Decreasing ratio of girl child: impact of mother's self-esteem and socio-cultural factors

A Sample of 110 expectant mothers were interviewed. The prominent reasons stated by most of the pregnant mothers for their choice of the sex of foetus was the risk in rearing of girl child, inheritance laws, dowry system, male dominating society, and feeling of power and strength accompanied with male child. The adverse correlation was found in between mothers self-esteem level and choices for sex of foetus. The mothers with strong will for determining sex of foetus were with less self- esteem. The mothers with high levels of self-esteem did not have any choice of foetus, maintained good relationship with family members and held high status in the family.