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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Shravan Kumar Narmala, MBBS and Satya P. Rao, PhD, CHES. Health Science, New Mexico State University, P. O. Box 30001, MSC 3HLS, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, 505-646-6714, phdsatya@aol.com

Female feticide is an extreme manifestation of violence against women. Female fetuses are selectively killed after prenatal sex determination, thus avoiding the birth of girls. After about half a century of independence, the sex ratio in the Indian subcontinent continues to decline. For example, in India's female to male sex ratio was 972:1000 in 1901, decreased to 945:1000 when India gained independence and has continued to decline despite the advancement and progress of the subcontinent's economy and social standards. Sex ratio fell to an all time low of 927:1000 in 1991. Transforming the prevailing social discrimination against women needs to be a top priority and must happen concurrently with increased direct action that improves the socio-economic status of women. As women receive greater education and training they can contribute positively to their economic status and gain better social standing. As women's economic power grows, it can become easier to overcome the tradition of son preference and put an end to the long standing social practice of female feticide. Public health agencies can play a major role in the betterment of women in the Indian subcontinent. Some of the most effective and pragmatic solutions to the continued and rising problem of female feticide are public health and health education measures. The current presentation provides an overview of the strategies currently in practice along with a preliminary evaluation of their effectiveness and success.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the continued practice of female feticide.
• Discuss the role of public health strategies in curbing the practice of female feticide.
• Articulate the relevance of educational and economic opportunities for women in addressing female feticide.

Keywords: Women's Health, Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation