Study of difference in child rearing practice based on sex of child among married women of reproductive age group in urban slum of Mumbai

Abstract

The term 'son preference' refers to the attitude that sons are more important and valuable than daughters. Son preference is found almost in all parts of India and is reflected in the attitude and behavior of people and is an important indicator of sexual inequality and status of women in society. Son preference is thus almost a universal phenomenon, leaving apart a few developed areas. In India couples have been observed to have a strong preference for sons, over daughters. Gender preference for children is widely prevalent in societies of South, East and West Asia and North Africa and Middle East. 1 A number of studies have documented a preference for sons in Indian society and degree of this preference is very strong in the northern, north central and western regions of India. 2 Looking at Indian society and going through the demographic and social literature it is observed that a son is valued more than daughter for multiple reasons. Son is desired for religious, cultural, social economic and psychological reasons, sons not only ABSTRACT Background: India a vast country has left behind a number of stigmas and prejudices to move ahead as one nation. Still in a number of states, villages, cities and towns, gender bias is persistent leading to female discrimination. Objective: To study the difference in child rearing practices based on sex of child among married women of reproductive age group in urban slum of Mumbai. Methods: A community based, cross-sectional study was carried out among 900 married women of reproductive age group during a period of Jan. 2007 to Jan. 2008 at Shivajinagar urban health centre, which is field practice area of T. N. medical college, Mumbai. Participants were selected by systematic random sampling in an urban slum of Mumbai, Maharashtra. Results: In present study, a total of 900 married women with their children below five year are 1158 (male: 632 & female: 526) were analyzed. There was statistically significant difference between child rearing practices like breast feeding initiation, complimentary feeding, immunization status, nutritional status, and treatment seeking behavior. Conclusion: The findings in the present study confirm that sex based difference in child rearing practices persist in urban slum area of Mumbai.