The impact of corporate social responsibility on reproductive health outcomes and access equity in China

Lei Zhao

Abstract

This study examined the impact of corporate social responsibility on reproductive health outcomes and access equity among women of reproductive age in selected cities of China. The study was grounded in the view that CSR can extend beyond philanthropy and corporate reputation to function as a supportive mechanism for public health and social inclusion. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was adopted, and data were collected from 400 respondents in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Wuhan through an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, t-tests, and multiple regression. The findings showed that CSR exposure was positively associated with reproductive health awareness, service utilization, and perceptions of access equity. Women who reported stronger exposure to CSR-supported initiatives demonstrated better knowledge of reproductive health services and more favorable perceptions of fairness and accessibility. However, significant disparities remained across social groups. Migrant women reported lower access equity than permanent residents, and respondents in less advantaged cities showed comparatively weaker outcomes. The study concluded that CSR has the potential to complement public-health efforts by improving reproductive-health awareness and reducing selected access barriers, but its benefits remain uneven unless initiatives are intentionally directed toward vulnerable and marginalized populations.

Full Text:

PDF

References

Nan C and Jay P. The causal effect of delivery volume on severe maternal morbidity: an instrumental variable analysis in Sichuan, China. BMJ Global Health. 2022; 7 (5): e8428.

Hong Q, Jiao X, Qiu X and Xu A. Investigating the impact of time allocation on family well-being in China. Journal of Business Economics and Management. 2024; 25 (5):981-1005.

Hu YL, Zhang YJ, Lv XY, Liu RL, Zhong ZH, Fu LJ, Bao MH, Geng LH, Xu HJ, Yu SM and Ding YB. Impact of Omicron Variant Infection on Female Fertility and Laboratory Outcomes: A Self-Controlled Study. American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y.: 1989). 2024; 92 (5): e70012.

Kang S, Jin S, Mao X, He B and Wu C. CD4+T and CD8+T Cells in Uterus Exhibit Both Selective Dysfunction and Residency Signatures. Journal of Immunology Research. 2024; 2024 (1): 5582151.

Yang J, Yao YL, Lv XY, Geng LH, Wang Y, Adu-Gyamfi EA, Wang XJ, Qian Y, Chen MX, Zhong ZH, Li RY, Wan Q and Ding YB. The Safety and Efficacy of inactivated COVID-19 vaccination in couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology: A prospective cohort study. Vaccine. 2025; 45: 126635.

Duan Y and Chen W. Fertility by parity in China in the context of changing fertility policy. International Journal of Population Studies. 2022; 8 (1): 83-101.

Fei Z and Wang Y. Parental gender preferences and fertility ideals in China. Acta Psychologica. 2026; 264: 106523.

Qiao G, Shao Z, Gu J and Chen X. Accessible tourism for tourists with visual impairment: the role of auditory perception in shaping behavioral attitudes. Tourism Review. 2026; 1-24.

Zhang Y, Wu C, Chang W, Chen M, Duan SX and Wang S. Cultural intelligence as a catalyst for global competitiveness: The role of opportunity recognition and language distance in hotel brand success. International Journal of Hospitality Management. 2026; 133: 104462.

Zhang D, Morse S, Kambhamptati U and Li B. Evolving corporate social responsibility in China. Sustainability. 2014; 6 (11): 7646-7665.

Huang W, Chen S and Nguyen LT. Corporate social responsibility and organizational resilience to COVID-19 crisis: An empirical study of Chinese firms. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (21): 8970.

Sun Y, Xu C, Li H and Cao Y. What drives the innovation in corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosures? An integrated reporting perspective from China. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge. 2022; 7 (4): 100267.

He H and Sutunyarak C. Perception of corporate social responsibility, organizational commitment and employee innovation behavior: A survey from Chinese AI enterprises. Journal of Risk and Financial Management. 2024; 17 (6): 237.

Qiao J, Wang Y, Li X, Jiang F, Zhang Y, Ma J, Song Y, Ma J, Fu W, Pang R and Zhu Z. A Lancet Commission on 70 years of women's reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health in China. The Lancet. 2021; 397 (10293): 2497-2536.

Wang Z, Yang G and Guo Y. Harnessing the opportunity to achieve health equity in China. The Lancet Public Health. 2021; 6 (12): e867-e868.

Liang J, Li X, Kang C, Wang Y, Kulikoff XR, Coates MM, Ng M, Luo S, Mu Y, Wang X and Zhou R. Maternal mortality ratios in 2852 Chinese counties, 1996–2015, and achievement of Millennium Development Goal 5 in China: a subnational analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. The Lancet. 2019; 393 (10168): 241-252.

Guo Y and Huang Y. Realising equity in maternal health: China's successes and challenges. The Lancet. 2019; 393 (10168): 202-204.

Huang M, Luo D, Wang Z, Cao Y, Wang H, Bi F, Huang Y and Yi L. Equity and efficiency of maternal and child health resources allocation in Hunan Province, China. BMC health services research. 2020; 20 (1): 300.

Yang X, Tang S, Yamey G and Qian X. Strengthening maternal and child health in China: lessons from transforming policy proposals into action. BioScience Trends. 2018; 12 (2): 211-214.

Chen L, Feng P, Shaver L and Wang Z. Maternal mortality ratio in China from 1990 to 2019: trends, causes and correlations. BMC Public Health. 2021; 21 (1): 1536.

Li C, Zeng L, Dibley MJ, Wang D, Pei L and Yan H. Evaluation of socio-economic inequalities in the use of maternal health services in rural western China. Public health. 2015; 129 (9): 1251-1257.

Jiang K, Liang L, Wang H, Li J, Li Y, Jiao M, Mao J and Wu Q. Sociodemographic determinants of maternal health service use in rural China: a cross-sectional study. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. 2020; 18 (1): 201.

Yang Y and Yu M. Disparities and determinants of maternal health services utilization among women in poverty-stricken rural areas of China: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2023; 23 (1): 115.

Liang H, Fang S, Liu S, Liu X, Li Y, Li M and Zhang Y. Equity in maternal‐and infant‐care services in China: A trend analysis based on residence and area (2000‐2014). The International Journal of Health Planning and Management. 2017; 32 (3): 372-383.

Ma Y, Bai F, Gao L and Fan Y. The distribution and accessibility of assisted reproductive technology clinics in mainland China from 2006 to 2018: a population-based retrospective study. Human Fertility. 2023; 26 (3): 573-581.

Zhou Q, Zeng H, Wu L, Diao K, He R and Zhu B. Geographic disparities in access to assisted reproductive technology centers in China: spatial-statistical study. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance. 2024; 10: e55418.

Zhou Y, Wang T, Fu J, Chen M, Meng Y and Luo Y. Access to reproductive health services among the female floating population of childbearing age: a cross-sectional study in Changsha, China. BMC Health Services Research. 2019; 19 (1): 540.

Su S, Zhang F, Liu Q, Wang Y, Wen J, Tang X and Zhang L. Factors associated with utilization of reproductive healthcare services among migrant women workers in Chong Qing, China. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. 2014; 127 (1): 66-68.

Lu C, Xu L, Wu J, Wang Z, Decat P, Zhang WH, Chen Y, Moyer E, Wu S, Minkauskiene M and Van Braeckel D. Sexual and reproductive health status and related knowledge among female migrant workers in Guangzhou, China: a cross-sectional survey. European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology. 2012; 160 (1): 60-65.

Wang Y, Cochran C, Xu P, Shen JJ, Zeng G, Xu Y, Sun M, Li C, Li X, Chang F and Lu J. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome/human immunodeficiency virus knowledge, attitudes, and practices, and use of healthcare services among rural migrants: a cross-sectional study in China. BMC Public Health. 2014; 14 (1): 158.

Li W, Chu J, Zhu Z, Li X, Ge Y, He Y, Ni Q, Musa T, Li X and Wei P. Epidemiological characteristics of HIV infection among college students in Nanjing, China: a cross-sectional survey. BMJ open. 2020; 10 (5): e035889.

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.