This has been revealed by a study conducted by Renu Gandhi, Senior Project Officer from Centre for Adult, Continuing Education and Extension, Panjab University and Dr Avnish Jolly.

The researchers claimed to have interviewed women from more than 90 families in the city. The women were in the age group of 15 to 35 years.

According to the study, female foeticide is more prevalent among the middle class where, at times, even both the partners were working.

The study found that contrary to popular opinion, families belonging to the economically weaker sections are bigger.

In many cases, couples in such families have 3 to 4 children. In middle-class households, where the size of the family has to be restricted, cases of female foeticide were more.

“The middle classes are more aware of scientific advancements. They don’t hesitate to go to the doctor for sex determination tests. They want to keep the size of the family small. Especially in families where the first child is a girl, they want the second one to be a boy,” says Gandhi.

The study has also found that it is usually the older women in the house who influence the vital decision.

“It is a tragedy that women, whose lives are most battered by frequent child birth, are hardly allowed to take decisions.