Socioeconomic Determinants of Health

China's nine-year compulsory education system is linked to a decline in maternal mortality from 53 per 100,000 in 2000 to 15.1 per 100,000 in 2023, illustrating education as a driver of health outcomes at scale. Women with no formal education had dramatically higher unmet needs than those with higher education across all service types measured. The socioeconomic gradient in unmet health needs was particularly steep for antenatal and postnatal care. Employment reduced NCD unmet needs but increased antenatal and postnatal care unmet needs, suggesting work obligations constrain access to SRH services even when personal resources exist. Across all health domains, women with higher education, better economic status, health insurance, easier healthcare access, and internet use had lower unmet needs. Women who had never used the internet showed higher unmet needs for antenatal and postnatal care compared to internet users.