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Background: A balanced sex ratio is needed to stabilize India, a patriarchal subcontinent. Aim and Objective: The study aims to find out whether there is any association between the socio-demographic characters and perceived gender preference among the study subjects. Materials and Methods: The study is an observational, descriptive study with cross-sectional study design. An exit interview of 80 pregnant mothers, both primi and multigravida, selected by systematic random sampling attending antenatal clinic of Medical College, Kolkata for 1st time was conducted for 1 month, using a pre-designed pre-tested semi-structured data collection form after ethics committee approval. Statistical analyses were done using Chi-square tests, at P ? 0.05 level of significance in Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Results: Mean age of study participants was 24.15 ± 4.38 years. The majority (77.5%) of them belonged to age group 20–29 years. 58.8% mothers were nulliparous, 53.8% from rural areas, 63.7% followed Islam, 52.5% from joint family, 31.3% belonged to middle class. 95% of the mothers had no history of abortion. Regarding education, the majority (32.5%) of the study participants were educated till secondary level. Among their husbands, 28.7% were educated till middle level. 40% study participants had no any gender preference, 40% had male preference and 20% had female preference. Main reason behind male preference was an earlier female child. Some preferred daughters due to their earlier male child. Nulliparous mothers had no gender preference while lesser-educated mothers had gender preference. Conclusion: The majority of the study participants had gender preference. Male preference was more than female preference.
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Background: Gender preference, especially male, is a matter of serious concern in our country. It happens due to misuse of recent advancement in medical technology for prenatal sex determination. Therefore, awareness of these issues needs to be evaluated. Objectives: The present study is conducted to assess the knowledge regarding issues of sex determination and also to identify the real picture of gender preference among married women (reproductive age group) residing in urban slums. Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study using simple random sampling for the selection of slum and 230 urban slum dwellers married women in reproductive age group was interviewed. Results: It was found that 79% of women were aware of prenatal sex determination. Among them, 92.30% of women knew about ultrasonography technique for determining sex of the child. About 92.80% of women knew about criminal aspects of prenatal sex determination, but only 76.40% knew about the punishment associated with sex determination. The present study shows that there is no particular gender preference among the married women. About 70.80% have either sex preference in their next pregnancy, but 17.80% of women have preference for male child and 11.30% of women prefer female child. The present study also shows more male child preference among women having all female children in their previous births. Conclusion: There is a need for stronger implementation of existing legal measures such as Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act and also creating awareness of them is felt. Information Education and Communication (IEC) pertaining to these issues must be promoted.
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Background: The preference for a son over female offspring continues to be a prevailing norm within the ancient Indian family. Sons are expected to work within the fields, give bigger financial gain and look after parents. Additionally, in Indian patriarchal society, sons are a unit responsible for the preservation of the family name. The preference for a son and female feticide continues to be a prevailing norm in ancient Indian families (urban and rural) leading to declining sex ratio to an alarming level. With this background the following study was conducted in Gautam Buddha Nagar with the objective of finding out gender bias in rural and urban area.Methods: A study was carried out in rural and urban field practice area of the Department of Community Medicine, district Gautam Buddha Nagar of Uttar Pradesh. The study was conducted among 270 married women of reproductive age group. The women were interviewed using a semi structure questionnaire.Results: More than half of the respondents in the rural areas (57.7%) preferred son while in the urban areas, 43% of women preferred a son. The most important reason for preferring a son in the rural area was a support to the parents. While in urban area son was preferred because of the continuation of a family line.Conclusions: Preference for son was found to be high. Further amendments in the existing laws and quality education may help in breaking gender stereotypes and minimizing gender bias.
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Background: India is going to be highest populous country within less than a decade. To stabilize population growth as well as to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity resulting from unwanted pregnancy, greater utilization of the spacing methods is essential. In spite of several decades of effort the popularity of Cu-T among the Indian woman is not high. Aim of the study was to find out the profile of the Cu-T acceptor after medical termination of pregnancy (MTP).Methods: It was a retrospective study. Socio-demographic data of the woman accepting Cu-IUCD after MTP was collected from family planning operation theatre record book.Results: The majority of the participants were from rural area. The mean age of the acceptor was 27.28±4.78. The maximum number of woman was para two 74 (44.3%). The number of woman with LCB 2 years or less than 2 years was 96 (57.5%) and that of woman with LCB more than two years was 71 (42.5%).Conclusions: A significant number of woman use Cu-T after a long gap of two years after last child birth. Woman found to be inclined to use Cu-T after having at least one male child.
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Introduction: Our Saudi community is known to be a veryconservative community, especially for females. This is likelyattributed to the strong cultural traditions and beliefs whichhave strict Islamic bound backgrounds. For this reason, Saudifemales are believed to find it easier to communicate and dealwith their gender equivalent throughout their daily routine. Inour study, whether this credence is conceptually and practicallyimplied in the medical practice is debatable.Method: A prospective pilot questionnaire-based cohort study.Results: Among the 200 patients that were recruited in ourstudy, it was concluded that about 48% stated that they wouldfeel more comfortable visiting a female plastic surgeon. Whileabout 25% chose male gender, 26% felt neutral toward eithergender.Conclusion: We assumed in our study that the preference ofladies attending clinics generally would be towards femaleclinicians, for the reason that we live in conservative andstrongly religious society like Saudi Arabia. However,the debate would be that these factors are opposed with anoverwhelming effect of the social media, which could changethe scale of the equation.
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Background: A reflection on the census 2011 data tells us that gender preference has only been on the rise these past years. Objective: To assess perception regarding gender preference among mothers in Dakshina Kannada district. Materials & Methods: 2 tertiary care centres attached with medical college were selected in Dakshina Kannada district. Quantitative variables were collected using a questionnaire and qualitative component was done through focused group discussion. Results: Child preference was seen among 32.2% of the subjects. Preference for Male child if the first child was a girl was significantly associated with lower education and low income (p<0.05). Conclusion: Son preference is still existent in the society but not universally. It is more so when the first born is a female child.
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Background: Despite tremendous economic progress made through liberalization and globalization, gender preference for children remains a major issue in any society throughout the globe. The aim of the study was to determine the gender preference for children and its impact on family among study population.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out between October-2013 to December-2013 in the urban (Ratanpar) and rural (Khodu village) field practice area of C U Shah Medical College Surendranagar, Gujarat. Total 377 study participants were selected by using systematic random sampling. Data was collected using pre designed and pre tested questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS.Results: Out of total study population, about 78.8% were completed their family and 21.2% had desire for child in near future. Those who had completed their family, nearly two third of them were blessed with both male and female child (62%). Among those who had desire for child (n=80), about two fifth (41.2%) wished to have male child. At parity one, 52% had desire for only male child as next child and also strong preference for male child was observed at parity two and above among those having only female children.Conclusions: Study revealed that most of the couples wish to have at least one son in the family hence perception of parents towards desired gender of child to be born must be gravitated in favor of daughters.
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Background: Today, female feticide and gender preference are a big problem in India. Although there is so much emphasis against it, the problem has become aggravated. In this context, various studies showed that the male child preference leads to skewed sex ratio. The present paper is an attempt to determine the view of the people for giving their preference to the male child. Objectives: The objectives were to study the preference of women for gender of child, as well as reasons for preference for it, and association between socioeconomic factors and demographic factors with gender preference. Materials and Methods: It is a community-based cross–sectional study, in which 500 married women of 15–49 years of reproductive age group, 150 randomly selected women from one urban municipal ward, and 350 randomly selected women from seven villages of rural area were constituted the study population. Widow and separated women were excluded from the study. A pre-tested, semi‑structured questionnaire was administered to each individual to collect information. Microsoft Excel 2007 software and the Chi‑square test were used. Results: Almost half of the women (51.4%) have preference for male child. Women from lower age group (65.25%), currently married (66.42%), Muslim religion (72.22%), lower education (59.01%), and low socioeconomic status (66.67%) and those who are laborer (71.83%) have male child preference. Conclusions: This study concludes that more number of females have preference for male child in women of younger age group. Muslim religion and its customs, thoughts, and rearing practices make difference. Lower socio-economic status and poor education are also major contributory factor. Male child will support in old age and will take social responsibilities are the main basic reasons found to be associated with male child preference.
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Background: Preference for a son continues to be a prevalent norm even in modern India which is evident from the recent census report. The most alarming aspect is a further fall in child sex ratio (0-6 years) from 927 in 2001 to 914 in 2011. Sex selective abortion is the major factor responsible for this unfavorable trend. The objective was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of pregnant women regarding Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act and gender preference. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in100 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics of Sulthanpalaya Urban health center, Bangalore. A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to get information. Data was analyzed by using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) 16.0. Results: In this study 53% showed preference for a male child. Only 37% were aware about the decline in sex ratio and 59% knew that PNDT act existed and sex determination was legally wrong. Over all 41% had poor knowledge. Whereas 43% had average and 16% had good knowledge and 74% had the right attitude in this study. Good knowledge about PNDT act had significant influence on the attitude of the people (p< 0.05). Conclusion: The falling ratio of girl child is a matter of grave concern. Effective implementation of the PNDT Act in addition to spreading awareness about this act among people is the need of the hour. Moreover, it is necessary to gear efforts against the cultural, economic and religious roots of this social malady by woman empowerment.
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Background: Consecutive decline in sex ratio of our country signals an impending crisis. Gender preference of women may have a role in determining sex ratio. Aims & Objective: To study the gender preference and the factors affecting gender preference of mothers. Material and Methods: A hospital based study was conducted during August – September 2013 among 390 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic of Agartala Government Medical College using a pretested semi-structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics, χ2 test and logistic regression were used. Results: 40.8% had son preference, 29.7% preferred daughter and the rest had no particular preference regarding the outcome of their current pregnancy. Significantly higher son preference was observed among the rural, illiterate and nullipara or women having no male child (68.24%, 58.33% and 68.24% respectively, p < 0.05). Higher son preference was also observed among housewives (58.00%), primigravida (54.61%) and women from joint families (61.18%), though it was not significant. Preference for son was higher in both the presumed situation of having either one or multiple children. Reasons for son preference were ‘better security in old age’ 39.1%; ‘generation continuation’ 31.1%; ‘status symbol’ 18.8%; and ‘better earning’ 11.1%. Reasons for daughter preference were, ‘daughters are more trust worthy’55.1%; ‘daughters help in household work’ 19.67%; ‘daughters are laxmi of family’ 15% and non-specific reasons 10.23%. Conclusion: Improving social security at old age, facilities favouring girl children and steps for elimination of dowry from the society may help in improving the preference for girl children leading to a balanced population.
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Background: Sex ratio, an important social indicator measuring extent of prevailing equity between males and females in society. Aims & Objective: To find out awareness regarding sex determination and attitude towards gender preference among pregnant women. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional, hospital-based, descriptive study was undertaken among pregnant women who attended the antenatal clinic. Information recorded regarding on the sociodemographic factors viz. education of study subjects, socioeconomic status; residence (rural / urban); religion and type of family etc. Information was also collected on the obstetric details. Socioeconomic status of family was calculated by using modified BG Prasad Classification. Views of pregnant women regarding awareness of sex determination and attitudes toward gender preference and female feticide were also recorded. Results: Total 840 pregnant women were interviewed during study period. It was observed that 622 (74%) pregnant women aware about availability of sex determination facility. Among all 496 (59.05%) had knowledge about the method of sex determination. In our study 294 (35%) of pregnant women gave preference to male child. A preference to male child was significantly associated with education of mother, socioeconomic class and sex of the last child whereas insignificant association with religion and gravida of women. Conclusion: Awareness regarding availability of sex determination facility and different methods of sex determination was found to be raised, but it is still not reflected in attitude and practice. This situation calls for two pronged strategy i.e. by women empowerment and by ensuring effective implementation of PCPNDT Act so that families found it difficult to undertake sex determination and selective abortions.
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India has witnessed a decline in sex ratio in the past few decades. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out to find out the attitude toward gender preference and knowledge as well as practice toward prenatal sex determination and female feticide among pregnant women. A majority (66.0%) of the pregnant women did not show any gender preference, followed by male preference (22.2%) and female preference (11.8%). A high proportion, i.e. 84.7% and 89.7%, of the total subjects were aware that prenatal sex determination and female feticide is illegal, respectively.