Communique of the National Sample Survey of Fertility and Birth Control (abstract)

The State Family Planning Commission in China surveyed 2,151,212 people, including 459,269 married women aged 15-57 on fertility and birth control, in July, 1988 from 30 provinces and other regions. From 1980- 87 the average total fertility rate was 2.47 vs. 4.01 in the 1970s. Fertility rates in the 80s were 1.33 for cities, 2.43 for towns, and 2.84 for villages. 1st parity births rose from 44.15% to 52.55% from Jan. to July of 1988 and 2nd parity births were about 30%. Women aged 50-57 had an average of 5.27 children while women aged 45-59 had an average of 4.44 children. 71.21% of childbearing-age women use contraception: 10.99% use male sterilization, 38.24% use female sterilization, 41.48% use IUDs, 4.91% oral pills, 2.65% condoms, 0.42% external contraceptives, and 1.32% use other methods. 13.79% of the married, childbearing-age couples have one-child certificates. The population of China as of April 1989 was 1.1 billion. In 1988 the birth rate was 20.78/1000 and the death rate was 6.58/1000.     

出生性别比升高的分因素贡献率

文章根据2005年1%人口抽样调查数据,对比2000年人口普查数据,利用经济学中的贡献率概念,给出分因素出生人口性别比升高的贡献率计算方法,比较在全国出生性别比升高中各省的贡献及在各省出生性别比升高中分城乡及分孩次的贡献程度,为做好综合治理出生性别比工作提出新的观点和建议。     

Evidence mounts for sex-selective abortion in Asia

In Korea, China, and Taiwan--countries where son preference persists--the availability of prenatal screening techniques and induced abortion has produced an imbalance in the naturally occurring sex ratios of 104-107 male births for every 100 female births. Policy responses to sex-selective abortion were the focus of a 1994 International Symposium on Sex Preference for Children in the Rapidly Changing Demographic Dynamics in Asia sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund and the Government of the Republic of Korea. Modern technology (i.e., amniocentesis, ultrasound, and chorionic villi sampling) enables couples to control both family size and sex selection. According to data from the 1990 Korean Census, 80,000 female fetuses were aborted from 1986-90 as a result of son preference. In the late 1980s, the Governments of Korea, China, and India imposed bans on the use of medical technology for prenatal sex determination, but many observers maintain that regulations have served only to make the procedures clandestine and more expensive. To remedy the problems underlying sex-selective abortion, the Symposium recommended the following government actions: 1) implement policies and programs to diminish gender discrimination; 2) establish guidelines for the monitoring and regulation of prenatal testing; 3) utilize mass and folk media, interpersonal channels, and school curricula to promote gender equality; 4) strengthen the ethics curriculum of medical schools to address son preference; and 5) increase the capability of statistical and research organizations to collect gender-disaggregated data.     

中国出生性别比异常的特征分析

利用对中国人口有代表性的、最新资料 ,分析中国出生性别比异常的变化趋势和人群、地域特征。我国出生性别比持续异常 ,主要表现为第二及以上孩次的出生性别比的升高 ,其中只有姐姐的婴儿出生性别比异常升高情况最为严重 ;且随时间的推移越来越严重 ;从地域分布来说 ,华南和华东地区出生性别比异常现象最为严重     

Thailand population statistics] as of April 1, 1994

This one page profile gives population statistics for April 1994 in Thailand. Total population is estimated to be 58,656,000 persons, of whom 29,310,000 were male and 29,346,000 were female. The population was 18,019,000 in urban areas and 40,637,000 in rural areas. Regional population was distributed as follows: 7,532,000 in the Northern Region, 19,773,000 in the Northeastern Region, 7,174,000 in the Southern Region, 14,652,000 in the Central Region excluding Bangkok Metropolis, and 7,525,000 in Bangkok Metropolis. 35,669,000 women were of reproductive age (15-44 years). As regards the general population, 19,614,000 were aged 6-21 years, 35,669,000 were aged 20 years or older, 16,893,000 were aged under 15 years, 37,481,000 were aged 15-59 years, and 4,282,000 were aged 60 years or older. The crude birth rate was 18.5/1000 total population. The crude death rate was 6.4/1000 total population. The natural growth rate was 1.2%. The infant mortality rate was 34.5/1000 live births. Life expectancy at birth was 67.7 years for males and 72.4 years for females. Life expectancy at 60 years was 18.8 years for males and 22.0 years for females. The total fertility rate was 1.95 children/woman. Contraceptive prevalence was 75.0%. Population is expected to increase to 71,414,000 persons in the year 2012. A separate graph indicates the estimated numbers of child prostitutes based on five different assumptions about total numbers of commercial sex workers in 1993.     

Study on the Relationship between Parity Structure and Imbalance of Sex Ratio at Birth in China

In China, the increase of the sex ratio at birth(SRB)associates with the decline of the fertility level. The change of the parity structure,one of the main reasons of the low fertility level,may also play an important part in the change of the SRB. We fi nd that the decrease of the proportion of the second and higher parity deters the imbalance of the SRB in China. The increase of the SRB in China is mainly caused by the increase of the second and higher parity's correspondent level of SRB before 2000,and the fi rst parity's SRB also Plays more and more important role after 2000.     

生育水平、性别偏好和出生性别比——兼论出生性别比的监测方法

本研究以马-冯-陈模型为定性基础,认为一定人口的出生性别比并非固定不变,而是受到生育水平的影响。当无性别偏好时,生育水平主要通过改变不同孩次占出生人口比例的方式影响出生性别比;当有性别偏好时,生育水平既影响不同孩次占总出生人口的比例,又影响不同孩次的出生性别比,从而对总出生性别比产生影响。对于没有性别偏好和性别选择行为的人口,生育水平变化是引起出生性别比波动的主要原因。有性别选择行为时,生育水平变化对出生性别比的影响较小,性别选择行为是出生性别比异常的主要原因。监测以"曾生子女孩次和性别次序"为条件划分的人群,可以有效而便捷地判断出生性别比变化趋势。     

中国出生性别比转变的人口老龄化后果：前景与对策

从1980年代开始,中国出生性别比失衡已经持续40余年,预计到2050年左右才能恢复正常。长达70年的出生性别比转变对中国人口和社会都产生深远的影响。以往研究主要集中探讨性别失衡问题,对出生性别比升高加剧人口老龄化的关注较少。为此,利用新近估计的中国出生性别比、生育率和死亡率数据,借助人口模拟预测和稳定人口比较分析的方法对中国出生性别比转变的人口老龄化后果进行深入考察。研究发现,出生性别比上升不仅会减少女婴出生数,还会减少男婴出生数,由此造成人口规模的下降并加剧了中国的人口老龄化。引导出生性别比尽快回归正常可以缓解人口老龄化,继续加强出生性别比治理可以在中国积极应对人口老龄化的过程中起到重要作用。     

性别失衡下的人口健康与公共安全:国际视野与历史经验

在经济社会转型之际,中国因出生性别比和女婴死亡水平的持续偏高而即将面临严峻的性别结构失衡问题。大规模的男性过剩人口将对人口健康特别是公共健康与安全造成什么样的风险成为政府成功应对挑战的关注点。在目前尚缺乏直接证据的前提下,基于国际的视野和历史经验,从个体人口健康、公共健康与安全两个层次,对不同时期和文化环境下有关性别失衡与健康风险的研究进行系统的综述,识别出男性过剩的人口环境将引发的健康风险的类型和危害程度,在比较分析的基础上,提出应对中国性别失衡背景下健康风险的政策建议,讨论未来该领域的研究方向。     

New survey finds fertility decline in India

A brief indication was provided of demography, fertility, and contraceptive usage and knowledge based on the recent 1992/93 Indian National Family Health Survey. The sample included 88,562 households and 89,777 ever married women aged 13-49 years in 24 states and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. About 38% of household members were aged under 15 years. The sex ratio was 944 females to 100 males. 54% aged over 5 years were currently married; 10% were widowed, divorced, or separated. 43% were literate and 9% had secondary or higher education: 67% for females in cities and 34% in rural areas. Female literacy was 82% in Kerala but under 30% in Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. During 1990-92, the crude birth rate was 28.9 per 1000 population. Total fertility was 3.4 for women aged 15-49 years: 3.7 in rural and 2.7 in urban areas. 31% of parents had been sterilized. 26% desired no more children. Only 6% of women with four or more children desired another child. 99% of urban and 95% of rural respondents had knowledge of at least one modern or traditional method. Female and male sterilization were the most well-known modern methods. 47% of women had ever used contraception: 42% with a modern method and 12% with a traditional method. 41% were current users of family planning: 36% with a modern and 4% with a traditional method (45% in urban and 33% in rural areas with a modern method). The highest contraceptive use was in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Punjab states and Delhi (over 50%). The two most populous states, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, had the lowest rates, which were under 25%; other low usage was in Assam and several small northeastern states. 75% of all female modern contraceptive use was female sterilization. 12% in urban and 3% in rural areas used a modern spacing method. Use increased with increased educational level. Rural sources of supply emphasized public facilities: sterilization and IUDs.     

Population statistics] as of January 1, 1994

This one-page sheet, dated January 1, 1994, provides statistical information on population by sex, residence, region, age, and other measures of growth and health in Thailand. Total population is listed as 58,482,000 (29,223,000 males and 29,259,000 females). The population size projected for the year 2012 is 71,414,000. Urban population numbers 17,966,000, while rural population is 40,516,000. The most populous regions are the Northeastern Region with 19,715,000 inhabitants and the Central Region (excluding Bangkok Metro area) with 14,609 inhabitants. The Northern Region has 9,503,000 inhabitants, Bangkok Metropolis has 7,503,000, and the Southern Region has 7,152,000. 15,098,000 are women in the childbearing ages. 16,843,000 are aged under 15 years, and 4,269,000 are aged 60 years and older. The crude birth rate is 18.5/1000 population. The crude death rate is 6.4/1000 population. The natural growth rate is 1.2%. Infant mortality is 34.5/1000 live births. Life expectancy at birth is 67.7 years for males and 72.4 years for females. Total fertility is 1.95 children/woman. Contraceptive prevalence is 75.0%. The graph of two-year migrants shows the peak ages for single moves to be 20-24 years (23.5%). Seasonal moves and repeat moves are much smaller in slope and never rise higher than about 5%.     

The Implementation of Preferences for Male Offspring

Over the past quarter century the sex ratio at birth (SRB) has risen above natural levels in a number of countries, mostly in Asia. This rise has been made possible in populations with strong son preference by the increasing availability of safe, effective, and inexpensive technologies to determine the sex of a fetus and to end unwanted pregnancies. This article documents levels and trends in the sex ratio at birth, in preferences for male offspring (using information on desired number of girls and boys), and in the implementation of these preferences. DHS surveys from 61 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and for Indian states are the main source of data. A comparison of desired with actual SRBs finds large gaps in most populations, implying a substantial pent‐up demand for male offspring and the technology to implement this preference. Two types of actions to implement preferences are considered: the practice of contraception to stop childbearing after the desired number of sons has been born and the use of sex‐selective abortion to avoid female births. The second part of the article discusses factors that could influence the SRB, including the promotion of gender equality, and the implications of these factors for future trends.     

1990年代中国出生性别比:究竟有多高?

当1990年代各种人口调查"过低的"生育水平难以置信时,其"过高的"出生性别比数据却被广泛接受。本文的主要目的是通过对2000年人口普查出生数据漏报的性别差异的分析,利用教育统计数据,重新估计2000年及90年代的出生性别比。结果表明我国实际的出生性别比并不像2000年普查数据反映的那样严重偏高。我国实际的出生性别比和低年龄组性别比要比普查反映的水平低5～9个百分点。1990年代在我国出生性别比偏高的部分中,女婴漏报的作用高达50%以上。本文还根据2000年普查千分之一抽样数据,考察了出生性别比的社会经济差异。     

中国30年早婚变化分析--基于“六普”数据

文章使用第六次全国人口普查数据对1980年以来的早婚率进行了分析,发现30年来早婚率经历了从急剧升高到逐渐下降又到部分省份升高的过程,早婚率由女性高于男性转变为男性高于女性;总体上农村地区的早婚率高于城镇,受教育程度越低的群体中早婚发生率越高,当前男性早婚现象更多发生在部分东中部地区和西部地区,女性早婚现象更多发生在西部地区。进一步分析认为,导致早婚的根源是民间传统习俗在部分人群受教育程度低、性别比失衡、青少年性意识萌动但性教育滞后以及基层服务缺位和基层管理弱化等因素作用下的结果。     

Does the marriage market sex ratio affect parental sex selection? Evidence from the Chinese census

Recent increases in the (male/female) sex ratio at birth in eastern Asia are thought to be associated with a preference for sons and to result from parental sex selection. However, males are less likely to marry and to have offspring as the ratio increases, and that decreases the expected number of grandchildren. Using data from the 2000 Chinese census, we test whether the sex ratio in the marriage market has an effect on the gender of subsequent births and hence on the sex ratio of the birth cohort. The slow population growth caused by the Great Famine in the early 1960s and the quick recovery that followed produced major changes in the sex ratio for those of marriageable age two decades later. We estimate that an increase of 1 % in the number of marriageable males relative to females, the marriage market sex ratio, would decrease the probability of having a son by 0.02 percentage points. That implies that the Great Famine, which occurred around 1960, led to an increase in the early 1980s of 5.8 extra male births per 100 females.     

China＇s Most Populous Province to Ban Fetus Sex Identification

Henan, the most populous province in central China,is plagued by an excessively high sex ratio imbalance at birth in certain parts of the province. To ameliorate the situation, the province will enact regulations to ban non-medically necessary fetus gender identification and sex-selective abortions.     

引起中国出生性别比偏高的三要素

从“人群、技术和管理系统”三个要素分析造成中国出生性别比升高的原因 ,在出生性别比异常偏高的地方 ,首先 ,有一定规模的男孩偏好的人群 ;其次 ,有可以获得的性别选择信息和技术服务 ;同时 ,存在着对性别选择行为疏于管理的系统。这三要素是在中国社会经济、文化习俗和生育政策的大环境下发挥着作用 ,因此 ,出生性别比偏高的治理工作必须从这三要素入手 ,同时必须努力创造有利于出生性别比治理工作的社会、经济、文化和政策环境。     

An alternative formulation of the birth function in a two-sex model

The inconsistency in Lotka's stable population model (two different intrinsic growth rates for the two sexes) arises from the fact that he considers two equations (for male and female births), and not because his equation for one sex does not involve the other. Many authors in the past have erroneously put emphasis on the latter point and modified Lotka's equations for male and female births. Since sex ratio at birth is constant, two independent equations for male and female births cannot exist. The correct approach is to attempt to form an equation for all births. The author followed this approach in his earlier works on the problem, but his birth functions were formulated from axiomatic considerations. The present paper provides a new birth function which has an intuitively appealing physical interpretation, and for which the interaction between the sexes is empirically determined from the data.     

Population statistics] as of October 1, 1994

As of October 1, 1994, Thailand's population was comprised of 29,413,000 males and 29,448,000 females, 18,588,000 of whom resided in urban areas. 11,501,000 lived in the North, 20,007,000 to the Northeast, 7,310,000 in the South, 12,732,000 in central Thailand excluding Bangkok, and 7,311,000 in the Bangkok metropolis. 16,952,000 were under 15 years old, 19,682,000 aged 6-21, 37,612,000 aged 15-59, 35,793,000 aged 20 and over, and 4,297,000 aged 60 and over. There were 15,195,000 women aged 15-44. The crude birth rate was 17.6/1000, crude death rate 5.8/1000, natural growth rate 1.2%, and infant mortality rate 34.13 per 1000 live births. Male and female life expectancies at birth were respectively 67.7 and 72.4 years, while male and female life expectancies at 60 were 18.8 and 22.0. Rates of total fertility per woman and contraceptive prevalence were respectively 1.95 and 75.0%. The population is projected to total 71,637,000 in the year 2012.     

High Sex Ratios at Birth in the Caucasus: Modern Technology to Satisfy Old Desires

During the 1990s, the sex ratio at birth increased considerably and simultaneously in the three independent Caucasian countries, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. At the end of the first decade of the twenty‐first century, levels remain abnormally high in Armenia and Azerbaijan (above 114 male births per 100 female births) and show erratic trends in Georgia. Analyzing data from demographic surveys carried out around 2005, we confirm the persistence of high sex ratios in these three countries and document significant differences in fertility intentions and behavior according to the sex of the previous child or children that constitute evidence of the practice of sex‐selective abortion. These countries combine societal features and medical systems that make this phenomenon possible: son preference in a context of low fertility and the possibility of prenatal sex selection given easy access to ultrasound screening and induced abortion. Why high sex ratios are observed only in these three countries of the sub‐region remains, however, an open question.