ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2015
Consumption of indigenous medicines by pregnant women in North India for selecting sex of the foetus: what can it lead to?
Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 19 citations in OpenAlex.
- Evidence of prenatal toxicity of herbal based indigenous formulations for sex selection in rat models.Journal of traditional and complementary medicine · 2021Article
- 'The more we change, the more we remain the same': female feticide continues unabated in India.BMJ case reports · 2017Article
- So near, yet so far: access to safe abortion services remains elusive for poor women in India.BMJ case reports · 2017Article
- Ayurveda education reforms in India.Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicineArticle
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSex ratio is an important indicator of development. Despite all the measures undertaken for improvement, it remains an issue of concern in India, with Haryana having a very low sex ratio in the country. Studies have been conducted indicating that consumption of indigenous drugs used for sex selection (SSD) could be strongly associated with adverse effects on the foetal development, including congenital malformations. Some samples of SSDs were collected from parts of North India and analysed in a standard laboratory for its components.
methodsThirty SSDs used by the local community were procured from various sources in north India through a rigorous process of collection. These were subjected to laboratory tests to investigate the presence of phytoestrogen and testosterone. Following sample extraction, thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography were carried out for analysing phytoestrogen content.
resultsSSDs were available in various forms such as powder, tablets, mostly from faith healers. Around 87% of the samples collected from sources like doctors, quacks and faith healers were to be taken by the pregnant women after conception; 63% drugs were strongly positive for phytoestrogens (genistein, daidzein, formononetin) and 20% drugs were positive for testosterone. The average dose of the components as calculated after analyses was as follows: daidzein--14.1 mg/g sample, genistein--8.6 mg/g sample, formononetin--5 mg/g sample.
conclusionThese SSDs could be potentially detrimental to the growth and development of the foetus. This is likely to have implications on the health of the community. In view of the results obtained in our study, we strongly attest the importance in curbing this harmful practice by banning the supply of the drugs as well as by advocating behavioural changes in the community.
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