The list experiment: An approach to measuring stigmatized behaviours related to sex-selective abortion

Abstract

Vietnam reports one of the highest levels of abortion globally and an increasingly skewed sex ratio at birth. Abortion and related stigmatized behaviours are notoriously difficult to measure, yet understanding women’s ability and willingness to engage in sex selection is of interest to demographers and policymakers alike. We piloted the list experiment, an indirect questioning method, to estimate the prevalence of prenatal sex determination and sex-selective abortion. Respondents reported the total number of items they had engaged in from a list, reducing non-response and incentives to under-report. Among 900 women sampled at two hospitals in Hanoi, we estimated a high prevalence of prenatal sex determination. We found a low prevalence of sex-selective abortion, but higher prevalence among specific parity and children’s sex composition subgroups. Responses to knowledge and attitudinal questions underscored women’s perceived stigma around sex-selective abortion, suggesting the list experiment is a potentially useful tool for studying son preference.

Keywords:

• sex selection
• abortion
• measurement
• son preference
• Vietnam

Notes

1 This work was completed on behalf of the University of California, San Francisco–Hanoi Study Group, which in addition to the authors includes Linh Thuy Dinh, Duy Ngoc Le, Hai Thanh Le, and John Colin Partridge. Linh Thuy Dinh was instrumental in data collection at the Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. The authors are grateful to Dung Khanh Ho, Anh Xuan Thanh, Phuong Pham Quynh, Khanh Hong Dang, Trang Huynh Thi Pham, Giong Huang Nguyen, Oanh Thi Nguyen, and Nam Van Nguyen for their assistance with data collection. Trang Thu Nguyen managed data entry and Clare Morgenstern provided additional research assistance at the University of Michigan. Heidi Moseson provided valuable advice for the design and analysis of this pilot. The authors alone remain responsible for any errors or omissions. Finally, we greatly appreciate the participation of the women interviewed.

2 Please direct all correspondence to Emily Treleaven, 426 Thompson St., Ann Arbor, MI United States 48106-1248; or by Email: [email protected]

3 This work was supported by a Trainee Grant from the Society of Family Planning awarded to Emily Treleaven (SFPRF9-T3).