Birth sex ratio in Vietnam increases significantly
QĐND – Wednesday, September 09, 2009, 20:53 (GMT+7)
PANO - Vietnam has experienced an unusual rapid rise of the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) over the past few years.
According to the latest report “Recent change in the sex ratio at birth in Viet Nam”, released by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), while in 2000 the SRB was at normal levels and was estimated to be 106.2 male births per 100 female births; it increased to 112.1 in 2008.
The current growth of 1 point per year since 2006 means that the SRB might cross the 115 mark within three years.
Experience reported from other nations, such as China and India, shows that sex ratio imbalances spread quickly throughout their countries. “If this trend is repeated in Vietnam, and the escallation continues at its rapid pace, it may become a more serious problem in the future, significantly affecting the population’s demographic and sex structure”, states UNFPA Representative, Bruce Campbell.
The report says that if the sex ratio imbalance continues to increase after 2010, there will be a great impact on males born after 2005 when they reach their marriageable age from 2030 onwards, because they would outnumber women of the same ages.
By 2035, the surplus adult men would amount to 10 per cent or more of the female population, if the sex ratio does not return to its normal level of 105 male births per 100 female births, within the next two decades.
“The consequences of a significant imbalance between men and women should be taken into account in all related policy decisions, including further enforcement of the regulations governing sex-selection services in the country”, Campbell says.
In order to ensure a better monitoring of the SRB deterioration and adequate policy responses to the challenges this poses to Vietnamese society, the report makes clear that there is a need for data to examine the intensity and distribution of sex selection behavior across the country. In addition, more qualitative research needs to be conducted to better understand the factors underlying this recent change in sex selection practices. Finally, the report suggests that findings from studies on the SRB should be shared with the general public, civil society and the health community, in order to encourage a change in behavior that so clearly discriminates against girls and women.
Mai Huong
Source: QDND
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