Dhaka: Preliminary findings of the first ever comprehensive research on the Gender-Biased Sex Selection in Bangladesh: Exploring Causes and Consequences are presented to the public at 11:00am on 28 March at CIRDAP International Conference Centre (CICC) Auditorium. The Department of Population Sciences, University of Dhaka in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the European Union (EU), investigated the determining factors that could be responsible for GBSS in Bangladesh. The research explored the existence of son preference and availability and access to sex-selection technologies (SSTs) in Bangladesh along with the extents of induced abortion and/or clandestine abortion in the name of menstrual regulation (MR) that are contributing to gender-biased sex selection in Bangladesh.

The preliminary findings from the survey conducted in 12 districts of Dhaka (Dhaka, Gazipur, Manikganj and Faridpur), Rangpur (Rangpur, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and Gaibandha) and Sylhet (Sylhet, Sunamganj, Habiganj and Moulvibazar) division, provide evidence that:

Son preference (28 per cent) is more than double than daughter preference (12 per cent) among the ever-married women aged between 15-49 years and who have at least one child less than five years old in Bangladesh.

Knowledge about any technology among women to know about the sex of the foetus during pregnancy is almost universal (99 per cent) while 82 per cent women said that sex selection technology is available in their area.

The majority (89 per cent) of the women reported that non-governmental hospital/clinic are the places where sex selection technology is available in their area.

Forty (40) per cent women ever used ultrasonography during their pregnancy to know the sex of the foetus which is highest in Rangpur (45 per cent) and lowest in Dhaka (31). The main reason of using ultrasonography during their pregnancy to know the sex of the foetus is that women wanted to know their child’s sex before delivery.

Menstrual regulation (MR) services are available in the fifty-six (56) per cent facilities surveyed under this research while around 11 per cent (10.9) women used MR services in their life-time.

Thirty-six (36) per cent women received MR services from MBBS doctor while another 16 per cent women received this service from quack doctor.

Use of clinic-based MRs services have reduced due to wider availability of over the counter menstrual regulation with medication (MRM). However, availability of over the counter MRM has created a condition for risks of women’s lives.

The study found the existence of abortions and clandestine abortions using MR and other methods are increasing, however, unrelated to GBSS.

The research suggests that:

Higher use of ultrasonography may promote the GBSS and thus initiates should be taken for proper monitoring of the use of ultrasonography during pregnancy.

The excessive use of over the counter menstrual regulation with medication (MRM) should be properly monitored.

Initiative should be taken to have collaborative partnership between MR service providers and academicians/Researchers to explore GBSS in Bangladesh.