ABSTRACT
Background: Reduction of national fertility levels was directly proportional to the preference of male child in many families in India. We conducted this study on 214 married adults, in both sexes to find out whether this strong preference still exists in this decade or not, and if it does what could be the reasons.Methods: A community based cross-sectional study done by face to face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire containing both qualitative and quantitative variables, among 214 married adults.Results: Upon analysing the results, we identified that higher son preference (61.23%) is seen in many rural families, and is strongly associated with low socio-economic status, literacy rate and caste. The reasons by which these families prefer male child were also broadly categorized and identified. Economic utility (78%) and old age security (61%) was found to be the major reasons most families has quoted in preferring a son.Conclusions: By improving the literacy rate and job opportunities in the community, fertility rate can be reduced, especially in rural areas where the other options are limited.
ABSTRACT
Objectives : To study socio-cultural aspects for 3 or more pregnancy after 2 live issues. Methods : it is a prospective study of 1321 cases that had third or more pregnancy after having two live issues done over a period of 1 year(01/01/2009 to 31/12/2009) at SSGH, Vadodara. Two groups of women were included – the group of women who came for the termination of the pregnancy after having two live issues (57.15%) and the other group who came in the labor room either for delivery or spontaneous abortion. Women were interviewed in detail. Results: the incidence of the study cases was 23.46% with 57.15% cases for termination. 89.63% were from lower socio economic. In MTP group husband was decision maker in 65.96%, where in laws were decision maker in 59.36% cases in second group. Mistimed conception was seen in 63.29% cases and the most common reason being negligence of contraception(33.97%) against planned conception in only 36.71%. 63.70% cases had wanted pregnancy for son preference. Conclusion: a small planned family has many advantages. Unintended and unwanted pregnancies add to population’s burden or the need for pregnancy termination. Every pregnancy should be planned and every baby should be wanted. The solution of all women’s problems lies in empowering them by education, employment and better health care & informed choice of contraception.