Abstract
Introduction: The status of Indian women in the society has changed from time to time; the position of women in society is an indicator of the standard of social organization. Deteriorating sex ratio is a matter of grave concern in India. Son preference is a major hurdle to population stabilization as it makes couples opt for the larger number of children in order to ensure at least one male child in the family.
Objectives
- To assess Gender preference, attitude and awareness regarding sex determination among antenatal women
- To find out socio-demographic determinants of gender preference.
Material & Methods: Study was conducted in 6 months period among 400 antenatal women attending antenatal outpatient department (ANC OPD) of TMMC & RC Moradabad (UP). We utilised a predesigned Performa to elicit baseline facts about study participants, assessed their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding sex determination, their gender preference, reason for the predilection.
Results: Out of 400 women 53.5% showed preference for son, 17.5% for daughter & 29 % had no preference. 83.5% were aware that fetal sex determination can be done,19.5% want to go for termination of pregnancy if female & only 35.5% were aware that it is crime Autonomy, education and exposure to mass media have negative association whereas co-residence with in-laws and no male child has the significant positive association. Various social reasons were given by respondents for Gender preference.
Conclusion: It is essential to intensify the efforts against this societal problem by rigorous IEC campaigns for raising awareness about rules forbidding pre-natal sex determination and strict execution of PNDT Act.
Keywords: child sex ratio, gender preference, sex determination, antenatal women.
References
- Kuruvallia M. religion and sex preference. International Journal Of multidisciplinary Educational Research.2012;1(2): 63-71.
- Srivastav s, Kariwal P, Kapilasrami MC. A community-based study on awareness and Perception on gender discrimination and sex Preference among married women (in Reproductive age-group) in a rural Population of district bareilly uttar-pradesh. NJCM.2011; 2(2): 273-6.
- Lekha S Chakraborty, Darshy Sinha. Determinants of declining child sex ratio in India: An Empirical Investigation. Munich Personal RePEc Archive. 2008, 1-22.
- Census of India2011.Available from URL http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-provresults/prov_results_paper1_india.html
- Ramaiah GJ, Chandrasekarayya T, Murthy PV. Declining child sex ratio in India: trends, issues and concerns. Asia Pacific Journal of social sciences.2011; III (1):183- 98.
- Nagargoje B, Jadhao A, Bhardwaj SD, Khadse J. Missing girls: low child sex ratio,study from urban slum and elite area of Nagpur.
- Sex-selective abortions and fertility decline: the case of Haryana and Punjab.New Delhi: United Nations Population Fund, 2001.
- Chadava M, Bhagyalaxmi A. Effect of socio cultural factors on the preference for the sex of children by women in Ahmadabad district. Health and population: perceptive and issues.2009; 32(4):184-9
- Arnold F. et al. Son Preference, the Family Building Process and Child Mortality in India. Population Studies. 1998; 52.
- P. Gender Preference, Contraceptive Use and Fertility in India: Regional and Development Influences, International Journal of Population Geography. 2002; 8.
- Pur1i S. gender preference and awareness regarding sex determination among married women in slums of Chandigarh. Indian J of Com. Med.2007; 1:60-2.
- Khandelwal V, Chokle SV, Gupta H, Mehta SC. Gender preference , attitude and awareness regarding sex determination among married women attending general OPD and antenatal clinic of RDGMC Ujjain, MP, India.NJCM;3(2):269-73.
- Vadera BN, Joshi UK, Unadakat SV, Yadav BV, Yadav S. study on knowledge, attitude and practices regarding gender preference & female feticide among pregnant women. Indian J ofCom. Med.2007; 32(1): 300-1.
- Walia A. female feticide in Punjab: exploring the socioeconomic and cultural dimensions. J Soc Issues.2005;10:1.
- Siddharam S. Metri, Venktesh G.M., Thejeshwari H.L. Awareness regarding gender preference and female foeticide among teachers in the Hassan district, South India. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research.2011;5(7):1430-3.
Corresponding Author
Dr Shweta Yadav
Professor & Head, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology,
Government Medical College, Shivpuri (MP) Sailar Ki Goth,
Kampoonala Road, Lashkar, Gwalior (MP), India
Mobile: - 8059491822, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.