Foetal loss and feminine sex ratios at birth in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

A wealth of demographic research has explored the determinants of sex ratios at birth, but few studies have considered the role of foetal loss (spontaneous abortion), in producing feminine sex ratios. One challenge is measuring the occurrence of foetal loss, which is difficult to recognize and report in survey research. This study uses the length of the birth interval as a proxy for foetal loss; foetal loss restarts the clock on time to conception and lengthens the birth interval. We use Demographic and Health Survey data on second births to women in 17 sub-Saharan African countries. Results show that longer second birth intervals are significantly related to lower odds of a male second birth and to feminine sex ratios at birth. These findings suggest that high levels of foetal loss, which could signal underlying poor maternal health in a population, have dramatic effects on the sex ratio at birth.

Keywords:

• sex ratio
• foetal loss
• miscarriage
• spontaneous abortion
• sub-Saharan Africa
• birth interval
• maternal stress

Notes

1 Anne Morse is an independent researcher, but was based in the Department of Sociology and Criminology at the Pennsylvania State University at the time this paper was written. Nancy Luke is based in the Department of Sociology and Criminology, The Pennsylvania State University, USA.

2 Please direct all correspondence to Anne Morse by e-mail: [email protected]

3 The authors would like to thank Jennifer Van Hook, as well as the editor and anonymous reviewers, for helpful comments. This research was supported by funding for Population Research Infrastructure from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to the Population Research Institute at The Pennsylvania State University (P2C HD041025).