Abstract

PIP: In an interview, Dr. Gu Baochang of China discussed the topics of son preference and the increasing male-to-female sex ratio at birth in China. Gu noted that prior to 1980 the sex ratio in China was normal but that it reached a high of 113.9 in 1989 as fertility dropped. The yearly sex ratio figures continue to be close to normal for first parity births but become increasingly unbalanced for higher order births. The reasons for this abnormal sex ratio at birth are the underreporting of female births (which is estimated to account for 50-75% of the abnormality but is decreasing), sex selective abortion (which is becoming the major factor), and the lesser influence of the infanticide of female babies. The preference for sons which persists in China, Taiwan, and the Republic of Korea is determined by the issues of family labor, elderly support, women's status, and carrying on the family line. All of these issues will be influenced by socioeconomic development, which can vary in different regions of a country. Thus, Shanghai has achieved replacement level fertility with a normal sex ratio. Also, to improve efforts at fertility transition, the evaluation of family planning programs should include the incidence of son preference, and the programs should emphasize reproductive health and women's status. The issue of son preference can be explored from a broad perspective by examining the experience of other Asian countries, some of which have normal sex ratios, others of which have excess infant and child mortality. The Chinese government is trying to curb son preference by making efforts to improve the status of women and girls and by banning the illegal use of the sonogram. Eventually, as society evolves and people become achieve economic development, a normal sex ratio and low fertility will be achieved.