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By Frederick Noronha PANJIM, Sept 30: Goa has the second-highest percentage of childless women in the country, ranking second only to Andhra Pradesh. In Goa, some 11.8 per cent of currently-married women in the 21-49 years group are childless, compared with seven per cent at the national level. "Statewise, Andhra Pradesh shows (the) highest percentage of childless women (13.3 percent) in India, followed by Goa (11.8 percent). Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu have 11.6, 11.4 and 9.5 percent childless women. Thus, the southern states show a high pravelence of childlessness, which is quite above the national average," says a just-presented study on the subject. Research scholar Praween Kumar Agarwal and associate professor Sayeed Unisa, of the Deonar-Mumbai based International Institute for Population Studies (IIPS), do not go into why this is so. But women in Goa are known to marry at a later age, which is in part caused by their higher education levels. Goa's higher affluence levels, compared to the rest of India, could also have a role in reducing poverty, bringing us back to the old argument that 'economic development could be the best contraceptive'. Incidentally, Agarwal and Unisa's study also indicates that urban women are "more childless" compared to rural women, and the education of women shows a "significant association with childlessness". Muslim women are least childless (4.2 percent), while Christian women rank second most childless (8.4 percent) on the national level. Perhaps this is associated with the predominant economic status of different groups. Researchers presented these figures at an international meet on the 'socio-medical perspectives of childlessness' held at the Goa International Centre over much of the past week. Figures about Goa are perhaps reflect in the growing ground-reality of a number of 'infertility clinics' sprouting up in various towns of this small state, and declining birth-rates reflecting also in lower admissions in schools. This seminar also saw a paper by Vasco da Gama-based Dr Uday L Nagarseker on 'assisted reproductive technology' (ARTs) and ectopic pregnancies. Says Dr Nagarsekar: "In the fast moving world of today, ART has become the procedure of choice in the management of infertility. More and more couples who do not conceive in even six months of trial go to the specialist who in turn subjects them to ART procedures." But, he cautions, ARTs could have their own "well-documented side effects", and hence should not be tried "too soon". "Fertility treatment such as IVF and ICSI can result in an increased risk of multiple pregnancies, pregnancy complications including ectopic pregnancy, low birth rate, major birth defects and long-term disabilities among surviving infants," he warns. Assisted reproductive technology could range from simple to sophisticated techniques. "Thousands of babies are born all over the world using these techniques. But at the same time, more and more reports are being published about the increased incidence of ectopic pregnancies linked to ART," warns Dr Nagarseker. (ENDS) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e-mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead !
