The family planning policy, launched in the late 1970s, has made an indelible contribution to population control in China, which saw a population explosion from the 1950s to 1970s. However, it is not without its problems, such as the loss of the only child at a time when the parents are unable to reproduce, meaning they require social support and services.

The sudden death of an only child is a tragedy for any middle-aged or elderly parents. Civil affair departments have increased their financial aid to 300 yuan for each parent a month in Shanghai, which is the highest in China, but this is still insufficient.

According to incomplete data from the Ministry of Health, there are 40,000 to 50,000 accidental deaths of children under the age of 15 a year in China, about two and a half times higher than that in the United States. The psychological damages and costs incurred fall on the parents.