Uprety S, Jha N, Poudel I S, Pokharel P K, Poudel M, Niraula S R
School of Public Health and Community Medicine, BP Koirala Institute of Health Science, Ghopa, Dharan, Nepal.
JNMA J Nepal Med Assoc. 2011 Jan-Mar;51(181):28-33.
Gender equality has been a priority area of demographic research. One of the major reasons for high fertility and low acceptance of family planning is the prevalence of gender preference among couples. The objectives of this study were to identify the determinants and examine the extent of gender preference on fertility.
This is a cross-sectional study carried from June 2008 to July 2009 in Duhavi VDC of Sunsari district of Nepal. Three hundred and five randomly selected ever-married women of 15 - 49 years, who had at least one child were the subjects of the study. A questionnaire covering the areas on gender and fertility preference and methods and use of contraception was given and filled up.
The study showed that 42.6% of the ever-married women belonged to the 25 - 29 years age group. Around 92% of women whose last child was a male were using family planning methods whereas only 40% of women whose last child was a female were using family planning methods. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.0001).
The contraception use among the women having a female child was low, showing a desire for a male child which is one of the factors in the increase of family size in our society. Due to the patrilineal society, women are discouraged in the practice of contraception. Effective intervention programs need to be planned and conducted to rectify this situation.
性别平等一直是人口统计学研究的重点领域。高生育率和低计划生育接受率的主要原因之一是夫妻中普遍存在性别偏好。本研究的目的是确定决定因素，并研究性别偏好在生育方面的程度。
这是一项于2008年6月至2009年7月在尼泊尔孙萨里县杜哈维乡村发展委员会进行的横断面研究。随机选取305名年龄在15至49岁之间、至少育有一个孩子的已婚妇女作为研究对象。发放并填写了一份涵盖性别和生育偏好以及避孕方法和使用情况的问卷。
研究表明，42.6%的已婚妇女属于25至29岁年龄组。最后一个孩子为男孩的妇女中约92%使用计划生育方法，而最后一个孩子为女孩的妇女中只有40%使用计划生育方法。这种差异具有统计学意义（P < 0.0001）。
育有女孩的妇女中避孕措施使用率较低，表明对男孩有需求，这是我们社会家庭规模增加的因素之一。由于父系社会的原因，妇女在避孕方面受到阻碍。需要规划并实施有效的干预项目来纠正这种情况。
