More boys born than girls in ‘alarming' trend [in Vietnam]

A nurse attends to a newborn in Quang Nam Province Hospital. A rapid increase in the proportion of boy births in Viet Nam is expected to lead to major socio-economic problems in the future. — VNA/VNS Photo Huu Oai

October, 27 2010
VNS (Hanoi)

HA NOI — The ratio of boys to girls in Viet Nam has increased rapidly over the past five years and is well above the standard biological level, a UN report stated.

The Sex Ratio at Birth Imbalances in Viet Nam: Evidence from the 2009 Census report released yesterday by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) indicated that the current sex ratio at birth (SRB) is 110.6 males per 100 females, significantly exceeding the standard 105.

A rapid increase in the proportion of boy births over the past five years "has caught world-wide attention and generated concern," said the UNFPA's Bruce Campbell.

While the ratio is at a normal level in the Central Highlands (105.6), it soars to 115.4 in the Hong (Red) River Delta.

According to Campbell, traditional norms and a preference for sons have put pressure on couples to have smaller families. He said identifying the foetus' sex had permitted couples to select a baby's gender.

He said the SRB is a complex issue that impacted on a country's socio-economy. It affects maternal and paternal characteristics, ethnicity, education and employment – even the quality of housing.

The report stated that the SRB increases with levels of education. For instance, the ratio of boys to girls is 107.1 among mothers with primary education and below, whereas it is 113.9 among college and higher-educated mothers.

"Women with more than 10 years of schooling report the highest proportion of male births," Campbell said.

The report also showed a strong relation between the socio-economic status of the household and birth order in the family.

The UNFPA report indicated that the poorest segment of the population recorded an SRB value close to the standard, while the SRB level among richer segments of the population was as high as 112.

"It is the young adult population that will be most affected by 2050. In particular, the opportunity of males to find female partners will be affected," said Dr Christophe Guilmoto, author of the study.

"This, in turn, may contribute to earlier marriages for girls, and possible interruption of women's education. Furthermore, there may be an increase in commercial sex work, trafficking and other negative impacts as well," he said.

The report indicated that other countries including China and India had experienced a rise in the number of male births – 120 and 112 respectively – but that the increase had occurred over a much longer period.

The situation is particularly worrying because neighbouring Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand, which are demographically and socio-economically similar to Viet Nam, have not experienced any significant rise in sex ratios at birth in recent decades, the report stated.

The report predicted that the SRB could rise to 115 by 2015 and that it would remain at this level if no actions were taken.

Campbell said improved gender equality could help to reduce the SRB imbalance in Viet Nam.

"However, the geographical and socio-economic complexitymeans that there is no ‘quick fix' to the rapidly emerging issue, and that a number of different interventions may be needed.