Up to 12 million girls were aborted over the last three decades in India by parents that tended to be richer and more educated, a study has found, and researchers warned that the figure could rise with falling fertility rates. The missing daughters occurred mostly in families which already had a first born daughter. Although the preference for boys runs across Indian society, abortions were more likely to be carried out by educated parents who were aware of ultrasound technology and who could afford abortions.
“The number of girls being aborted is increasing and may have reached 12 million with the lower estimate of 4 million over the last three decades,” said lead author Professor Prabhat Jha at the Centre for Global Health Research in Toronto, Canada.
“The logic is families are saying if Nature gives us a first boy, then we don’t do anything. But if Nature gives a first girl then perhaps we would consider ultrasound testing and selective abortion for the subsequent children,” Jha was reported as saying.
Jha said the preference for boys in Indian society remains firmly in place and the reason why abortions of female foetuses were occurring more among richer and educated parents was because they could afford to do so.