Fetal sex preference of second-trimester gravidas.
Fetal sex preferences of pregnant women are based on psychological, physiologic, economic, and sociologic factors. Parental responses to the knowledge of fetal/infant sex range from feticide to preferential treatment of the preferred-sexed child. This study describes the sex preferences, sex beliefs, attempted sex preselection techniques, and desire to know the fetal sex of 243 second-trimester gravidas. Data demonstrated a willingness to disclose sex preferences, with 81% declaring a preference. The majority of women (81%) also wished to know the sex of their child prior to delivery regardless of their acknowledgment of a sex preference. The results of this survey offer implications for research on the phenomena relating to sex preference.
University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294-7333.
M K
MK
Walker
G K
GK
Conner
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D037841:Pregnant People; D012732:Sex Determination Analysis; D012743:Sex Preselection / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires