Prevalence of son preference and its socio-economic correlates: Evidence from India

The study had for aim to investigate sex preferences for children and the i mpact of socioeconomic characteristics on such preferences in the urban set ting of the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. The sample comprised of 417 m others residing in the capital city of Shimla. Sex preferences for children were measured at the individual level using the Coombs IS index. The findi ngs indicated that preference for male children is very strong among urban mothers in the state. Ile respondents overwhelmingly preferred to have sons (IS5-IS7 = 58 per cent), and a little less than one-third of the women des ired a balanced sex composition (IS4 = 30 per cent). Only 12 per cent (IS1- IS3) of the women had a preference for girls. Ile results of the regression analysis indicated that the mother's education was the most significant pr edictor of sex preferences indicating that preference for male children dec reased with an increase in the level of mother's education. Cross tabulatio ns revealed that son preference declined dramatically only after 12+ years of schooling. It is concluded that preference for sons is very strong and p ervasive in the urban areas of the state of Himachal Pradesh and there is a n urgent need to enhance the education among women in the state. Moreover, literacy enhancing programs alone may not bring about a reduction in prefer ence for sons.