top of page
Asian Institute of Research, Journal Publication, Journal Academics, Education Journal, Asian Institute
Asian Institute of Research, Journal Publication, Journal Academics, Education Journal, Asian Institute

Journal of Health and Medical Sciences

ISSN 2622-7258

Screen Shot 2018-08-12 at 1.24.09 AM.png
Screen Shot 2018-08-12 at 1.24.02 AM.png
Screen Shot 2018-08-12 at 1.23.57 AM.png
Screen Shot 2018-08-12 at 1.23.52 AM.png
crossref
doi
open access

Published: 19 December 2019

Son preference Among Mothers in Mosul, Iraq

Hajir H. Al-Ridhwany, Duraid Ibrahim Jirjees, Abdullah Rajab Mohammed Salih,
Asma A. Aljawadi

Nineveh Health Directorate, Iraq

journal of social and political sciences
pdf download

Download Full-Text Pdf

doi

10.31014/aior.1994.02.04.84

Pages: 541-545

Keywords: Son, Parity, Illiteracy, Mosul, Social

Abstract

Introduction: Son preference is a form of gender discrimination based on the belief that girls are inadequate and of lesser value than boys. It affects couples' fertility and may act as an obstacle to fertility decline. Aim: The study is aiming for estimating prevalence of son preferences among mothers in Mosul, Iraq and detecting its relation with actual and desired parity. Subjects and Method: Cross-sectional study was achieved in Mosul, Iraq. Inclusion criteria were "currently married mothers who consulted one of the primary health care centers. Results: The study interviewed 1761 mothers who their mean age was 36.3 years and ranged 15-79 years. More than half of them (54.1%). Most of them were Muslims (93.9%) and Arabs (83.7%). The study reported 338 mothers preferred to have only sons (making prevalence of son preference as 19.2%).It was significantly associated with having or desire to have high parity (22.8%, 0.01 and 29.2%. p=0.000). Social and economic gains were the most motivations (82.2%, 17.8%) for preferring sons. Conclusions: Two out of 10 mothers in Mosul prefer to have only sons for mainly social welfare.

References

  1. Abbasi-Shavazi MJ, Morgan SPh, Hossein-Chavoshi M, Mc Donald P. (2007). Family change and continuity in the Islamic republic of Iran: Birth control use before the first pregnancy. Iran: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
  2. Adhikari R. (2010). Demographic, socio-economic, and cultural factors affecting fertility differentials in Nepal. Research article. BMC [serial online] [cited 2012 July 12]; 10:19. Available from URL: http://www.biomedcentral.com
  3. Akinfeleye R, Charles JO, Omideyi AK. (1999). Socio-cultural factors affecting attitude and behaviour regarding population and family life issues in Nigeria. Nigeria: United Nations. Lagos.
  4. Akmam W. (2002). Women's education and fertility rates in developing countries, with special reference to Bangladesh. Eubios Journal of Asian and International Bioethics;12:138-43.
  5. Al-Qudsi S. (2008). The Demand for Children in Arab countries: Evidence from Panel and Count Data Model. Journal of Population Economic; 51(11):435-52.
  6. Al-Ridhwany HH and Aljawadi AA. (2018). Gap between Preferred and Observed Fertility Behaviors among Mothers in Mosul, Iraq. SM J Community Med. 4(1): 1029.
  7. Arthur JL. (2005). Family size and its socio-economic implications in the Sunyani municipality of the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana, West Africa: Centre for Development Studies, Faculty of Social Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
  8. Boba SM. (2008). Medical sociology: course guide. Ilorin (Nigeria): Department of Sociology, University of Ilorin.
  9. Chen-Chung L, Jia-Hsung L. (2005). Prompting conceptual understanding with computer-mediated peer discourse and knowledge acquisition techniques. BJET; 36(5):821-37.
  10. Clarke D, Bundy D, Lee S, Maier C, McKee N, Becker A, et al. (2001). Skills for health. Skills-based health education including life skills: an important component of a child-friendly/health-promoting school. WHO Information series on school health (document 9). Genève: WHO.
  11. Dahl GB, Moretti E. (2008). The demand for sons. Review of Economic Studies Limited; 75:1085–120.
  12. European Commission. (2005). Green paper "Confronting demographic change: A new solidarity between the generations". Brussels: Commission of the European communities.
  13. Mutharayappa R, Choe MK, Arnold F, Roy TK. (1997). Son preference and its effect on fertility in India. India: National Family Health Survey Subject Reports Number 3.
  14. Newport F. (2011). Americans Prefer Boys to Girls, Just as they Did in 1941, Gallop (June 23, 2011), https://news.gallup.com/poll/148187/Americans-Prefer-Boys-Girls-1941.aspx.
  15. Philipov D, Thevenon O, Klobas J, Bernardi L, Liefbroer AC. (2008). Reproductive decision-making in a macro-micro perspective: Sate-of-the-art review. European Demographic Research Paper.
  16. Sathar Z.A. (2015). Rashida G. Hussain S. Hassan A. Evidence of Son Preference and Resulting Demographic and Health Outcomes in Pakistan:13–14.
  17. Thomas M. (2019). Son Preference. Indo-Canadian women's association. Available online from URL:
    http://icwaedmonton.org/index.php/violence-against-women/son-preference
bottom of page