WATERING THE NEIGHBOUR'S GARDEN: THE GROWING - CICRED

SEX RATIO AT BIRTH AND EXCESS FEMALE CHILD MORTALITY IN INDIA…
Figure 3 Trends in sex ratio at birth by region in India, NFHS-1 (1992-93) &
NFHS-2 (1998-99)
Sex ratio at birth
120
115
110
105
100
95
North EAG East West
South India
1983-86 1987-90 1991-94 1995-98
In rural areas, the sex ratio at birth is 110 boys per 100 girls and
above in five states with Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan
shown in all the four periods and Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
emerging in the recent period. Except for the northern and western
states, rural sex ratio at birth either remained the same or suggests a
fluctuating trend. Rural sex ratios at birth show a fluctuating trend in
southern states. Maharashtra is an exception where rural SRB is slightly
higher than urban SRB for the most recent period.
Further evidence of sex ratio at birth (for two recent births in the
last three years) is examined by women’s education and standard of
living index across the states. The evidence indicates systematic rise in
sex ratio of birth both by women’s education and household standard
of living index (Table 1). Except in Kerala and West Bengal, the sex
ratio at birth is the lowest for illiterate women and women in poor
households (households with lower standard of living index scores). In
eight states of North, North Central and West regions the SRB shows
a sharp increase, 125 and above for women with middle school compared
to illiterate women and for women in households of higher
standard of living index compared to women in households of low
standard of living. In Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, the
SRB is extremely high, 140 boys and above per 100 girls for women
with middle school education and households of high standard of
living index.
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