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  • Title: Chinese traditional medicine and abnormal sex ratio at birth in China.
    Author: Peng X, Huang J.
    Journal: J Biosoc Sci; 1999 Oct; 31(4):487-503. PubMed ID: 10581878.
    Abstract:
    A study of the abnormal sex ratio at birth in China reveals that it is not an entirely new phenomenon that emerged since the 1980s, but is simply more visible at present. Deliberate intervention to determine the sex of children has existed in the past few decades, at least in certain groups. Apart from modern medical methods, traditional Chinese medical practice is shown to be highly accurate in identifying the sex of a fetus. This may lead to sex-selective abortion and an abnormal sex ratio at birth. The possible causes of the abnormal sex ratio at birth include not only the real imbalance due to the disturbance of social factors, but also a spurious one attributable to the undercounting of female births. The real magnitude of the imbalance has been exaggerated by statistical error. The phenomenon is a complicated one reflecting the comprehensive socioeconomic setting. Among these factors, the stage of the fertility transition is one of the most decisive. This article reviewed studies on the abnormal sex ratio at birth in China. The abnormality in the sex ratio at birth is a complicated result of China's social, economic and political context. It was a nationwide phenomenon in the 1980s and became more visible at present. The possible causes of the abnormal sex ratio at birth included not only the real imbalance due to the disturbance of social factors, but also a false one attributable to the undercounting of female births. Furthermore, traditional Chinese medicine practice in determining the sex of the fetus shows significant effect to abnormal sex ratio at birth. The high accuracy of traditional Chinese medicines in predicting the sex of the fetus can lead to sex-selective abortion and female infanticide which in a way leads to abnormal sex ratio at birth. The abnormality is also complicated by certain socioeconomic settings such as regional development and progress of fertility transition. However, irrespective of the causes of the situation, the root reason is the existing inequality between men and women.
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