo, Japan) 1994 年 39期