Measures to curb rising sex ratio at birth
Zhu, H.
China Population Today 12(3-4): 29
1995
PMID: 12290274 Document Number: 292753
This article describes the imbalanced sex ratio in Zhejiang province and Wenling City and government programs established to correct the imbalance. The author conducted interviews with some leading officials of the Zhejiang Provincial Family Planning Committee and of the Wenling City Family Planning Committee in the southern area of the province. The sex ratio is described as more imbalanced in areas with less efficient family planning programs. The rising sex ratio occurs unevenly geographically; northern Zhejiang has more balanced ratios. An examination by officials of the underlying causes for the high sex ratios at birth uncovered the misuse of ultrasound scanning in early pregnancy. In Wenling City the Family Planning and Public Health Department maintains strict control of its 51 scanning machines. However, in Yueqing City in Wenzhou Prefecture, which is adjacent to Wenling City, private doctors purchase their own machines. Illegal scanning of fetuses is reported by mothers from Wenling City who visit doctors in Yueqing City. An obstacle to control of misuse of ultrasound scanning to detect the sex of the fetus is the considerable wealth of families who can afford to visit a private doctor. Wenling City has conducted IEC campaigns to inform the public about the importance of valuing boys and girls equally. Information is disseminated through the news media and in county and township schools. Disciplinary sanctions based on local regulations apply to misuse of machines for sex identification. Social insurance programs for the aged are also being provided in the city. Support for social insurance comes from families based on the size of the family and from government revenues. During 1993-95 the sex ratio declined, and the downturn is attributed to the aforementioned measures taken in Wenling City.