Demographic and Cultural Aspects of Prenatal Technology

Abstract

The two issues in the field of fertility that have received widest publicity in the recent times in India are the rapidly growing number of clinics that are performing amniocentesis, which is followed by female foeticide and the birth of a test-tube baby in Bombay. The practice of female foeticide has generally sent shock waves even when it is getting a wider acceptance as indicated by the rapidly increasing number of medical practitioners who are participating in the services of amniocentesis though they do not have the sophisticated gadgetry for the chromosomal analysis. These doctors are located in far flung areas of the country covering several States and rural and urban populations. The expensive gadgetry that is required for chromosomal analysis is available in very limited number of laboratories located in metropolitan areas.