Adityavarman Mehta
While some frontline health workers argued that the preference for male children was no longer common in their villages, many claimed that they are constantly counseling families insisting on producing children irrespective of the fact that it could potentially endanger the life of the expecting mother. In some cases, I have seen families with eight girls still looking for a male child. Perhaps the most stirring case was of a 35-year-old physically disabled woman who had delivered five girls, but her family was unprepared to relent until she gave birth to a boy.
Having conducted field research on maternal, child
health and nutrition outcomes in South Africa, Ghana and Kenya, I was eager to
explore these issues in low-resource settings in India. As a sociology and
global health student, working for the Antara Foundation in Rajasthan presented
a number of captivating intellectual challenges because of the extensive
literature on Rajasthan’s skewed sex ratio and abysmal maternal and child
health indicators. With the responsibility of eighteen Anganwadi Centers in Khanpur, Jhalwar, I was excited about the potential for discovery
afforded by this opportunity.
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| Maraita village, where I work with four Anganwadi Centres |
According to the 2011 national census, Rajasthan had a
sex ratio of 928 females per 1000 males.[1] Although Rajasthan’s sex ratio
has improved from 909 females per 1000 males in 2001, the preference for the
male child is indisputable. Jhalawar, in particular, has witnessed a more
skewed sex ratio compared to other cities in Rajasthan like Jaipur, Kota,
Bikaner and Ajmer. Drs. Rashma Gera and Seema Mehta conducted a study to
illustrate the sex ratio at birth at tertiary hospitals in Rajasthan. Their
evidence indicates that 924.8 females were born per 1000 males in Jhalawar in
2010, but there was a dramatic decline in 2015, with 876 females per 1000 males.[2] These are shocking
numbers!
Through Antara Foundation’s fellowship in Jhalawar, apart
from contributing to better health outcomes, I wanted to observe local
attitudes toward female children during my field visits. Upon analyzing the
nutritional status of male and female children in some of Khanpur’s villages, I
often found that the likelihood of female children being malnourished was
greater than male children. Male children were also given more opportunities to
study compared to female children.
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Always enjoy my interactions with the
kids of Bhairoopura.
While some frontline health workers argued that the preference for male children was no longer common in their villages, many claimed that they are constantly counseling families insisting on producing children irrespective of the fact that it could potentially endanger the life of the expecting mother. In some cases, I have seen families with eight girls still looking for a male child. Perhaps the most stirring case was of a 35-year-old physically disabled woman who had delivered five girls, but her family was unprepared to relent until she gave birth to a boy.
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| Working on the Rajsangam app with a frontline worker in Khanpur block |
Some of the families insisting on male children argued
that children were a blessing from God and it was unacceptable for them to refuse
even if it was life-threatening to the mother. In other cases, women were
blaming their husbands for multiple pregnancies. Despite the Auxiliary Nurse Midwife’s
(ANM’s) repeated attempts at counseling families, effecting a change in their thinking
continued to be a challenge. In my interactions with frontline health workers, we
talk about explaining the benefits of schemes such as the Rajasthan
Mukhyamantri Rajshree Yojana, that incentivize the birth, immunization, and
education of the girl child, to beneficiaries. Furthermore, I try to emphasize
the importance of ensuring that beneficiaries receive the money that government
schemes promise and any assistance that they might need in navigating banking
systems because I have spoken with numerous mothers who have talked about their
struggles in understanding basic functions such as debit, credit, deposit and
withdrawal. Effecting behavior change is a complex process that requires
constant reinforcement over a long period of time. In the short-term, using
monetary incentives to promote the birth and healthy development of girls can
be effective.
Ultimately, the Antara Foundation’s primary objective
is to improve the lives of the people of Jhalawar. In addition to elevating the
standard of maternal and child health delivery in Jhalawar, I hope we can work
towards eliminating biases against the girl child. A healthy and educated
female population will only serve to benefit Jhalawar and eventually, all of
Rajasthan. As Karl Marx once said, “Anybody who knows anything of history knows
that great social changes are impossible without the feminine ferment.”
Adityavarman Mehta was a fellow with the Antara Foundation
Disclaimer: The article has been written in personal capacity, and the views and opinions expressed are those of the author
[1] Population
Census 2011 (2015). Reference: https://www.census2011.co.in/census/state/rajasthan.html
[2] Gera, R., & Mehta, S. (2018). Changing Trends of
Sex Ratio at Birth at Tertiary Hospitals of Rajasthan. International Journal Of
Scientific Research, 7 (7).
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