Awareness of prenatal sex determination and preconception and prenatal diagnostic techniques act: A comparative study among rural and urban females of reproductive age group (15–45 years) attending a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India

Abstract

Background: Preference for a male child by the family leading to a sex-selective abortion has been a leading factor for the skewed sex ratio in India. This has long-term social and demographic consequences. The present study was conducted with the aim to assess the awareness and attitudes regarding prenatal sex determination and preconception and prenatal diagnostic technique act (PC-PNDT) among females of reproductive age group (15–45 years) attending a tertiary care teaching hospital in Jammu district of J and K state in North India. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 210 females of reproductive age group. The study participants were administered a predesigned and pretested questionnaire. Data thus obtained were analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0 and expressed in percentages. Chi-square test was used as test of statistical significance with P Results: Awareness about sex determination among respondents was 94%. Higher proportion of urban respondents knew about ultrasound as the technique for sex determination than their rural counterparts (P Conclusion: Respondents had high awareness about sex determination as well as technique used for it. Awareness about PC-PNDT act was on the lower side. Education programs for the women about gender equality and wider publicity of the act in the mass media need to be scaled up.