Status assessment of preconception health risk exposure among 2 030 083 males in 31 provinces during 2010-2012

To assess the exposure status of preconception health risk of Chinese males aged 21-49 years in 31 provinces and analyze the changes of their exposure status during 2010-2012. The "Core Indicators of Preconception Health Risk Exposure Status in Chinese reproductive couples" were used to evaluate the preconception health risk of males aged 21-49 years who participated in National Free Preconception Health Examination Project. From January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012, a total of 2 030 083 males were recruited from 220 pilot counties of 31 provinces. The risks involved three aspects closely correlated with offspring health: behavioral risk, infectious risk and genetic risk. The overall smoking rate of Chinese rural males aged 21-49 years was 31.19% (622 837/1 997 051). They smoked a daily average of 10 cigarettes. The median number of cigarettes smoked was 10 per day and it increased with age. The overall drinking rate was 31.81% (634 556/1 994 925). Meanwhile, median alcohol consumption increased with age. The rate of males with a history of birth defect, family inbreeding and familial genetic disease accounted for 0.12% (2 344/1 994 324), 0.20% (4 043/1 997 707) and 0.94% (18 736/2 000 005) respectively. The rates of males with a history of hepatitis B and sexually transmitted diseases were 0.67% (13 317/1 988 904) and 0.05% (912/1 988 904) respectively. HBsAg positive rate was 6.32% (124 274/1 965 821). And the positive screening rate of Treponema pallidum was 0.37% (7 169/1 947 021). Among three types of risks, the highest risk was behavioral risk while the lowest risk genetic risk. Behavioral risk, genetic risk and sexually transmitted diseases in infectious risk were all lowest in 2012 while HBV infection in infectious risk was lowest in 2010. The general status of preconception health is fair for rural males aged 21-49 years in 31 provinces. However, there are still some behavior, genetic and infectious risks. The preconception health risk of rural males showed an overall declining trend during 2010-2012.