Sex-Selection in Pakistan: uncovering the truth

When prenatal sex-selection practices in neighboring countries like India and China were the subject of much research and concern, Pakistan was still experiencing high fertility rates. Over the last decade fertility rates have declined, with current fertility projected to be around 3.7 births per woman. Unwanted fertility is declining, especially for educated and wealthy women in urban areas. Unfortunately, this decline has not been accompanied by a decline in gender inequality. Girls continue to lag behind in schooling and health outcomes, and women are still largely seen as social and economic burdens on families. As women get closer to achieving their desired family size and strong son preference prevails, Pakistan’s vulnerability to skewed sex ratios increases. This is especially likely given the increase in the availability of prenatal screening technology and the results of abortion studies conducted in the last decade that point to a higher than expected prevalence of induced abortions. This paper aims to assess the prevalence of prenatal sex-selection in Pakistan, as measured by sex ratios at birth, by analyzing birth history data from the demographic and health survey. Changes and differentials in sex ratios at birth can provide a reliable indication of the prevalence of this phenomenon.