knowledge scores of women regarding ill effects of foeticide
TRANSCRIPT
RAJIV GANDHI UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES BENGALURU, KARNATAKA
PROFORMA FOR REGISTRATION OF SUBJECTS FOR DISSERTATION
1. NAME OF THE CANDIDATE AND ADDRESS
MISS. THONGAM REEMA DEVI,I YEAR M Sc NURSING,THE OXFORD COLLEGE OF NURSING,NO. 6/9, 1ST CROSS, BEGUR ROAD, HONGASANDRA, BENGALURU- 560068
2. NAME OF THE INSTITUTION
THE OXFORD COLLEGE OF NURSINGNO. 6/9, 1ST CROSS, BEGUR ROAD, HONGASANDRA, BENGALURU- 560068
3. COURSE OF STUDY AND SUBJECT
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING,OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGICAL NURSING
4. DATE OF ADMISSION
24-01-2011
5. TITLE OF THE TOPIC
A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PLANNED TEACHING PROGRAM ON KNOWLEDGE REGARDING THE ILL EFFECTS OF FOETICIDE AMONG WOMEN IN SELECTED COMMUNITY AREA AT BENGALURU.
6. BRIEF RESUME OF THE INTENDED WORK
INTRODUCTION
“Being a woman is an attitude”
- Chuck Woolery
A woman is a lovely combination of strength, intellect, emotional balance
and beauty of mind and heart . You are born a woman only because God is
especially kind towards you, so one should take pride in being a woman. She fits
into any role; she can make four walls into a home. When she is a home
maker the house looks bright, when she is a professional, she brings energy to
the place. The whole world revolves around her keeping her the base. Women can rise
kids and run a company too. We can say that woman is God’s greatest creation.1 The
status of women in India has been a subject to many scholars. Scholars believed
that in ancient India, women enjoyed equal status with men in all fields of life.
According to studies, women had equal status and rights during the early Vedic
Period. However later, the status of women began to decline curtailing
women’s freedom and rights. The Indian women’s position in the society
further deteriorated during the Medieval period when Sati among some
communities, child marriages and a ban on widow marriages became part of
social life among some communities in India. The Muslims conquest in the
Indian subcontinent brought the purdah practice in the Indian society. In spite of
these conditions, some women excelled in the fields of politics, literature,
education and religion. Shortly Guru Nanak, the first guru of Sikhs also preaches
the message of equality between men and women. European scholars observed in
the 19th century that Hindu women are naturally chaste and more virtuous than
other women. During the British Raj, many reformers fought for the up-liftment
of women. In independent India, women now participate in all activities such as
education, sports, politics, media, art and culture. Though in very small numbers,
today India has women in almost all spheres of life. Women today are doctors,
engineers, pilots, journalists, teachers, administrators, judges including a woman
judge of the Supreme Court, state governors, ambassadors, members of parliament
and ministers. India has had a woman Prime Minister, currently the president of India
is a woman and also woman chief ministers of several states in India and also a
President of the UN assembly. The status of women in India is a sort of a paradox.
If on one hand she is at the peak of ladder of success then on the other hand
she is mutely suffering the violence afflicted on her by her own family
members.2
Modern Indian girls don’t grow up to be sisters, wives, and mothers alone. They
become successful teachers, doctors, leaders, sportspersons, astronauts, authors,
scientists, pilots, and police officers. Moreover, they continue to bring a fine balance to
our world with their compassion, love, and their ability to nurture qualities that are vital
for the survival of our species. 3
It is a disgrace for the Indian society, which considers the birth of a girl
Child as a bad investment in future and also extra physical and mental
consumer for the parents. She is considered to be a consumer rather than a
producer and the narrow view point of the Indian Patriarchal society has lead to
horrid practices like female foeticides, it continues to occur in many part of the
country. Female foeticide is supported by sanctions and pressure from the family. It is
fuelled by the dowry system, which places demands on the girls family and also
the changing status of the women, illiteracy, poverty, patriarchal society etc.
Female foeticide is one of the problems, the nation is facing and for sure it do
have ill effects on the society, family and individual.4 It can lead to the
declination of sex ratio which is low in present scenario i.e., 940 females/ 1000
males according to Census report 2011.5 Increase violence against women may be
in the form of illegal trafficking of women, sexual assault, polygamy etc. and also
has an adverse effect on the mental and physical health of the mother. 4
Female foeticide is violation of right, a basic human right and guarantee under
the constitution. In the case of female foeticide, the female children in the wombs of
expecting mothers, they are not only denied the right to live but are robbed to their right
to be born. Social, cultural, financial and psychological reasons are responsible for the
prevalence of evil female foeticide in our society. 6
With the view that the law alone cannot get rid of female foeticide, steps
can be taken to create public awareness about this matter / menace and educate
them about the daughter role in supporting the parents in their old age. Youth
constitute an important segment of the society. Apart from being future parents they
have immense potential to initiate discussion on the issue at home and in the
community.7
6.1. NEED FOR THE STUDY
The declining sex ratio in the country has sent shockwaves across all
sections of society. It seems that the socio-cultural factors are so embedded in
the psyche of the people that they even accept wrong ways of life for the sake
of social superiority. It is not poverty alone that kills baby girls – the choices
made by her parents and family have a greater role to play in curtailing her life.
Custom and tradition shape these choices and when resources are meagre; these
can make a difference between life and death.8
Female foeticide disturbs the natural sex ratio in society and reduces
number of women as compared to men in society. Clearly in couple of decades,
such sex selective abortions could lead to a situation where men may not find
brides to marry. This could lead to trafficking of women, or worse violence
against women.8
A study was conducted on the Declining Sex Ratios; Will it impact
Economic Growth in India. According to the census report 2011, the child sex
ratio between the age group of 0-6 years is 914 female / 1000 males and it has
been recorded that it is declining since 1991. Studies revealed that families resort
to various practices such as sex selection techniques, foeticide, infanticide and
neglect to do away with the girl child at pre-birth / conception / infancy stage
itself and also due to many social reasons like the increasing demand for dowry,
increasing violence against women, prevention of division of property etc, to
name a few. Woman’s participation in economic activities should be an essential
part of the planning process. The stage is set for a coordinate effort of various
groups with the intention to establish a mission to reverse the trend of declining
sex ratio for the next census. Reversal of the declining trend is a must to ensure
stable economic and societal growth.9
An article on “Girls are an incentive” stated that a girl child brings warmth,
happiness and vibrancy into our lives, that reason is enough to welcome her into this
world with open arms. The widespread prevalence of female foeticide in India was a
shameful outcome of the social mores of India, which were badly skewed against girl-
children. According to a report published on the International Humanist and Ethical
Union website, between 35 to 40 million girls and women were missing from the Indian
population, courtesy selective abortion. The report also reveals the alarming statistic: in
some parts of India, the sex ratio of girls to boys had dropped to less than 800:1000 in
spite of pre-natal sex determination being illegal in India. Such was the impact of
female foeticide in India that even the United Nations had expressed serious concern
about the situation. In a move to put a stop to the selective abortions of baby-girls, the
Government of India were driven to announce monetary incentives last year. 3
A report on An Overview of Gendercide and Daughter Abuse in India stated
that Worldwide, the ratio of girls to boys is 1,000 for every 1,005 and in India; there are
only 914 girls for every 1,000 boys, and often far fewer according to 2011 census. The
global anti-poverty agency, Action Aid and the International Development Research
Centre, for example “found that the gender gap in some parts of the Indian state of
Punjab had increased to 300 girls per 1,000 boys - a scenario worse than that revealed
in the 2011 census. UNICEF calculated the total number of girls missing in India as 50
million. While laws are on the books to combat issues such as selective-sex abortion, as
we will review later, they have proven largely ineffective and have led to only a handful
of isolated arrests as the practice continues largely unabated. Due in part to the decades-
long societally-created gender imbalance, violence against women and girls have
become endemic in parts of India, with an 800% increase in reported rape cases
nationwide, and many more left unreported.10
A report on Selective-Sex Abortions by the Society for the protection of the girl
child in India stated that every 12 Seconds, a baby Girl is aborted in India. According to
2006 UNICEF study, State of the World’s Children, in India, 7,000 girls a day are
aborted just because they are female. Seven lakh (700,000) girls are killed by parents
every year in India even before they are born. When a woman finds she is pregnant,
anxieties set in about the sex of the unborn child. Ruthless feticide often follows with
tests that are illegal, but easy to get, show it is a girl... While 1.72 million children die in
India each year before the age of one, because of our gender bias, the mortality rate is
even higher for girls than boys.10
A study was conducted on Ensuring daughter survival in Tamil Nadu,
India. According to the study the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu is a
relatively recent entrant to the list of Indian states exhibiting the phenomenon of
‘missing girls’. Notwithstanding the state’s relatively recent history of daughter
elimination, the government and NGOs in Tamil Nadu have been active in terms
of data collection to track gender differences in survival and in introducing
interventions to prevent daughter elimination. 11
An article was posted on Missing girls in India and China. It stated that the
growing prevalence of foeticide in India and China will have serious impact on both
societies in the near future. Rising crime levels, an increase in the trafficking of women
and a decrease in women’s participation in public life are all potential consequences of
the severe gender imbalance currently affecting these two superpowers. Furthermore,
women may increasingly be pressured to take on traditional family roles rather than
pursue a career or further their education. The negative effects, already evident in the
increase of violent crime and trafficking of women will only intensify in the future, if
the issue is not addressed. 12
A study was conducted on female foeticide and infanticide in India: an
analysis of crime against girl children. Sex selection abortions and increase in the
number of female foeticide cases have become significant social phenomena in
several parts of India. Numerous scholars have observed that the latest advances
in modern sciences the test like Amniocentesis and Ultra – sonography which
were originally designed for detection of congenital abnormalities of the foetus,
are being misused for knowing the sex of the foetus with the intention of
aborting it if it happens to be that of a female. The worst situation identified
was when these abortions are carried out well beyond the safe period of 12
weeks endangering the women’s life. 13
A study was conducted on Female foeticide in India. According to the study
Female feticide - the selective abortion of female foetuses – is killing upwards of
one million females in India annually with far – ranging and tragic consequences.
In some areas, the sex ratio of females to males has dropped to less than 800 :
1,000. Although female infanticide has long been committed in India, feticide is
a relatively new practice, emerging concurrently with the advent of technological
advancements in prenatal sex determination on a large scale in the 1990s. While
abortion is legal in India, it is a crime to abort a pregnancy solely because the
foetus is female. Strict laws and penalties are in place for violators. 14
A study was done on Census 2011 : Survey in Delhi, Noida reveals male
child preferred by 44%. The study has found that as many as 85% women aged
between 18 and 40 years in the city are highly aware of this evil as compared
to their husbands and mothers / mothers – in - law. In fact, 90% of nearly 200
married men and women surveyed across Delhi and Noida said their religion
didn't allow foeticide; but 3% admitted to have gone for a sex determination test
on the sly, mostly because their in-laws insisted. As many as 92% respondents agreed
that a constant decrease in the number of girls will lead to an increased crime rate.
Majority of respondents were aware about the illegality of sex determination under
PNDT Act, but 97% of them didn't know that it could lead to imprisonment for three
years. 65% respondents had them as their source of awareness; only 30% of them
depended on doctors and mid-wives. The government should regularly monitor
technology used for such matters. There is this hand-held machine that could be used
for sex determination. It could prove to be disastrous. 15
A study was conducted on Female foeticide more prevalent among the
middleclass in Punjab. The researcher claimed to have interviewed women from more
than 90 families in the city. The women were in the age group of 15-35 years. The
study found that in the middle class where the size of the family has to be restricted,
cases of female foeticide were more. The study also found that it is usually the older
women in the house who influence the vital decision. It is a tragedy that women, whose
lives are most battered by frequent child birth are hardly allowed to take decision. 16
A study was done on Female Foeticide in Punjab: Exploring the socio-economic
and cultural dimension. 240 respondents were taken from three districts of Punjab viz.,
Ludhiana having low sex ratio, Bathinda having medium sex ratio and Ferozepur
having high sex ratio (according to provisional census of 2001). Escalating remands of
dowry was cited as main reason for it. Daughters were unable to provide social security
to parents and called for unnecessary investment on themselves, the fruit of which were
taken away by the in-laws. The study concluded with suggestive measures which flew
unabated from the study included strict implementation of laws banning female
foeticide and dowry, providing old age pension for parents who had no son, free and
compulsory education for girls, job reservation for women in specific occupations and
giving them an equal share in the property, in the true sense of the word. 4
A study was done on The Role of Education in the Empowerment of Women in
a District of West Bengal, India: Reflections on a Survey of Women. In an exhaustive
survey comprising forty two villages, the study tries to unearth the status of women,
attitude towards girls‟ education in society, problems hindering the education of
women, the importance of marriage in women’s life affecting education as well as the
empowerment of women. The study also highlighted that educated and economically
empowered women have said a firm ‘no’ to the prevalent malice of the dowry, thus
directly bearing the fruit of economic empowerment in society of Malda district of
West Bengal. The study came up with some recommendations to eradicate the practice
of intra-household and social discrimination of girl child and women. Empowerment
through education has emerged as the only way to put an end to the horrors of dowry, as
established by the survey. 17
A study was done on Indian Bioethics: the Issue of Female Foeticide and
Infanticide, A Sikh Perspective. A specific bioethical problem which India encounters
today, in the era of prenatal diagnostics, is the problem of the foeticide or infanticide of
female children. The study presents some of the keys resulting from the discussion at
the above conferences, and also warns of the serious problem of the misuse of modern
medical technology and diagnostics, which should primarily be used for a timely
detection of various genetically conditioned diseases or disorders of the course of the
intra-uterus life of the baby, rather than, as it is the case in India, to enable the
termination of the foetus according to sex. This discrimination is manifested through
female children not being provided adequate nutrition or medical care, along with
pronounced emotional deprivation. The most recent and, in the same time, worst form
of discrimination is exactly female foeticide or infanticide, which this should be
specifically mentioned is most often carried out in the Indian state Tamil Nadu. 18
Decrease sex ratio, increase violation with women, decrease status of women,
patriarchal family style and societal influences are the main focus when it comes to
foeticide. Due to the lack of awareness regarding the ill effects of foeticide among the
women, family members and also the society, the rate of foeticide have increase to such
an extent that the sex ratio is decreased. Thus the researcher feels that that there is a
definite need to educate the women on the ill effects of foeticide for the benefit of the
women, society and also the nation.
6.2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Review of Literature is categorized under the following headings:
6.2.1. Studies related to awareness of foeticide among women.
6.2.2. Studies related to ill effects of foeticide.
6.2.3. Studies related to effectiveness of Planned teaching programme.
6.2.1. Studies related to awareness of foeticide among women
A study was conducted on Awareness of the Rural and Urban Women about Female
Foeticide in Bikaner district, Rajasthan. For the selection of rural and urban
respondents, Bikaner city was divided into four major parts i.e. east, west, north and
south zone. Total eight wards and eight villages (two wards and two villages from each
zone) were selected randomly. A sample of 320 respondents comprising 160
respondents from rural area and 160 respondents from urban area were selected through
proportionate allocation random sampling method. Findings revealed that overall
majority of the rural respondents (70%) and urban respondents (75.62%) had medium
awareness about female foeticide. Education was positively and significantly associated
with awareness of rural respondents where as occupation and monthly incomes were
positively and significantly associated with awareness of urban respondents. All the
thirteen independent variables were responsible for 75.7 per cent of variation in
awareness of rural respondents and 63.9 per cent of variation in awareness of urban
respondents about female foeticide. 19
A study was conducted on the effect of socio- cultural factors on the preference
for the sex of children by women in Ahmadabad District. A cross-sectional study was
conducted among 385 married women in the reproductive age group of 15-49 years
during March 2007-April 2008 in randomly selected areas of Ahmadabad district,
Gujarat, India. Son-preference was observed amongst 87.53 per cent of the studied
women. 93.04 per cent of the illiterate women preferred male child whereas 68.75 per
cent of the women who completed graduation had the preference for son. The
association between education and son preference was found to be statistically
significant (P<0.01). The son preference observed more in rural areas (94.30%) than
urban areas (80.73%) and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.0001).
Keeping the family line (42.14%) and the girl not staying with parents after the
marriage (50.45%) were the major reasons for son preference. The study found that
education, place of residence and cultural factors play a role in son-preference. 20
A community based cross-sectional study was done on awareness and
perception on gender discrimination and sex preference among married women (in
reproduction age group) in a rural population of Bareilly District, Uttar-Pradesh. A
multistage sampling was used and 317 rural married women in reproductive age group
were interviewed. Results found were that 80% of females irrespective of their literacy
status were aware about prenatal sex determination. However 67% were unaware of
PNDT Act and the unawareness was significantly associated with literacy status of
women. Regarding perceptions, 94% felt that females still do not enjoy equal rights as
males. The study was concluded with the suggestion on intensive IEC campaigns for
raising awareness about rules forbidding pre-natal sex determination and strict
implementation of PNDT Act to gear the efforts against this social malady and also
advertisement about the facility of prenatal sex determination and the unawareness of
legal regulations forbidding feticide as PNDT Act. 21
A study was conducted on Awareness of Rural Couples about Sex-Ratio in Uttar
Pradesh. The study was conducted by selecting two villages Palpur and Ravanika from
two blocks of Allahabad district from Uttar Pradesh by random selection. From each
village a sample of 50 couples under the age of 45 years were randomly selected to
make a total sample size of 100 couples. Awareness about sex-ratio, quite a large
number of males (64%) and females (74%) had no knowledge about it. Female foeticide
was cited by respondents (41% male and 36% females) as the main reasons for the
imbalanced sex-ratio. 81 per cent males and 65 per cent females felt that the major
problem due to imbalanced sex-ratio would be non-availability of brides. 22
A cross-sectional study was undertaken with 195 pregnant women who attended
the antenatal clinic of G.G. Hospital attached to M.P. Shah Medical College, Jamnagar,
and Gujarat. A pre-tested and pre-structured questionnaire was used to collect
information on their knowledge and attitudes towards gender preference and female
feticide. The study result was as such; of the 195 pregnant women selected for the
study, 70.3% were from urban area and 29.7% from rural area. It was discovered that
20.5% were illiterate and 79.5% were literate. Out of 195 women studied, 114 (58.5%)
gave preference to male child; the major reasons for this being social responsibilities
are carried out by males (42.5%), for propagation of family name (23%), dependable in
the old age (16%), pressure from family (11%), to perform cremation (4%), dowry (3%)
and females are economic liability (3%). Our study revealed that socio-demographic
factors affect gender preference. Preference to male child was higher among rural
women (70.68%) than that of the urban women (53.28%). The association was
statistically significant. Preference to male child was higher in women who had no male
child previously (65.28%) than those who already had a male child (42.50%). This
difference was also statistically significant. Of the 195 women, 40 (20.51%) admitted
that they will go for female feticide. The inclination to female feticide was higher in
women who showed son preference. One hundred and ten (54.4%) women were aware
about consequences of female feticide. Consequences of female feticide expressed by
these women were: ‘men won’t find bride’, ‘families can’t be run’, lead to an all-male
family and increase in violence against women. The awareness of consequences of
female feticide grew with literacy status. It was 35% among illiterate women, 53.4% in
primary level literacy and 73.13% in secondary and above. The difference was
statistically significant. The study revealed that residential area and sex of the previous
child affect a woman’s preference for her next child, while education increases
awareness regarding the consequences of adverse sex ratio. 23
A study was conducted on Decreasing Sex Ratio and Pregnant Women's Attitude
towards Female Foeticide in Ludhiana, Punjab. A descriptive study approach was used
to conduct the study, which was conducted in Antenatal OPD of Christian Medical
College and Hospital, Ludhiana. Purposive random sampling technique was used for
selection of sample. The population consisted of 50 pregnant women attending OPD.
The technique and methods used were structured questionnaire developed based on
review of literature. Majority of the clients were in the age group of 21-30 years (72%)
followed by 24% in the age group of 3 1 -40 years and only 4% above 40 years. 48% of
them were the academic qualification of plus two and above, 30% were illiterate and
22% had passed 10th class. Most of women were Hindus (48%), followed by Sikhs
32%, Christians 14% and Muslims only 6%. Majority of women (76%), were
housewives and 24% were professionals. Maximum numbers of women (66%) were
married for 1-9 years, 30% of women married for 10-19 years and 4% married for more
than 20 years. 54% of them were having family income Rs. 5001-10000, 36% had
income less than Rs. 5000 and only 10% were with income more than Rs. 10,000. Most
of women (72%) resided in urban area and 28% belonged to rural areas. For 62%,
source of information was mass media and 38% got information from relatives.
Analysis shows that the knowledge level of many women were found to be average
about causes of female foeticide but inadequate about affects of decreasing sex ratio
and lowest about meaning of sex ratio and decreasing sex ratio. Mean attitude score of
pregnant women towards female foeticide was 3.5. Pregnant women between the age
group of 21-30 years obtained highest mean attitude score (84.42). Women with
qualification plus two and above scored higher (89.2) as compared to other groups.
Hindus scored higher (94.6) as compared to other religions. Mean attitude score was
higher (89.0) in housewives. Women married for 1-9 years scored higher (84.8).
Women with family income more than Rs. 10, 000 had highest mean attitude score
(87.4). Pregnant women from urban areas had high mean attitude score (84.6%) as
compared to women living in rural areas. Women who watched TV scored higher
(92.6%) as compared to other sources of information. The study suggests that steps
should be taken to educate women to make them aware about the same. Planned health
education programmes by health professionals should be made on an ongoing process
in Antenatal OPD, General OPD, Paediatric OPD/ Wards and the community setting. 24
A study was done on Gender Inequality: Is the National Population Policy’s
Objective of Two Child Norm Heading the Correct Way? A descriptive study was
carried out to assess the attitude of women towards birth of son, use of contraception
methods and sex determination methods in rural village Kasurdi in Pune district. Out of
110 respondents interviewed, 62.7% felt that male child is necessary in the family. The
difference between family sizes when compared with the sex of first child was
statistically significant signifying that if the first child is a male then it hardly matters
whether the second child is male or female, but if the sex of first child is female then
the families land up with bigger family size. On an average most of the respondents
favour two children with an equal share of male and female children. 25
6.2.2. Studies related to ill effects of foeticide.
A study was conducted on female foeticide perceptions and practices among
women in Surat City. Randomly selected 270 women were interviewed using a semi-
structured interview schedule to explore the female foeticide perceptions and practices
among couples in Surat city. Only 148 (51.9%) of the women were aware of the fact
that 3 female children killed every minute in India. Prenatal sex determination among
their relatives and neighbours were reported by 80% respondent, though they
themselves had never resorted to it. Supporting to this fact, 25.9% respondents reported
of ever been pressurized by their family members to undergo prenatal sex diagnosis of
their foetus. Encouragingly 90% respondents had opined that repeated prenatal sex
diagnosis and abortions are detrimental to the mental and physical health of a woman
and is wholly preventable. The study concluded with the suggestion of stricter laws and
honest enforcement of these laws to prevent female foeticide in society. 26
A report on Increasing Instances of Rape and Gender-Based Violence stated that
due at least in part to the widening gender imbalance in India; rape has already become
the fastest-growing crime in India, with reported cases up over 800% over the past 40
years. While more studies are needed, the dramatic increase of violence can empirically
be seen as being in correlation with the legalization of abortion in 1971 and the
introduction of selective-sex abortion a few years later. According to a March, 2011
global survey by the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW), 24% of
Indian men have committed sexual violence at some point in their lives, compared with
2% of Brazilian men and 9% of men in Chile. If male-female ratios continue to decline,
future outlooks are disturbing. Experts have warned that the demographic crisis will
lead to increasing sexual violence and abuse against women and female children,
trafficking, increasing number of child marriages, increasing maternal deaths due to
abortions and early marriages and increase in practices like polyandry. 10
A report on Unwanted Girls Trafficked into Prostitution and Forced Servitude
by the Society for the protection of girl child stated that prostitution is widespread in
India, with an estimated 2,300,000 prostitutes in the country, an estimated 1.2 million of
who are children. Many are girls unwanted by their families due to gender
discrimination and poverty. The soaring number of prostitutes believed to have
contracted HIV in India’s brothels has helped give India the second-largest number of
people living with HIV/AIDS in the world, just behind South Africa. In addition, girls
were being sold into slavery as bonded labourers, forced to work under brutal
conditions in cotton fields, farms, factories, and other industries. The United Nation’s
International Labour Organization estimates that 218 million Indian children were
involved in child labour in 2004, of which 126 million were engaged in hazardous
work. Estimates from 2000 suggest that 5.7 million were in forced or bonded labour,
1.8 million in prostitution and pornography and 1.2 million were victims of trafficking.
There were regular reports of verbal abuse and physical violence by the employers, and
a report of the brutal rape and killing of two minor girls in Kurnool District, Andhra
Pradesh. Girls forced to work in farms were exposed to very dangerous chemicals that
can cause severe headaches, nausea, weakness, convulsions and breathing problems.
Child deaths due to pesticide exposure were also reported as in relation to foeticide and
decreased sex ratio. 10
A study was done on Female foeticide, a danger to society in India. The study
speaks about amniocentesis and also son preference in India. The incidence of using
amniocentesis as a method which allows identification of sex is revealed by the
presence of an adverse sex ratio in many states. While pregnancy may be legally
terminated in India up to 12 weeks' gestation, amniocentesis takes place at 16 weeks.
The study found that in some states, parents who cannot afford amniocentesis were
continuing the practice of female infanticide. The study concluded with the suggestion
that the Indian government should act immediately to control female feticide,
Amniocentesis should take place only within government-run institutions, and the sex
of the child should never be revealed to parents and also a massive educational effort to
modify believes. 27
An article (magazine) on Female foeticide: a social menace. Women have been
the subject of deprivation, discrimination, intimidation, and unjust treatment in society
throughout history. The difference is only in the forms that differ from time to time and
from society to society. Women are considered inferior, given secondary status,
subjugated to the male, subjected to various ordeals and deprived of the basic right of
existence. They are considered persons whose duty is to act on the advice of males,
serve them, please and take care of them: first father, then husband then son. They are
given such an ideal role as to live at the mercy of the husband and die at his pyre. The
reason is that in the social fibre of many societies males are given a privileged position
because they are bread-winners, feed the family, and continue the name of the family.
Women are the commodities at the disposal of males, whenever and however they want
to use them. Thus, they are in a subordinate position, do not represent an independent
entity, have no control over their lives, and do not stand on their own dignity, but
constitute the amour property of others. 28
An article on female foeticide in India stated that every newborn girl child will
now be adopted by the government of India. Planning commission vision in a new bed
to tackle the country’s declining sex ratio. 2011 census reveals the number of girl
children (0-6years) has decreased from 927 to 914 girls per 1000 boys in the last
decade. This was a good indication of the extent to which sex selective abortions and
other harmful practices are carried out in India, regardless of preventive legislation.
Sadly while the ban on sex determination tests was at one time a landmark
achievement, the Indian girl child is now being treated as a pawn in a game of statistics
and unethical lobbying, not as human being. So now it is not the time to relax India’s
law on the prohibition of the sex determination test.29
A study on Determinants and Consequences of Induced Abortion in India:
Findings from Population Based Study. This paper studied the determinants of induced
abortion among women in India and to examine the consequences of induced abortion
on women’s reproductive health. Analysis is based on 90,303 ever-married women
age, 15-49, included in India’s National Family Health Survey, conducted in 1998-99.
Binary logistic regression methods were used to examine the association between
induced abortion and possible determinants, as well as consequences of induced
abortion on women’s reproductive health. This study identifies women’s desire to
limit family size with preferred sex composition of children as an important determinant
of induced abortion in India and also suggests that induced abortions may have negative
consequences for women’s reproductive health. Programs should focus more on the
availability and accessibility of contraceptives among women to elude the reproductive
health consequences of induced abortion. 30
6.2.3. Studies related to effectiveness of planned teaching programme.
A study was done to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching program
(STP) in terms of knowledge regarding foot care among type II diabetic patients
attending OPD of selected hospital of North India. A pre-experimental one-group pre-
test post-test approach was adopted. The sample of 60 type II diabetic patients was
selected by using purposive sampling technique. Data were collected with the help of
structured knowledge questionnaire. Reliability of the tool was calculated using split
half method, 'r' = 0.89, which showed that the tool was reliable. Pre-test was done to
assess the knowledge of the subjects by using structured interview schedule. Post-test
was done on fifteenth day with the same tool. Findings of the study indicated that in
pre-test majority of samples 31 (51.66%) scored poor knowledge, 26 (43.33%) samples
scored average and only 3 (5%) scored good knowledge. Results of the post-test
revealed that the mean post-test knowledge score (16.76) was higher than the mean pre
test knowledge score (8.53). The computed’t’ test value for knowledge was (t = 15.33;
p< 0.05) 59 which showed highly significant difference between pre and post-test
knowledge scores. This revealed that the structured teaching program was effective in
increasing the knowledge regarding foot care among type II diabetic patients.31
A study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of planned teaching
programme regarding antenatal care among primigravidae mothers in selected hospital
of Erode, Tamil Nadu. Sixty primigravidae mothers were selected for this study using a
convenient sampling technique. A structured interview was conducted. The majority of
primigravidae mothers have inadequate knowledge regarding antenatal care. Significant
difference was seen in the pre-test mean score value 44.10 and post test mean score
value 58.89% and obtained ‘t’ value was 10.70. This indicates that the planned teaching
programme was effective.32
A study was conducted on Effectiveness of planned teaching programme on
knowledge and attitude about complementary feeding among mothers of infant. The
study showed that most of the mothers were in the age group of 22-24 years (44%) and
most of them (48%) were primi mothers. Majority of the mothers were from joint
family (80%), 70 percent belonged to lower socio-economic status, and 76 percent of
mothers got information about Complementary Feeding from their mothers. The mean
post-test knowledge score (32) was higher than the mean pre-test knowledge score
(14). The mean score of post-test attitude (68) was higher than the mean pre- test
attitude score (50). The t-test computed to determine the significance of difference
between the pre-test and post-test knowledge and attitude scores of mothers on
Complementary Feeding and the t values obtained were 12.74 and 13.25 respectively, [t
(49) =2.04, p < 0.05]. There was significant association with knowledge of mothers on
Complementary Feeding and selected variables like number of children (.2=3.91) and
socioeconomic status (.2=7.47). No significant association was observed between the
pre-test knowledge level of mothers on Complementary Feeding and selected variables
like age of the mother, age of the youngest child in months, type of family and
educational status. No significant association was observed between the pre-test attitude
of mothers on Complementary Feeding and selected variables like age of mother,
number of children, age of the youngest child in months, socioeconomic status, type of
family and educational status. There was significant relationship between the pre-test
knowledge scores and pre-test attitude scores on Complementary Feeding. 33
A study was done to assess the effectiveness of planned teaching program
regarding management of BPH on BPH patients. Thirty BPH patients were taken as
samples most of the patients (40.00%) were in the age group of 61-65 years. Majority
of the patients (76.66%) had only primary school education, and 53.33 percent of them
were using radio for getting the health information, 66.66 percent were agriculturists,
83.33 percent belonged to Hindu religion, 46.66 percent had monthly family income of
Rs.3001-6000, 73.33 percent had no family history of BPH, 90.0 percent were non-
vegetarian, 73.33 percent were not aware of BPH and TURP surgery, 93.3 percent were
interested in health-related information, and 53.3 percent were staying in joint families.
The total mean post-test knowledge score (31.73) was higher than that of the mean pre-
test knowledge score (19.90). The cumulative percentage curve showed that the post-
test knowledge scores were higher than the pre-test knowledge scores at 25th, 50th and
75th percentile (pre-test: 15.67%, 19.2%, 23.69%) post-test: 30.33%, 32.54%, 33.75%).
The post-test mean percentage score in all areas was apparently higher than the pre-test
mean percentage scores. The t-test analysis showed that post-test mean score of
knowledge (31.73) was significantly higher than that of pre-test (19.90) and was
statistically significant [ t (29)= 13.061(p<0.05)]. The study concluded that there was
no significant association between the pre-test levels of knowledge with selected
variables: education, occupation, source of health-related information and family
history of the BPH.34
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
A study to assess the effectiveness of planned teaching program on knowledge
regarding the ill effects of foeticide among women in selected community area at
Bengaluru.
6.3. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:
1. To assess the knowledge scores of the women before the planned teaching
programme by pre-test.
2. To assess the effectiveness of planned teaching program on the ill effects of
foeticide by comparing pre and post-test knowledge scores.
3. To associate the knowledge scores of women with selected variables.
6.4. HYPOTHESIS:
H1: The mean post-test knowledge score of women regarding ill effects of
foeticide will be significantly higher than the mean pre-test knowledge score.
H2: There will be significant association between the knowledge scores of women
with selected variables regarding the ill effects of foeticide.
6.5. RESEARCH VARIABLES
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE
Planned teaching programme on the ill effects of foeticide among women.
DEPENDENT VARIABLE
Knowledge scores of women regarding ill effects of foeticide.
6.6. OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
Assess: It refers to the way of evaluating the level of knowledge as expressed by
women on ill effects of foeticide.
Effectiveness: It refers to extent to which the planned teaching program enhances the
knowledge of women regarding the ill effects of foeticide.
Knowledge: It refers to the total of ideas, what is known by the women regarding the ill
effects of foeticide.
Planned teaching program: It refers to the systematically developed instructional
method and teaching aids designed for women to provide information regarding ill
effects of foeticide.
Women: It refers to women in the age group of 20 – 50 years residing in Begur village,
Bengaluru.
Ill effects of foeticide: In this study it refers to the effects of foeticide to the society
such as declining sex ratio, low status of the women, violence against women, effect on
mental and physical health of mother, psychological trauma etc. which will adversely
effects the whole world.
6.7. ASSUMPTION
Women will have interest to know about the ill effects of foeticide.
7. MATERIAL AND METHODS
7.1. SOURCE OF DATA
Women who are in the age group of 20-50 years residing in Begur village at Bengaluru.
7.2. METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION
Structured Interview Schedule will be used to collect the data
7.2.1. RESEARCH DESIGN
Design : Quasi- Experimental one group pre and post intervention design.
Approach : Evaluative approach will be used.
E - O1 X O2
KEY: E - Experimental Group;
O1- Pre test knowledge scores of women regarding ill effects of foeticide;
O2 – Post test knowledge scores of women regarding ill effects of foeticide;
X- Intervention- planned teaching program on ill effects of foeticide.
7.2.2. SETTING OF THE STUDY
Begur village, Bengaluru will be the setting.
7.2.3. . POPULATION
The population of the study comprises of all women in the age group of 20-50 years
residing in Begur village, Bengaluru.
7.2.4. SAMPLE SIZE
The sample of the study consists of 50 women at the age group of 20-50 years who is
fulfilling the inclusion criteria and residing in Begur village, Bengaluru.
7.2.5. SAMPLING TECHNIQUE
Convenient Sampling Technique will be used.
7.2.6. SAMPLING CRITERIA
INCLUSION CRITERIA
1. Women who are in the age group of 20-50 years.
2. Women who are willing to participate in the study.
3. Women who can read, write, and speak English or Kannada.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA
Women who are not available during the time of data collection.
7.2.7. DATA COLLECTION METHOD
The researcher will collect the data through Structured Interview Schedule which
consist of two parts;
Part I: Demographic variables such as educational status, marital status, socio-
economic status, income etc.
Part II: Knowledge questionnaire regarding ill effects of foeticide.
7.2.9. DATA ANALYSIS METHOD
Data analysis will be through descriptive and inferential statistics.
Descriptive Statistics
Frequency, percentage, mean, median and standard deviation will be used to describe
demographic data.
Inferential Statistics
Parametric and Non parametric tests will be used.
1. Parametric Test – Paired‘t’ test to compare pre and post test knowledge scores of
women.
2. Non Parametric Test – Chi-square test will be used to find out the association
between selected variables and the pre-test knowledge score of women.
7.3. DOES THE STUDY REQUIRE ANY INVESTIGATIONS OR
INTERVENTION TO BE CONDUCTED ON PATIENT OR OTHER
HUMAN OR ANIMALS?
Yes, the study will be conducted on women, in the age group of 20-50 years in Begur
village, Bengaluru.
7.4. HAS ETHICAL CLEARANCE BEEN OBTAINED FROM
YOUR INSTITUTION?
Yes, ethical clearance will be obtained from;
The ethical committee of The Oxford College of Nursing, Bengaluru.
Informed consent will be taken from the women who are willing to participate in the
study.
8. LIST OF REFERENCES
1. Jaya Prada, I am proud to be a woman. 2010 March 8.
http://www.starboxoffice.com/gallery/sbogallery.aspx?
2. Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia. Women in India.
www.en.wikippedia.org/wiki/women_in_India.
3. Khatri Manoj. Life is beautiful. 2009 March.
4. Ajinder Wala. Female foeticide in Punjab: Exploring the socio economic and
cultural dimensions. The Journal of social issue. 2005 August; 10(1).
5. Census Report in India, 2011.
http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-Documents/House-listing% 20 English.pdf.
6. Essay on Female foeticide. 2011 January. http://www.hotessays.blogspot.com/essay
on female foeticide.html.
7. Nimla V Sonawane. The Nursing Journal of India. 2010 March 3.
http://www.tnaionline.org/March-10/8 htm.
8. Essay on Female foeticide; a hall of shame. http://www.merionline.com/index.php?
Female foeticide essay.
9. Sardna MMK. Declining sex ratios; will it impact economic growth? ISID
discussion notes. http://www.isid.org.in/pdf/DN1115.pdf.
10. Society for the protection of the girl child. 2011. http://www.protectgirls.org.
11. Srinivasan Sharada, Bedi S Arjun. Ensuring daughter survival in Tamil Nadu, India.
Social Science Research Network. 2010 August.
http://www.ssrn.com/abstract=1431308.
12. Tandon Lata Sneha, Sharma Renu. Female foeticide and infanticide in India: an
analysis of crimes against girl children. International Journal of criminal justice
science. 2006 January; 1.
13. Tranter Katherine. Missing girls in India and China. Australian institute of
international affairs. http://www.aiia.asn.edu/access-monthly/ma-issue-21/697.
14. Female foeticide in India. Issues in Law and Medicine. Goliath business knowledge
on demand. 2010 June.
15. Census 2011: survey in Delhi, Noida reveals male child preferred by 44%. The
economic times, Politics/ Nation. 2011 April.
16. Sandhu Khusboo. Female foeticide more prevalent among the middle class. The
Indian express. 2008 February. http://www.indianexpress.com.
17. The role of education in the empowerment of women in a district of West
Bengal.2008 November. http://www.bridgew.edu/soas/jiws.
18. Sorta Iva, Bilajac. Indian Bioethics: the issue of female foeticide and infanticide, a
Sikh perspective. Etica and Political/ Ethics and Politics. 2004 February.
http://www.units.it/etica/2004-2/SORTA-BILAJAC.htm
19. Dudi Aishwarya, Singh Raj Archana. Awareness of the rural and urban women
about female foeticide. Indian Research journal Extended education. 2010 May;
10(2): 99-103.
20. Chavada Mallika, Bhagyalaxmi A. Effect of socio cultural factors on the preference
for the sex of children by women in Ahmadabad District. Health and Population;
Perspectives and Issues. 2009 32(4) 184-89.
21. Shalini Srivastan,Kariwal P, Kapilasrami MC. A community based study on
awareness and perception on gender discrimination and sex preference among
married women in a rural population of district Barielly, Uttar Pradesh.
http://www.njcmindia.org/home/index/21
22. Ghosh A Esther, Goel Rita, Balda Shanti. Awareness of rural couples about sex
ration in Uttar Pradesh. 2005 February. 167-8. http://www.krepublishers.com/
23. Vadera BN, Joshi UK, Uadakat SV, Yadav BS, Yadav Sudha. Study on knowledge
attitude and practices regarding gender preference and female foeticide among
pregnant women. Indian Journal of community medicine. 2007 October-December;
32(4). http://www.ijcm.org.in/article.asp?issn=0970-0218.
24. Saran, Kamala. Decreasing sex ratio and pregnant women’s attitude towards female
foeticide in Ludhiana. 2007 March. http://www.foeticide.blogspot.com/2007.
25. Patrikar SR, Bhalwar R Col, Datta A Col, Basannar DR. Gender Inequality: Is the
National population policy’s objective of two child norm heading the correct way?
Medical journal of armed forces India. 2008 64(3) 221-23.
26. Nawal Shaikh, Hiral Viradiya, Dhwanee Thakkar, Bansal RK, Dhara shah, et.al.
Female foeticide perceptions and practices among women in Surat city. National
Journal of community medicine. 2011 2(1) 171-74.
27. Kaur G B. Female foeticide. A danger to society in India. The Nursing Journal of
India. 2004 87.
28. Farooqui, Jamil. Female foeticide: a social menace. Radiance Weekly. 2010 7(44)
18-23.
29. Kumara Rajana. Now is not the time to relax the ban of sex determination test.
Commentary on Current affairs, women rights and gender issue in India. 2011
October.
30. Agarwal Sutana. Determinants and consequences of induced abortion in India:
Findings from a population based study. Population Association of America 2010
Annual Meeting Program. 2010 April.
http://www.paa2010.princeton.edu/abstractVeiwer.aspx?Sudmissionid=101298
31. Kumat Sonali, Martin Dorwin, Joshi Manju. Structured Teaching program on foot
care for Type II Diabetic patients. Indian Journal of Nursing Studies. 2011 January-
June; 2(1).
32. Merlin M B. Assessment of the effectiveness of planned teaching programme
regarding antenatal care among primigravidae mothers. University of Chennai.
Tamil Nadu. 2005.
33. Dsouza Anjalin, Valsaraj prabha Blessy, Priyadarshini Sangeeta. Effectiveness of
planned teaching programme on knowledge and attitude about complementary
feeding among mothers of infants. The Nursing Journal of India. 2009 Nov 11.
34. Malathi K. Effectiveness of planned teaching programme regarding management of
BPH on BPH patients. The Nursing Journal of India. 2009 September; 9.
9. SIGNATURE OF THE STUDENT:
10. REMARKS OF THE GUIDE: The research problem which was chosen by
the student researcher is based on the felt
need of Indian society. This study result
may contribute to the nursing profession.
11. NAME AND DESIGNATION
OF THE GUIDE
11.1. GUIDE NAME AND ADDRESS: Mrs. J. BALALAKSMI
Professor,
Department of OBG Nursing
The Oxford College of Nursing
No.6/9 & 6/11, 1st cross
Begur road, Hongasandra,
Bengaluru-68
11.2. SIGNATURE OF THE GUIDE:
11.3. HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT
NAME AND ADDRESS : PROF. G THILAGAVATHY
Professor & HOD
Department of OBG Nursing
The Oxford college of Nursing
No.6/9 & 6/11, 1st cross,
Begur road, Hongasandra,
Bengaluru-68
11.4. SIGNATURE OF THE HOD:
12. REMARKS OF PRINCIPAL: The research topic selected is relevant as it
attempts to empower the knowledge of the
women, regarding the ill effects of
foeticide.
12.1. SIGNATURE OF THE PRINCIPAL:
Dr.G.KASTHURI
Principal,
The Oxford College of Nursing
No.6/9 & 6/11, 1st cross
Begur road, Hongasandra,
Bengaluru-68