Girl babies make tiny gain on boys
Source: Agencies |
June 4, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA has taken its first baby steps in narrowing a gender chasm that has left the country with tens of millions more boys than girls, an official said yesterday.
In 2009, there were 119.45 male newborns for every 100 females, down from 120.56 in 2008 - the first decline in years, said Li Bin, head of the State Population and Family Planning Commission.
The natural ratio should be about 105 males per 100 females at birth, but the gap has widened in China since it introduced a one-child policy three decades ago to curb population growth - a restriction that bolstered a traditional preference for boys.
Wider use of ultrasound and abortions has caused the imbalance to increase significantly in recent years.
"Looked at from a comprehensive perspective, the lopsided sex ratio at birth has started to be contained," Li said in comments reported on the government's main Website, www.gov.cn.
She said it would take years to consolidate the trend.
In 2009, there were 119.45 male newborns for every 100 females, down from 120.56 in 2008 - the first decline in years, said Li Bin, head of the State Population and Family Planning Commission.
The natural ratio should be about 105 males per 100 females at birth, but the gap has widened in China since it introduced a one-child policy three decades ago to curb population growth - a restriction that bolstered a traditional preference for boys.
Wider use of ultrasound and abortions has caused the imbalance to increase significantly in recent years.
"Looked at from a comprehensive perspective, the lopsided sex ratio at birth has started to be contained," Li said in comments reported on the government's main Website, www.gov.cn.
She said it would take years to consolidate the trend.
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