Vidarbha scores over Western Maharashtra in child sex ratio

By Vikas Vaidya

The decline in child sex ratio is a cause of concern nation-wide. In Maharashtra also, child sex ratio is declining steadily over the past decades. Among regions, Vidarbha is better placed in sex ratio compared to Marathwada, Western Maharashtra, and Rest of Maharashtra. However, in isolation, child sex ratio in Vidarbha also is on a steady decline over the years.
“The main reason behind the decline in child sex ratio is use of Ultra Sonography (USG) for sex determination,” said Dr Prakash Deo, Chief of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Madhya Pradesh. Dr Deo, who hails from Nagpur, was talking to ‘The Hitavada’. He was in the city recently to receive late Dr V N Wankar Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award for his immense contribution to the field of medicine. Indian Medical Association (IMA), Nagpur branch gives the award.
An expert, who was involved in a project to improve child sex ratio, Dr Deo said that the decline in child sex ratio first took place in 1981 after the radio-diagnostic tool Ultra Sonography (USG) entered the Indian scene. However, the decline remained silent until UNFPA brought it to the notice of all in 2001. In Western Maharashtra, where USG was used rampantly, there is drastic decline in child sex ratio, that is number of female child per 1,000 population.
Known for his ‘out of the box’ style work, Dr Deo joined Public Health Department, Maharashtra, as Medical Officer at Kacharisawanga primary health centre. Then, patients did not come to Primary Health Centres. He took a novel initiative and started reaching out to them. When Mowad witnessed devastating flood, there were fears of post-flood outbreak of diseases. However, Dr Deo led a team and took measures to prevent outbreaks successfully.
Some years ago, Dr Prakash Deo took iniative and brought to the notice of IMA the decline in child sex ratio. Dr Ashok Adhao, who was National President of IMA then, carried forward the idea of improving sex ratio. He initiated ‘Save The Girl Child’ project. Dr Adhao had asked all branches of IMA to form Doctors Against Sex Selection (DASS) committees. This resulted in comparatively lesser decline in child sex ratio in Vidarbha. “Compared to other districts in State, child sex ratio of Yavatmal, Bhandara, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Chandrapur districts in Vidarbha is better,” said Dr Deo.
According to Dr Deo, Vidarbha’s sex ratio was 956 per 1,000 in 1991. In 2001, it came down to 938. It further declined to 923 in 2011. In Marathwada and Western Maharashtra, the ratio declined drastically. It was 948 in Marathwada and 938 in West Maharashtra in 1991. In 2001, it declined to 912 and 877 respectively. In 2011, it further came down to 871 and 872 respectively. Though child sex ratio in Konkan region is the best, the quantum is least as compared to other regions.
Dr Deo said that UNFPA had taken up the theme -- every pregnancy is wanted, every child-birth is safe, potentials of adolescent boys and girls are fulfilled. “Doctors should say no to sex determination and medical termination of pregnancy or MTP. Presently, sex ratio of Maharashtra is 893 per 1,000. It may go up to 950 per 1,000 in coming years if doctors say no to sex determination. We met NGOs, various associations, religious leaders, spiritual leaders. Tribal population does not make any distinction between a boy and a girl. We should learn from them,” he observed.
For decline in child sex ratio, Dr Deo put blame on both gynaecologists and radiologists. According to him, if 99 per cent of doctors say no to sex determination, child sex ratio will show improvement, which is the need of the hour.

Comparative statistics of sex ratio

                           1991    2001    2011    decline
                    (2001-2011)
Vidarbha-           956    938    923    17.5
Marathwada       948    912    871    4057          
West Maha        938    877    872     33       


Vidarbha 1991    2001    2011    decline
                (2001-2011)

Buldana    945    908    855    53
Akola    929    933    912    21
Washim    941    918    863    55
Amravati 950    941    935    6
Wardha- 952    928    919    9
Nagpur- 951    942    931    11
Bhandara- 964    956    950    6
Gondia-    978    958    956    2
Gadchiroli- 980    966    961    5
Chandrapur- 965    939    953    14
Yavatmal- 961    933    922    11
-------------------------------------------------------
    956    938    923    17.5

Marathwada            decline

               1991    2001    2011    decline
                (2001-2011)

Nanded    960    929    910    19
Hingoli    953    927    882    45   
Parbha    956    923    884    39
Jalna    951    903    870    33
Auran    933    890    858    32
Bid    939    894    807    87
Latur    947    918        889    29
------------------------------------------------------
    948    912    871    40.57

Western Maharashtra

               1991    2001    2011        decline
                              (2001-2011)

Pune    943    902    883    19
Ahmed    949    884    852    32
Osman    947    894    867    27
Solapur    935    895    883    12   
Satara    941    878    895    -17   
Kolha    931    839    863    -24
Sangli    924    851    867    -16   
-------------------------------------------------------
    938    877    872     33