GENDER BIAS PREMA RAMACHANDRAN Director, Nutrition Foundation of India

IS THERE ANY EVIDENCE OF GENDER BIAS FROM  People’s Perception  Demographic Indices  Health Care & Indices  Nutrition Indices

Are there any policies& programmes to reduce consequences of gender bias  Advocacy/legislation  Programme interventions in  Maternal and child health  Nutrition

CONTRACEPTIVE USE – IS THERE A SON PREFERENCE ?

GENDER BIAS - IMPACT ON SEX RATIO & 0-6 SEX RATIO  Time trends  Interstate& inter district variations  Interventions to arrest & reverse the trend

The changes till 1971 are mainly due to higher longevity among men; in 2001 women’s longevity is slightly greater than men’s

Urban sex ratio is lower partly due to urban migration of men

Sex Ratio Less than 900 Number of Districts: 143 or 31.6% districts Total No. of Districts (excl J & K) in 1991: 452 District Map indicating sex ratio (census 2001)

2001 Census Data Child Sex Ratio in the Age Group 0 – 6 (1981 to 2001) Census Year TotalRuralUrban Decline in child sex ratio in age group 0-6 from 945 in 1991 to 927 in 2001 has activated the socio-political, legal and administrative setup of the country.

Child Sex Ratio 2001(District level)

Haryana Child sex ratio (District )

Child Sex Ratio 2001 Gujarat by Tahsils

Child Sex Ratio 2001 Tamil Nadu by Tahsils

SOURCE:SAMPLE RAGISTRATION SYSTEM

Source: Census of India

Reported sex ratio at birth – Punjab District level 2000

Sex Ratio at Birth : Rajasthan

Ongoing Interventions  PNDT Act  Female infanticide is a cognizable offence  Universal registration of all pregnant women  Antenatal care and Counseling  Advocacy for institutional delivery  Universal registration of births and deaths to identify problem areas for focussed intervention

Amniocentesis – No longer commonly used Ultrasonography – Diagnosis of sex possible in II trimester by visualising the genitalia Chorion Villous – Diagnosis in I trimester biopsy expensive, has risks spontaneous abortion Pre-conceptional – Developing technology sex selection individual’s choice

 PNDT Act can therefore be an enabling tool for achieving social transformation.  It can be used as an educational tool to build up awareness among the population.  The deterrent punitive measures may reduce abuse of the technology by the clinics for sex selective abortion. However only when the population mind set is changed can manifestations of the gender bias, like female infanticide and sex selective abortions, be eliminated.

Mean Energy Consumption- Children / Adolescents and Adults Age Group MalesFemales Kcals RDI % RDIKcalsRDI% RDI Pre-school School Age Adolescents Adults Source NNMB

Gender difference in Undernutrition (DLHS2003)

Anaemia among Adolescents girls age years in INDIA 43 Percent 28 Percent 24 Percent 5 Percent

Anaemia among pregnant women in Major States Percent

EFFECT OF INCREASE IN LONGEVITY  women live longer  more women than men in over 65 years  mostly housewives; no assured income  poor family support  poor health care  unneeded; not looked after. Current Need: Better care for these women who cared for others as long as they could