The census studies drew attention to the declining sex ratio and higher female mortality (specially in the age-group 15- 44years. Neglect, rather than under enumeration, is the explanation of the adverse sex ratio. According to Vital Statistics of India, the incidence of female mortality in the age-group 15-29 is high, both in rural areas and in the whole country. Female mortality in the age-group 1-4 has increased. Some scholars observe that vital statistics regarding infant deaths and births are under-estimates, particularly in the case of females, the difference between estimated and reported deaths being as high as 75.69% for rural and 59.07% for urban areas. The recent SRS data for also indicate that female mortality continues to be higher in the age-groups 0-4 and 15-34.
Recent medical research, while try to identify the contributory factors for higher female mortality, has concentrated more on maternal mortality and has identified different factors such as pregnancy wastage (abortions and still births) which have remained constant over the period and mostly prevail in low-income groups. A study reported that pregnancy wastage of malnourished mothers was as high as 30%. Still births constituted 11 per 1,000 live births. Perinatal mortality was the result of maternal malnutrition, iron deficiency, and anemia. Another cause of infant and maternal mortality was related to higher birth orders and frequent pregnancy, causing protein malnutrition. 10-20% deaths are known to be due to nutritional anemia and 16.44% to pregnancy complications and morbidity. Besides, a WHO report indicates that psychiatric morbidity is more prevalent among women than men.
Last modified: Tuesday, 27 November 2012, 10:59 PM
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