Gender bias caused ‘excess’ deaths of girls under 5: Lancet study

Gender bias caused ‘excess’ deaths of girls under 5: Lancet study

Gender issues

News:

1. According to a study published in the journal Lancet Global Health, excess under-5 female mortality occurs due to neglect resulting from gender biasness.

Important Facts:

2. According to the National Family Health Survey, 2017, India’s sex ratio at birth to 919 in 2015-16 from 914 in 2005-06

3. The recently published study deals with mortality after birth.

4. Excess mortality is the difference between observed and expected mortality rates in both genders

5. Data from 46 countries with no evidence of gender bias for mortality was used to define an equation and estimate the intensity of excess mortality in India

6. Average level of excess female under- 5Mortality Ratein India (2000-2005) was 18·5 /1000live births. It corresponds to an estimated 239 000 excess deaths per year.

• Note: 2000-2005 study period was chosen as it had the most consistent district level data

7. More than 90% of districts had excess female mortality. Worst affected areas were rural areas.

8. Problem was most pronounced in Northern India. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh accounted for two-thirds of India’s total number

• Uttar Pradesh: 30.5%
• Bihar: 28.5%
• Rajasthan: 25.4%
• Madhya Pradesh: 22.1%

9.Areas where excess female under-5 deaths are concentrated – are characterised by high population density and fertility, and low socio-economic development.

10. Gender inequity in terms of care, vaccination, and nutrition contributed largely to excess under-5 female deaths. Unwanted child bearing and subsequent neglect resulted in many deaths.

11. According to researchers, sustained fertility decline in North India is likely to lead to a reduction in postnatal discrimination

12. However, unless son preference diminishes, reduced fertility might cause a rise in gender-biased sex selection, as was observed in the late 1990s