Tied to the predominantly patrilineal and patriarchal social structures, traditional minded society still prefers sons over daughters. The males are regarded as the main source of family incomes and the ones who carry on lineage names, guarantee security in old age and perform the last rites of deceased parents. This sort of mindset puts males superior to females in cultural and religious psyche of people. This has impelled people to go for sex-selective abortion risking life of many women. As a result, there is disproportionate male/female ratio, with negative impact on female population.

The ‘expected’ sex ratio at birth, as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is around 105 males per 100 females. In Nepal, as per the national census of 2011, the number of males born exceeded 105 in 11 districts of Terai and the hills. A study conducted by the Centre for Research on Environment Health and Population Activities (CREHPA) in 2017 had reported that around 89 per cent of pregnant women who had previously had two or more daughters expressed a strong desire for a son and 73 per cent of those with one daughter expressed a wish to have a male child.

According to the record of the Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital, the number of male children born at the hospital stood 11,519 and female children 10,183 in the fiscal year 2020/21. Abortion was legalised in Nepal in 2002 and as per the Right to Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Act 2018, but it is only legal to abort a foetus until the 12th week of gestation for any reason and up to the 28th week if the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest, if the life of the pregnant woman or her physical or mental health is in danger or the child may be born with a disability. The sex determination tests and abortion are illegal in Nepal and those involved in such crimes face jail term from 3 to 6 months but there is no evidence that this punishment has ever been slapped on the law-breakers.

Abortion after sex identification is strictly prohibited. However, due to poor implementation of laws and the lack of regular monitoring and inspection by the authorities many private institutions are flouting the laws. Even the literate and educated people are found using technology to determine and abort baby girls risking their life. In order to stop sex-selective abortion, equal importance and opportunities must be provided to boys and girls. A massive campaign needs to be conducted to make people aware of the consequences of sex-selective abortion which affects health and life of women.

People should learn that gender imbalance gives rise to anti-social and criminal activities including violence, rape, kidnapping, trafficking and prostitution, among others. Awareness and empowerment of women is the key to check sex-selective abortion that has detrimental consequences for socio-economic development. Such an illegitimate act belittles the role of women in the family and society. It is imperative to ensure women’s access to resources, opportunity and decision-making, which will help bust the fallacious myths on male and females.