As China reported at least 13 million abortions each year on the mainland, family planning officials called for strengthened sexual health and contraception education, particularly among those aged 15 to 24.

In the latest reproductive health survey among China's young people, more than 22 percent of the 22,000 respondents reported having had premarital sex.

Half of them took no contraceptive measures when they first had sex, according to the survey conducted by the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council.