Factors influencing the use of prenatal diagnostic techniques and sex ratio at birth in India.

Abstract

In recent years the use of prenatal diagnostic techniques (PNDT) followed by sex-selective abortion has emerged as the most powerful determinant of sex ratio at birth in India. In this paper we have used the recently released data on fertility from the 2001 Census as well as from the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS) to analyse the factors influencing the use of PNDT as well as sex ratio at birth. We find that though the use of PNDT is now fairly widespread in India only a minority of couples misuse it for aborting female fetuses. While income and education do increase the use of PNDT its misuse is governed more by cultural factors and sex composition of children already born. The paternal age is found to reduce the probability of male birth while trained birth attendance is found to increase this probability. Maternal anaemia and obesity are found to decrease the sex ratio at birth. The sex ratio at birth is found to be lower at higher altitudes. In spite of controlling many socio-economic and demographic factors the sex ratio at birth is higher in north India especially in north-western parts indicating that women in these regions misuse the technology more than others. (authors)

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