1Assistant Professor, Dept of Community Medicine, Chennai Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Irungalur, Trichy
2Medical Intern, Dept of Community Medicine, Chennai Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Irungalur, Trichy
3Professor and HOD, Dept of Community Medicine, Chennai Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Irungalur, Trichy
Online published on 8 March, 2019.
Sex ratio is defined as number of females per 1000 males. Decline in sex ratio leads to child marriage and poor status of women and it will affect us socially, economically and politically. The Government of India introduced the Preconception and Prenatal Diagnostic techniques act in 2003 to prevent the misuse of modern medical technologies for prenatal sex determination. This study was conducted among rural women of reproductive age group (20-35yrs) in a village of Trichy, southern India with the aim of studying gender preference and awareness about PCPNDT act.
This cross sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire which comprised two sections including Socio demographic details and questions regarding gender preference, awareness about PCPNDT act.
In our study, 120(60%) knew that prenatal sex determination was possible, 106(53%) participants had gender preference and Out of the participants preferring gender, 96(90.6%) of them preferred male babies. Mother-in-laws were the major persuaders. Relatives were the major source of information regarding prenatal sex determination tests. Only 29(14.5%) knew about the PCPNDT act.
Majority of the study population were aware of the possibility to do prenatal sex determination using Ultrasound techniques but not aware of the PCPNDT act and its provisions. Apart from legislative measures, people need to be educated about gender equality and PCPNDT Act.
PCPNDT act, prenatal sex determination, reproductive women, gender preference
