A hospital-based study on knowledge, attitude and practice of pregnant women on gender preference, prenatal sex determination and female feticide at tertiary care hospital, Bikaner

Authors

  • Seema Mehta Department of Preventive and social medicine, S.P. Medical College, Bikaner
  • Rattiram Meena Department of Preventive and social medicine, S.P. Medical College, Bikaner
  • Rekha Acharya Department of Preventive and social medicine, S.P. Medical College, Bikaner
  • Gaurav Sharma Department of Preventive and social medicine, S.P. Medical College, Bikaner
  • Madhu Patni Bhatt Department of Preventive and social medicine, S.P. Medical College, Bikaner

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20171317

Keywords:

Female feticide, Attitude, Awareness, Practice, Pregnant women

Abstract

Background: Female feticide has been a big social problem in all the states of India. There is a male child preference by pregnant women including their family members. Thus this study aimed to assess attitude and awareness on female feticide.

Methods: The present study was conducted in ANC center of Medical college Hospital, Bikaner of Rajasthan in 500 pregnant women (250 rural and 250 Urban).

Results: Out of 500 pregnant women 62% had shown no gender preference, 23% preferred male child and 15% had preferred to have female child. Regarding awareness, 88% and 90% women knew that prenatal sex determination and female feticide are illegal respectively.

Conclusions: Being the civilized citizens, it is our duty to raise voice against the declining sex ratio and killing of girl child. Being a woman it is our primary duty as well as concern to come forward to stop this menace.

References

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Nita Bhalla. Trust Law March 2011. Available at: http://www.trust.org/trust law/newfactbox-keyfacts- and-figures-on-female-feticide-in-India. Accessed on 15 November 2015.

Stephan B. Girl child-a reality of “existence”. Herald of Health. 2007: 27.

Grewal I, Kishore J. Female feticide in India. Int Humanist News, 2004.

Kansal R, Maroof KA, Bansal R, Parashkar P. A hospital-based study on knowledge, attitude and practice of pregnant women on gender preference, prenatal sex determination and female feticide. Indian J Public Health. 2010;54:209-12.

Walia A. Female feticide in Punjab: exploring the socio-economic and cultural dimensions. J Social Iss. 2005;10:1.

Sharma R, Mukherjee S. Comparative study of selected parameters of gender discrimination in rural versus urban population of Ahmadabad, Gujarat. Natl J Community Med. 2011;2:111-5.

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Published

2017-03-28

How to Cite

Mehta, S., Meena, R., Acharya, R., Sharma, G., & Bhatt, M. P. (2017). A hospital-based study on knowledge, attitude and practice of pregnant women on gender preference, prenatal sex determination and female feticide at tertiary care hospital, Bikaner. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 4(4), 1018–1021. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20171317

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Section

Original Research Articles