Determinants of imbalanced sex ratio at birth in Nepal: evidence from secondary analysis of a large hospital-based study and nationally-representative survey data.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To quantify sex ratios at births (SRBs) in hospital deliveries in Nepal, and understand the socio-demographic correlates of skewed SRB. Skewed SRBs in hospitals could be explained by sex selective abortion, and/or by decision to have a son delivered in a hospital-increased in -utero investments for male fetus. We use data on ultrasound use to quantify links between prenatal knowledge of sex, parity and skewed SRBs.

Design

Secondary analysis of: (1) de-identified data from a randomizedrandomised controlled trial, and (2) 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS).

Setting

Nepal.

Participants

(1) 75 428 women who gave birth in study hospitals, (2) NDHS: 12 674 women aged 15-49 years.

Outcome measures

SRB, and conditional SRB of a second chi

SUBMITTER: Pradhan E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6359739 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature