This paper reviews studies on girl-child survival in China and corresponding intervention activities of the Chinese government. Discrimination against girls in China was long in existence, and the abnormally
high sex ratio at birth (SRB) and excess female child mortality (EFCM) in recent years reflect women’s low social status, as well as a deteriorating survival environment for girls. Discrimination against girls has
occurred in both pre-natal and post-natal periods: sex-selective abortion of female foetuses leads to the abnormally high SRB, while neglect of girls results in EFCM. This paper analyzes the current situation,
trends and regional variations in SRB and EFCM, and discusses proximal, conditional and fundamental causes of deteriorating environment for the survival of girls, as well as the subsequent demographic and
social implications.
