Female Foeticide and Sex Ratio
Abstract
Theoretical analysis of the impact of female focticide on sex ratio reveals that, the ratio is, going to be highly distorted in favour of the male, unless effective measures are taken to check this evil practice.
The present study is an attempt in studying the relationship between female foeticide and sex ratio, which was carried out in Jalandhar district, Punjab. The results of the present study throw light on the affect of female foeticide on the sex ratio of the present and coming generation. This study also depicts that the male/ female child ratio in the family is also a factor adding to the female foeticide. The researchers result clearly indicates that with advancing birth order the tendency for female foeticide increase especially when girl child is already existing in the family. This practice is going on irrespective of the educational status of the parents and despite the bans imposed by the Government on these tests.
The present study designed to assess the effect of frmale foclicide on sex ration, was carried out in a small village Bhani Mian Khan in district Gurdaspur, Punjab. A total of 124 couples (82.12 per cent) in the present study admitted that they had opned for termination of pregnancy after determination of the sex of the foetus i.e. female foclicide. Our results revealed that this practise is going on unabaled irrespective of the educational status of the parents and despire the ban imposed by the Government on such tests.
The sex ratio in India has declined from 972 females per 1000 males in 1901 to 929 females per 1000 males in 1991. A model had been proposed for the quantitative analysis of the problem in the form. In (xr/yr) = In (xo/yo - 2 st, where xr/yr represents the number of females per male at time t, xo/yo is the initial sex ratio and s is the differential growth rate component which discriminates the growth of the female population from that of the male. The study reveals that there has been a sex discriminated population growth in India in the twentieth century, although the rate of decline of the female has decreased. If the cureent trend of population growth continues, there will be a further decline in the female population.
Female foeticide. Analysis of socia-economic factors and ethical considerations
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