Contemporary Indian society professes a profound faith in every individual’s “right to life and dignity”. The rights relating to the weaker & vulnerable sections of Indian society especially women, and more specially the girl child were violated.
The twin social evils of female foeticide & female infanticide were the main causes. Violence against women exists in various forms, in all societies, the world over. In 1996 the world health assembly endorsed the fact that violence against women is a Public Health problem and female foeticide is one extreme manifestation of violence against women.India is a country of 102. 7 crore population, out of which 53. 1 crores is of males and 49.
6 crores is of females, clearly indicating a deficit of 3. 5 crore women. The sex ratio is 933 women /1000 men and child sex ratio is 927 girls for 1000 boys (census of India,2001). The demographic profile of India clearly indicating the profoundness and wide spread prevalence of this social evil i. e.
female foeticide. In Jaipur itself 3500 female foeticide per year on average seen and where killing is no sin. DEFINITION:Female foeticide: It is defined as aborting a female foetus after sex determination test or pre natal diagnostic test which includes:- •Ultra-sonography •Foetoscopy •Placental tissue sampling •Amniocentesis Female Infanticide:-Infanticide is the practice of intentionally killing of infant. Therefore female infanticide is the inhuman killing of the baby girl after she is born.
In the absence of genetic testing, infanticide was the only inhumane option for discarding the female child. CAUSES 1)EVIL OF DOWRY:- The exorbitant dowry demand is one of the main reason for female foeticide.A girl means accumulation of sufficient resourses for the dowry the parent have to give away, when the girls get married. As a matter of prestige too, more money and material goods are asked in dowry. So the girl is seen as a financial burden on the family right from the birth.
Couple adopt evil, thinking it is better to spend Rs 500 now than Rs5 lakhs (in dowry Later). 2)Social Security:- social security is another reason for strong male preference and consequent elimination of the female. It is believed that males are bread winners of the family and they will look after parents in old age. )Patriarchal society:- the social, cultural and religious fibre of India is predominantly Patriarchal contributing extensively to the secondary status of women. The patrilineal social structure based on the foundation that the family runs through a male and it is only the son who can perform the last rites, lineage and inheritance runs through the male line. 4)Cultural factors:-Many cultural beliefs are present in our Indian society encouraging this social evil.
5)Illiteracy and poverty:- In India socio-economic background has been the villain behind the tragic female foeticide.Certain communities want to get rid of female child compelled by the circumstances of dehumanizing poverty, unemployment superstition and literacy. 6)Small family norm:- Faced with social burdens rarely any one prefers to have more children. One or two is the norm of the day. For continuance of ones property and gene the need of an heir, a son becomes necessary. 7)Development of Technology and Easy Access to these Technology:- The recent technological developments in medical practice combined with a vigorous pursuit of growth of the private health sector have led to the mushrooming of a variety of sex-selective services.
This has happened not only in urban areas but deep within rural countryside also. People have an easy access to these technologies within there economic reach. 8)Ineffectiveness of Law:- In India, the policy environment is supportive of the reproductive choices of women and men. The medical termination of pregnancy act is legal and it allows for induced abortions where pregnancy carries grave injury to women’s health. A negative outcome of the PNDT act was that the practice of sex determination was driven nonetheless and the availability of services proliferated correspondingly.
Ultra sound machines continued to be widely available and simple to use. In such an environment it is very difficult to enforce a law which sought to control information that travels through informal channels and can operate secretly. Law cannot control the information that is conveyed through a mere smile or frown face. Other reasons for limited effectiveness of the law include lack of political will to ensure enforcement. Experience has shown that in general the role of legislation is subverting a social practice is limited.
METHOD USED FOR ABORTION ?Suction aspiration ?Dilatation and curettage Dilatation and evacuation ?Salt poisioning (intara uterine instillation of hyperosmotic solutions like saline) ? Prostaglandin chemical abortion ILL EFFECTS OF FEMALE FOETICIDE: 1)Adverse effect on the mental and physical health of mother:-Most women are forced to be a part of female foeticide due to family pressure,socioeconomic status etc. this can have a great adverse effects on the mental and physical health of the mother. 2)Declining sex ratio: India has one of the lowest sex ratios in the world which is 933females/1000 males while the world population has a sex ratio of 990/1000 males.In Rajasthan it is 922 females /1000 males . The ever declining sex ratio is one of the sensitive indicators of bor preference.
The record shows that the sex ratio or the number of females for each thousand males has gone down consistently over the past decades. If female foeticide is continued the way it is continuing, it will render all the women and child health programmes a nullity. 3)Violence against Women: The increasing imbalance between men and women is leading to many crimes such as illegal trafficking of women, sexual assaults, polygamy and dehumanization of society.Strict action was taken against the t. v serial. ?Strict conviction of doctors caught for blatant violation of PCPNDT Act, 2002.
?Public education in local languages through community radios, T. V. , posters for changing the mind set of people. ?Lessons with positive portrayal of girl children in curriculum at primary, secondary, high school, college and university levels ? Implementation of women’s right to property ?Assured schooling, healthcare, employment and legal equality to daughters ?Tightening screws of PC& PNDT act (Regulation and prevention of Misuse)2002: All bodies under PNDT Act namely Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic Laboratories or Genetic Clinic cannot function unless registered.
They have to maintain records and send a complete report in respect of all pre-conception or pregnancy related procedures/ techniques/ tests to higher authorites. ?Public Education and awareness programmes through radio, t. v, posters, nukkad nataks ? Involvement of mass media reaching wider areas for eliminating this social evil. Involvement of NGO’s/social welfare agencies ?Improving the socio-economic status of women. ROLE OF NURSE ?Nursing has a direct impact on the society and the health of the mother.
Nurse administrators can involve college students as “change agents” in creating awareness programme in the community.
