Gender preference and awareness regarding sex determination among pregnant women - A hospital based study

Abstract

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.

A descriptive study of gender preference and its relation to willingness for sterilization in pregnant women in a tertiary hospital in Goa

“…2 Studies across India have revealed varying degrees of male preference from 27% to 41%. [3][4][5] It is understood that preference for male child is a function of various sociodemographic variables like education, social class, occupation, urban rural differences, with more developed societies being neutral towards sex preference. Given the high female literacy rate in Goa, late age at marriage, late age at first pregnancy and being primarily an urban state the figure of 63% being neutral in terms of their sex preference during the pregnancy is not beyond expectation.…”

Knowledge and attitude of men towards sex determination and PCPNDT act in the field practice area of a medical college in coastal Karnataka

“…A study shows that 74% of the subjects knew about sex determination methods. 6 It was 11.66% in a study done by Puri et al in Chandigarh. 1 We have also found that about 79% of the men were aware about prenatal sex determination whereas it was 73.5% in a study done by Pallavi et al and 91.7% in a study done by Kumar on pregnant women in Mangalore (2014).…”

“…6 While assessing the knowledge about decline in sex ratio in our country, we have found about 27% were aware of decline in sex ratio. A study done in Bangalore by Pavithra showed 37% knowledge.…”

Gender Preference in Current Pregnancy among Primigravidae

“…The pregnant women expressed no preference or preference of one of the gender of their fetuses were seen in various studies. [5][6][7] The studies from western countriesshowed preference of the pregnant women to have a girl, 8 and men's desire to have a son as their first child.…”

“…11 Most pregnant women wish to know the gender of their fetuses 12,13 , but awareness of the methods of determination of prenatal sex of the fetuses is also high in different communities. 5,14 This study was done to find out the gender preference of pregnant women for their first baby, the number of children they want to have, their knowledge of prenatal sex determination, wish to know the gender of the unborn fetus, and the impact of education levels of the women on both their preference of gender and desire to know the gender of unborn fetuses.…”