Objective    To investigate the fertility and birth control rates of married women in minor Liangshan region of Sichuan Province

and compare them between Yi and Han married women.     Methods    Twenty-four villages were randomly selected for investigation from 3 towns (Dabao Town

Heizhugou Town

Xinlin Town) and 4 townships (Haqu Township

Jinyan Township

Yangchun Township

Wanping Township) of Ebian Yi Autonomous County in Leshan City of Sichuan Province. Fertility and birth control rates of 648 married women from 452 households were investigated. Their average age was 42.7 years (ranging from 15 to 95 years) with a median age of 40 years.     Results     The average number of children delivered by per Yi/Han woman at the age of ≤35 years

36 to 49 years

50 to 63 years and ≥64 years was 1.64/1.41

3.14/1.96

3.48/2.77

4.44/4.83

respectively. The sterilization rate (ligation of fallopian tubes and vasoligation) was 0.6%/2.7%

88%/34.5%

15.9%/48.3% and 4.9%/43.5%

respectively

for Yi/Han women and men. The intrauterine device (IUD) placement rate was 49.7%/58.7%

71.5%/40.5%

36.4%/36.7% and 29.3%/13.0%

respectively

for Yi/Han women.     Conclusion     The average fertility rate of married Yi/Han women at the reproductive age (≤49 years) in Ebian Yi Autonomous County of Sichuan Province is higher than the national fertility rate in 2000. The IUD usage rate increases with the decreasing age of married women. IUD is the first choice of married Yi and Han women for birth control at present. The usage rate of IUD is no significant difference between Yi and Han women

but the sterilization rate is significant higher in Han people than in Yi people (except for those with their age ≤35 years).