Abortion Patterns and Reported Sex Ratios at Birth in Rural Yunnan, China

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4867570
AutoresPetra Löfstedt (0000-0002-6257-9244, Karolinska Institutet), Luo Shusheng (Peking University), Annika Johansson (0000-0001-6301-1071, Karolinska Institutet)
Ano2004
Volume12
Fascículo24
Páginas86-95
Data de publicação2004-01-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoReproductive Health Matters (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0968-8080 • E-ISSN: 1460-9576
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1016/s0968-8080(04)24147-7
PMID15626199
OpenAlexW2056687536
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas11
Referências citadas29

High sex ratio at birth due to son preference has been known in China historically, but it was thought this phenomenon would diminish with modernisation. The aim of this study was to investigate abortion decisions and reported sex ratios at birth in the context of successive family planning policies in Huaning County, Yunnan Province, in China. Abortion patterns and reported sex ratios at birth of a random sample of 1,336 women aged 15-64 were analysed for the period 1980--2000, in relation to parity and sex of previous children. There was a mole bias in the abortion pattern during the 1980s, but by the end of the 1990s most pregnancies of women with two children were being terminated. Sex ratio at birth rose from 107 in 1984--87 to 110 between 1988--2000 in Huaning. While women's reproductive decisions were influenced by son preference over the whole period, the means used to ensure a son differed with changing family planning policies. We conclude that rising sex ratios in the context of falling fertility and modernisation is an alarming socio-demographic issue, which defies historical experience. Assumptions that discrimination against girls would diminish with economic development and female education have proven simplistic. Action is urgently needed to reduce and mitigate the effects of discrimination against girls

Abortion · Biology · China · Economic growth · Economics · Family planning · Family planning policy · Fertility · Geography · Modernization theory · Population · Pregnancy · Research methodology · Sex ratio · Sociology · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma