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.
Background: Professional college students being at the base of the hierarchy of professional occupation may be vulnerable to harassment, discrimination and abuse regarding their gender. The present study was conducted with the objective to assess the prevalence and pattern of Gender discrimination among professional college students in Agartala, and to study their emotional response towards gender discrimination. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between September to November, 2015 among students of 5 randomly selected Professional colleges of Agartala. Sample size was calculated and 450 professional college students were included in the study. Results: The present study revealed that the prevalence of gender discrimination among the professional college students was 12.45% with both the males and females being victims of gender discrimination (6.80% vs 5.56%, p value 0.77). There was a significant difference in the type of discrimination experienced by the male and female students (p value-0.01) and male faculties were the main perpetrators of gender discrimination. Regarding the emotional response towards gender discrimination majority of the students complained of frustration (28.57%) followed by helplessness (26.78%) and depression (23.21%). Conclusions: Gender discrimination can be controlled in the college premises with collective efforts to minimize the belief that one sex has rights, leadership qualities, and academic status greater than that of the other sex.
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