BMJ  2006;333 (19 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7564.0

Chinese women want small families and male children

Since the Chinese policy of one child per family began in 1979, total birth rate and preferred family size have decreased, and a gross imbalance in the sex ratio has emerged. Ding and Hesketh (p 371) analysed data for almost 40 000 women collected by the Chinese National Family Planning Commission in 2001. Women's average fertility had decreased from 2.9 before the policy began by about one, the male to female ratio had increased from 1.11 in the 1980s to 1.23, and most women said they would prefer to have one or two children. However, the authors warn that the women might not have been willing to reveal violations of the rules.

Credit: NG HAN GUAN/AP/EMPICS

 

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