Raju Gupta1, Sonia Makhija2,3, Shruti Sood1, Veena Devgan1. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi, India. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi, India. makhijasonia@ymail.com. 3. B-3/17A, Lawrence Road, Keshav Puram, Delhi, 110035, India. makhijasonia@ymail.com.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the bias in seeking medical care for female child in various age groups from birth to adolescence. METHODS: It is a retrospective analysis of the hospital records for the period January 2010 through December 2012. The sex ratio was calculated for different age groups including newborns delivered, patients attending OPD (0-12 y), children attending immunization centre (0-5 y), patients admitted in pediatric wards segregated in different age groups i.e., < 1 y, 1-4 y, 5-9 y and 10-14 y. Chi square test was used to find out if there was any variation in the sex ratio of patients attending the hospital against the sex ratio in the community. RESULTS: The mean sex ratio of patients (0-12 y) attending the pediatric OPD was 726 which is significantly lower than the sex ratio in the community (p < 0.00001). The sex ratio of patients (0-5 y) visiting immunization centre (846) was also significantly lower than sex ratio in the community (p = 0.0343). Among children delivered in the hospital mean sex ratio at birth was 934 against a sex ratio of 920 at birth in the reference population. The sex ratio of admitted patients was significantly lower in age groups <1 y (617, p value < 0.00001), 1-4 y (665, p value <0.00001), 5-9 y (665, p value <0.05). But the sex ratio improved for inpatients in the age group 10-14 y (794, p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong bias against females for seeking medical attention both for outpatient and inpatient care. The bias is more for females in younger age groups as compared to adolescents.
OBJECTIVE: To study the bias in seeking medical care for female child in various age groups from birth to adolescence. METHODS: It is a retrospective analysis of the hospital records for the period January 2010 through December 2012. The sex ratio was calculated for different age groups including newborns delivered, patients attending OPD (0-12 y), children attending immunization centre (0-5 y), patients admitted in pediatric wards segregated in different age groups i.e., < 1 y, 1-4 y, 5-9 y and 10-14 y. Chi square test was used to find out if there was any variation in the sex ratio of patients attending the hospital against the sex ratio in the community. RESULTS: The mean sex ratio of patients (0-12 y) attending the pediatric OPD was 726 which is significantly lower than the sex ratio in the community (p < 0.00001). The sex ratio of patients (0-5 y) visiting immunization centre (846) was also significantly lower than sex ratio in the community (p = 0.0343). Among children delivered in the hospital mean sex ratio at birth was 934 against a sex ratio of 920 at birth in the reference population. The sex ratio of admitted patients was significantly lower in age groups <1 y (617, p value < 0.00001), 1-4 y (665, p value <0.00001), 5-9 y (665, p value <0.05). But the sex ratio improved for inpatients in the age group 10-14 y (794, p = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong bias against females for seeking medical attention both for outpatient and inpatient care. The bias is more for females in younger age groups as compared to adolescents.
Authors: Zubair H Aghai; Shivaprasad S Goudar; Archana Patel; Sarah Saleem; Sangappa M Dhaded; Avinash Kavi; Parth Lalakia; Farnaz Naqvi; Patricia L Hibberd; Elizabeth M McClure; Tracy L Nolen; Pooja Iyer; Robert L Goldenberg; Richard J Derman Journal: Reprod Health Date: 2020-12-17 Impact factor: 3.223