WATERING THE NEIGHBOUR'S GARDEN: THE GROWING - CICRED

DISCRIMINATION FROM CONCEPTION TO CHILDHOOD…
male children. Interestingly, none of these diseases was reported
among male children. However, general diseases like diarrhoea, jaundice,
fever, typhoid or pneumonia had been predominantly found
among male children. Thus, it is clear from the above discussion that
there exists a remarkable gender differential in the morbidity condition
of the dead children. Female children were found to suffer from diseases
that could have been prevented through proper care.
The analysis also shows the sex differentials in the treatmentseeking
pattern for the dead children. We found a significant gender
differential in the medical treatment for diseases. About 44 percent of
the girls had not received any treatment compared to 18 percent of
boys. In addition, when looking at the money spent on treatment, all
the male children had received paid treatment whereas in the case of 12
percent of the female children, the treatment was unpaid. Considering
who paid the cost of treatment for the child, again a gender differential
can also be observed. In case of 18 percent dead female children, the
cost of treatment has not been borne by the father against 7 percent in
case of male children. This indicates that negligence is relatively more
frequent on the father’s side for the treatment of a daughter Thus, the
discussion highlights that there exists a gender differential not only in
the medical treatment of the disease but also regarding the involvement
of the father in girl childcare.
The information on immunization pattern is mainly based on the
mothers’ report. All vaccinations were found to be lower among female
children than among male children, except for the BCG vaccine.
A significant gender differential has been observed in case of polio
vaccination. All the male children were vaccinated, whereas 26 percent
of the female children were not vaccinated even after the government’s
important initiative of universal polio vaccination in India. Also, in case
of DPT and measles vaccine, 70 percent of the male children were
immunized compared to almost half of the female children. Deaths
due to tetanus and measles appear more frequent among female children
because of this low immunization. These evidences clearly shows
gender differential in immunization in rural Haryana. It indirectly
demonstrates more disregard for female children as immunization
facilities are readily available within or near the village.
3.1.4. Correlates of passive elimination
We can now examine the correlates of passive elimination of girl
child, which is seen here in terms of death of female children. Table 3
presents the adjusted effects of selected predictors such as male children
ever born, female children ever born, ideal number of children,
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