Gender equality helps reduce sex imbalance at birth
9/10/19
Raising public awareness of gender equality as well as improving status of women and girls are considered as keys to reduce the unbalanced sex ratio at birth, said Deputy General Director of the General Office for Population - Family Planning Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan on October 8.At a meeting held on October 8 in response to the International Day for the Girl Child (October 11) in the northern mountainous province of Lang Son, Lan stressed gender imbalance at birth, with more boys than girls being born, is increasing rapidly in both rural and urban areas across the country.Currently, the rate is around 114.8 boys/100 girls, with Lang Son province recording a higher figure of 116.3 boys/100 girls in 2018, she said.The imbalanced sex ratio at birth will negatively affect Vietnam’s population structure in the future, resulting in an excess of men. If there is no timely measure put in place, 2.3 - 4.3 million men in Vietnam will have no chance to find wives by 2050, Ngoc underlined.Besides, the imbalance could have grave consequences for the country’s socio-economic development as well as the lives of women, men, families and communities.A shortage of women also causes an increase in women’s early marriage, prostitution, trafficking of women and girls, and domestic violence against women, among others, she added.Lan expressed her belief that with drastic efforts from competent sectors and branches and the whole community, gender imbalance at birth will be improved, bringing a brighter future to Vietnamese women and girl children.After the meeting, a wide range of activities and parade in response to the International Day for the Girl Child were organised on Lang Son city’s streets./.
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The gender imbalance would seriously impact the country’s socio-economic development as well as the life of women, men, families and communities.
A shortage of women would make it difficult for men to find a wife and likely to have to stay single, which would lead to social consequences, including rising gender inequality, women’s early marriage, re-marriage and divorce.
The incidence of sex imbalance at birth has increased sharply in cases of families who have the third child. The gender ratio at birth in these cases rises to 140-163 boys per 100 girls.
Sex imbalance at birth in the city was also caused by the longstanding preference of males to females, and by the tendency for suburban parents to want more children.
The imbalance also causes an increase in prostitution, trafficking of women and children and violence against women resulting from men’s social and sexual dissatisfaction.
The paucity of women could cause a shortage of labour in particular occupations such as preschool or primary school teacher and nurse because of sexist ideas that these positions are suitable only for women.
Districts, wards and towns are responsible for inspecting medical facilities offering ultrasound scans in the localities.
Population experts said that it was necessary pay more attention to educating couples of child-bearing age and increasing the supply of contraception.
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city must strengthen enforcement efforts against the practice of sex selection in an effort to control the capital’s growing gender imbalance.
Well done, Vietnam!
In addition, it is necessary to develop supportive policies to improve the quality of social welfare for elderly people in order to reduce the pressure to have a son to take care of them, and support poor couples who give birth to girls.
the situation is made more complicated by the easier access to affordable sex-determination and sex-selection technology that allows couples to pursue their desire for one or more sons.
Actions that guide the sex determination and selection must be banned at medical centres and in society
Sex imbalances at birth in Vietnam are mainly caused by the longstanding habit of preferring males to females.
Vietnam is expected to lack from 2.3-4.3 million women by 2050 if no prompt interventions are taken.
Besides, people have easier access to affordable sex determination and sex selection technology, which allow couples to pursue their desire for sons.
International Day of the Girl Child aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls' empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.
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