EFFECT OF SON PREFERENCE AND POPULATION-POLICY ON SEX-RATIOS AT BIRTHIN 2 PROVINCES OF CHINA

Two samples of births were used to examine the effect of son preferenc e and population policy on sex ratios in Hebei and Shaanxi provinces o f China. The results from all births to women aged 15-49 in the 1985 I n-Depth Fertility Survey indicated a strong son preference but no clea r policy impact on sex ratios at different birth orders. In a sample o f selected births during 1975--84 to women aged 40 or under, the mixed influences of son preference and population policy were clearly refle cted in the high and rising overall ratios at birth, and the increasin g sex ratios with parity. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed.