This study was carried out to analysis secondary sex ratio, son preference and it´s related factors in Korea.
And the findings of this study are summarized as follows.
1. In the 1970-1985 period, the sex ratio of live births in Korea has been maintained at the traditional lever of 107.0 to 108.5 male per 100 female births.
2. Biogenetic, socio-economic, sex preference and other factors influence the sex ratio. Use of a general and fragmentary approach can lead to an erroneous interpretation of the factors behind the changing sex ratio.
3. The introduction in the 1980s of fetal sex screening using ultra-sonic diagnostic equipment appears to be less of a factor on the sex ratio than commonly thought. The male-female sex ratio actually decreased by 0.5 from 108.3 in 1980 to 107.8 in 1985, according to census data.
Examining 1985 census figures for the sex ratio of the 0-4 age group, we find that the lower the age, the lower the sex ratio, despite the general tendency of the sex ratio, that is, the higher the age, the lower the sex ratio.
4. Studies on the sex ratio published by the Korean Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists exhibit a high voluntariness in sample selection, so caution is warranted in projecting their findings as a national standard. They deserve examination, however, and can be of assistance in studying the factors behind the changes in the sex ratio.
5. The son-preference of Koreans influences their child-birth plan and contraceptive behavior and these facts should be considered as contributing factors to the high sex ratio. Especially, the average family size is getting smaller with one-child families and small number of children failies becoming increasingly common.
The component ratio of sons is high. We must be careful that these circumstances have nothing to do with sexual screening by physicians. It suggests that the sex ratio problem can recurr at any time if future family planning behaviour of Koreans is not changed, particulary attitudes towards sex preference and the desire for one child or a small number of children in the family.
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