New York University Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Int Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2013 Jun;39(2):97-102. doi: 10.1363/3909713.
Official data on sex ratios at birth suggest a rise in sex-selective abortions in some post-Soviet states following the introduction of ultrasonography. However, questions remain about the validity of official data in these nations as well as whether the high sex ratios at birth are a statistical artifact.
Trends in sex ratios at birth from 1985 to 2009 for 12 post-Soviet states were examined using vital registration data. For the three countries that had had a Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in 2005-2010 (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Moldova), survey data were used to calculate sex ratios at birth according to birth order, and vital registration data for 2010 were used to estimate the number of "missing" female births (if any).
Official data revealed elevated sex ratios at birth in Armenia (117), Azerbaijan (116) and Georgia (121), but not in other post-Soviet states. According to DHS data, sex ratios were high in Armenia and Azerbaijan for first births (138 and 113, respectively); if the first child was a girl, the sex ratio in Armenia was even higher for the second birth (154). Overall, the number of girls born in these countries in 2010 was 10% lower than expected, consistent with 1,972 sex-selective abortions in Armenia and 8,381 in Azerbaijan. Sex ratios did not vary by birth order in Moldova.
Sex-selective abortion appears to be common in Azerbaijan and Armenia. Family planning and legal interventions are needed to address this issue.
官方出生性别比数据表明，在一些前苏联国家引入超声技术后，选择性堕胎的性别选择有所增加。然而，这些国家的官方数据的有效性以及高出生性别比是否是一个统计假象仍存在疑问。
利用生命登记数据，对 12 个前苏联国家 1985 年至 2009 年的出生性别比趋势进行了研究。对于在 2005-2010 年进行过人口与健康调查（DHS）的三个国家（亚美尼亚、阿塞拜疆和摩尔多瓦），利用调查数据按出生顺序计算出生性别比，并利用 2010 年的生命登记数据估计“缺失”女婴的数量（如果有）。
官方数据显示，亚美尼亚（117）、阿塞拜疆（116）和格鲁吉亚（121）的出生性别比较高，但其他前苏联国家并非如此。根据 DHS 数据，亚美尼亚和阿塞拜疆的第一胎出生性别比较高（分别为 138 和 113）；如果第一个孩子是女孩，那么在亚美尼亚的第二胎出生性别比更高（154）。总的来说，这些国家 2010 年出生的女孩数量比预期少 10%，这与亚美尼亚有 1972 例选择性堕胎和阿塞拜疆有 8381 例选择性堕胎相符。在摩尔多瓦，出生性别比没有因出生顺序而有所不同。
选择性堕胎似乎在阿塞拜疆和亚美尼亚很常见。需要采取计划生育和法律干预措施来解决这个问题。
