Analysis of China’s fertility policy based on the LDA-Word2Vec model

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This study employs an innovative combination of Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and Word2Vec models to analyze Chinese fertility policy texts spanning 75 years. Through the examination of 197 policy documents, this study identifies 12 distinct themes within China’s fertility policies, ranging from family planning and population management to healthcare services and social security. The analysis reveals three major evolutionary routes in policy development: the transition from basic family planning to comprehensive medical security, the transformation of reproductive welfare policies, and the development of an integrated reproductive system. The study demonstrates how Chinese fertility policies have evolved from focusing primarily on population control to encompassing broader aspects of family welfare, healthcare, and social support. By applying coherence scores to determine optimal topic numbers and analyzing theme evolution across three historical periods (1949–1979, 1980–2012, and 2013–2024), the research provides valuable insights into the changing priorities and approaches in Chinese fertility policy. This analysis contributes to understanding the complex interplay between population management, social development, and public health in China’s policy landscape.