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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Male gender preference, female gender disadvantage as risk factors for psychological morbidity in Pakistani women of childbearing age - A life course perspective
BMC Public Health, Volume 11, Article 745, Year 2011
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Description
Background: In Pakistan, preference for boys over girls is deeply culturally embedded. From birth, many women experience gendered disadvantages; less access to scarce resources, poorer health care, higher child mortality, limited education, less employment outside of the home and circumscribed autonomy. The prevalence of psychological morbidity is exceptionally high among women. We hypothesise that, among women of childbearing age, gender disadvantage is an independent risk factor for psychological morbidity. Methods. A cross-sectional catchment area survey of 525 women aged 18 to 35 years living in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The effect of gender disadvantage was assessed as a latent variable using structural equation modelling. Indicators were parental gender preference, low parental care, parental overprotection, limited education, early age at marriage, marital dissatisfaction and low autonomy. Psychological morbidity was assessed using the 20 item Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ). Results: Gender disadvantage was independently predictive of psychological morbidity. Among married women, socio-economic status did not predict psychological morbidity, and the effect of education was mediated through gender disadvantage rather than socioeconomic status (SES). The women's own preference for a male child was strongly predicted by their perceptions of having been disadvantaged by their gender in their families of origin. Conclusions: The high prevalence of psychological morbidity among women in Pakistan is concerning given recently reported strong associations with low birth weight and infant stunting. Social action, public policies and legislation are indicated to reduce culturally embedded preferences. Neglect of these fundamentals will entrench consequent inequities including gender bias in access to education, a key millennium development goal. © 2011 Qadir et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Qadir, Farah
Pakistan, Rawalpindi
Fatima Jinnah Women University
Khan, Murad Moosa
Pakistan, Karachi
The Aga Khan University
Medhin, Girmay
Ethiopia, Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa University
Prince, Martin J.
United Kingdom, London
King's College London
Statistics
Citations: 115
Authors: 4
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1471-2458-11-745
e-ISSN:
14712458
Research Areas
Food Security
Health System And Policy
Maternal And Child Health
Violence And Injury
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Participants Gender
Male
Female