Falling sex ratios and emerging evidence of sex-selective abortion in Nepal: evidence from nationally representative survey data.

ABSTRACT: To quantify trends in changing sex ratios of births before and after the legalisation of abortion in Nepal. While sex-selective abortion is common in some Asian countries, it is not clear whether the legal status of abortion is associated with the prevalence of sex-selection when sex-selection is illegal. In this context, Nepal provides an interesting case study. Abortion was legalised in 2002 and prior to that, there was no evidence of sex-selective abortion. Changes in the sex ratio at birth since legalisation would suggest an association with legalisation, even though sex-selection is expressly prohibited. Analysis of data from four Demographic and Health Surveys, conducted in 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011. Nepal. 31 842 women aged 15-49. Conditional sex ratios (CSRs) were calculated, speci

SUBMITTER: Frost MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3657664 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature