A study to assess gender preference and sex determination in married women attending opd and antenatal clinic in UHTC, KIMS Koppal

Abstract

Introduction: A low sex ratio indicates strong male child preference and consequent gender inequities, neglect of girl child resulting in higher mortality at young ages, female feticide. Objectives: To assess gender preference in married women having children and to know attitude and awareness regarding the sex determination techniques among married women attending OPD and antenatal clinic in UHTC, KIMS. Materials and Methods: The cross sectional study was carried out in UHTC, department of community medicine, KIMS, Koppal from January to March 2018. All the women who were registered in antenatal clinic and those who are coming to OPD in the reproductive age group were enrolled. Result: 78.4% were in 17-27 age group. Half of the study paricipants (53%) belongs to lower middle and lower class.31.4% have completed their primary education and more than half of them are having nuclear family. Awareness about sex determination 19.6% told yes, only 9.8% were opined that sex determination can be done. 96.2% not knowing any method of fetal sex determination. Only 33.4% were aware that fetal sex determination is a crime. 57.8% were not known about punishment for sex determination. 64.7% told they have no inerest in gender preferring for additioinal child. Recommendation: Improving the literacy status of women and creating awareness about the consequences of female feticide is need of hour Keywords: Gender bias, Sex determination, Married women, UHTC.