فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Background: Sex ratio, an important social indicator measuring extent of prevailing equitybetween males and females in society, is defined as number of females per 1000 males.Changes in sex ratio reflect underlying socioeconomic, cultural patterns of a society. Asper 2011 census sex ratio in India is 914/1000 males, which continues to be significantlyadverse towards women. Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the knowledgeand attitude regarding Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act among the pregnantwomen at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Mumbai. Materials and Methods: A crosssectional study was carried out in the antenatal ward of Lokmanya Tilak Municipal MedicalCollege and General Hospital, Mumbai during the period of January to April 2008. A totalof 143 women were included and a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was usedto get information regarding socio-demographic details of the pregnant women. They wereasked regarding the knowledge and attitude towards the PNDT Act. Data was analyzed byusing Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) 16.0. Results: In the present study,out of 143 women, 105 (73.5%) knew about sex determination. Even out of those whohad heard, the correct knowledge regarding PNDT act was very less. Sonography as atechnique for sex determination done at private hospital was known to the majority of women.Conclusion: Education of women about gender equality and recommendations under PNDTact in order to improve declining sex ratio in our country must be done. Wide publicizationin the media of the Act must be scaled up.