Trends and Determinants of Sex-Selective Abortion in India: Analyzing Parity-Level Sex Ratios Using Nationally Representative Survey Data

Mahadev M. D. Bhise, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Ranjan Prusty, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Shahina Begum, ICMR-NIRRCH

This study investigates the trend in sex-selective abortion in India from 1981 to 2020, using data from five rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), India. The conditional sex ratio (CSR), an indirect indicator of sex-selective abortion, was calculated at parity levels. The analysis revealed significant variations in the sex ratio at birth, particularly influenced by birth order, the sex of previous children, and socioeconomic factors. While the overall sex ratio was relatively stable over the study period. There were significant declines in the conditional sex ratio for second-born children when the first-born was female. Additionally, the sex ratio for third-born children varied based on the sexes of the previous children, suggesting potential sex-selective abortion practices. Socioeconomic factors such as education, wealth, and living in urban-rural areas further influenced these trends, due to knowledge, accessibility, and utilization of abortion services. The fall in the Conditional Sex Ratio provides evidence of sex-selective abortion in some communities/socio-demographic groups in India. Advocacy efforts and targeted interventions promoting gender equality, female empowerment, and preventing technology misuse are recommended to address this issue.

Keywords: Fertility, Gender Dynamics

See extended abstract.