Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – Hanoi will strengthen enforcement efforts againstthe practice of sex selection in an effort to control the capital’s growinggender imbalance, the municipal Health Department said.  

According to the department, the sex ratio at birth in the city has droppedfrom 117.6 boys per 100 girls in 2008 to 113.5 boys per 100 girls in 2017. Inthe first six months of 2018, the sex ratio at birth was 113.2 males per 100females.

However, Hanoi’s rate of sex imbalance at birth remains high, reaching analarming level in several suburban districts.

A survey in Long Bien district showed that 10 out of 14 wards recorded asignificant sex imbalance at birth in 2017, such as Sai Dong ward with the rateof 137 boys per 100 girls and Viet Hung ward with 126 boys per 100 girls.

The incidence of sex imbalance at birth has increased sharply in cases offamilies who have the third child. The gender ratio at birth in these casesrises to 140-163 boys per 100 girls.

Head of the Hanoi Population and Family Planning Department Ta Quang Huy saidone reason for the situation was demographic differences between rural andurban areas and the difference in education level as well as living standard ofeach region.

Sex imbalance at birth in the city was also caused by the longstandingpreference of males to females, and by the tendency for suburban parents towant more children, he said.  

The gender imbalance would seriously impact the country’s socio-economicdevelopment as well as the life of women, men, families and communities,experts said. A shortage of women would make it difficult for men to find awife and likely to have to stay single, which would lead to socialconsequences, including rising gender inequality, women’s early marriage,re-marriage and divorce.

The imbalance also causes an increase in prostitution, trafficking of women andchildren and violence against women resulting from men’s social and sexualdissatisfaction. The paucity of women could cause a shortage of labour inparticular occupations such as preschool or primary school teacher and nursebecause of sexist ideas that these positions are suitable only for women.

According to Dr Hoang Duc Hanh, the health department’s deputy director,districts, wards and towns are responsible for inspecting medical facilitiesoffering ultrasound scans in the localities. The city will also set up aninspection team to conduct unexpected and periodic inspections in thelocalities.

Population experts said that it was necessary pay more attention toeducating couples of child-bearing age and increasing the supply ofcontraception.

In addition, it is necessary to develop supportive policies to improve thequality of social welfare for elderly people in order to reduce the pressure tohave a son to take care of them, and support poor couples who give birth togirls.-VNS/VNA