Effects Of Sex Preference Research Articles

Effects of sex preference and social pressure on fertility in changing Japanese families

A preference in parents for a son is thought to affect their fertility. However, even if parents do not have a preference for a son, the people who surround them possibly have a preference for a son. In this case, social pressure can influence parents’ behavior and fertility. This study explored how social pressure related to the sex of children affects fertility. Effects of social pressure were compared between the pre- and post-World War II generations in Japan. The dependent variable was the number of children in the regression equation. A dummy variable for the first child, which was set to 1 when the first child was a boy, and a dummy variable for the preference for a son were included as independent variables. Social pressure was considered to exist when the dummy variable for the first child had a significant negative sign. The key findings are as follows: in the pre-war generation, if the first child was a daughter, the total number of children tended to increase not only when the mother preferred a son, but also when the mother did not have a preference for either gender. This tendency was not observed for the post-war generation.

Sex Preference and Contraceptive Norms among Regions in Bangladesh

Using data derived from the 2004 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS, 2004) the present study examines the effect of sex preference on contraceptive use among different regions in Bangladesh. The study also investigates the impact of some selected socio-economic and demographic variables on the use of contraceptive methods. The result shows that sex preference has a significant effect on the use of contraceptive methods. The families who have one child of each sex are most satisfied with their current family composition. The result reveals a huge unmet need for contraception in the eastern part of Bangladesh. The study confirms that sex preference may be a constraint in the acceptance of contraceptive methods in Bangladesh. The demand for large families and sex preference can be reduced through affirmative social and economic policies. It was also observed that female education has a positive effect on contraceptive use among almost all regions.

The Effect of Sex Preference on Contraceptive Use in Bangladesh

The Effect of Sex Preference on Contraceptive Use in Bangladesh

Effects of Sex Preference on Contraceptive Use, Abortion and Fertility in Matlab, Bangladesh

Data from the Matlab Demographic Surveillance System were used to investigate the effects of son preference on contraceptive use abortion and fertility and trends in these effects over time in the Matlab maternal and child health and family planning project area and in a comparison area. A modified Arnold Index was used to estimate the increase or decrease in contraceptive prevalence abortion or fertility that would occur in the population in the absence of sex preference. The level of sex-selective abortion was measured by the deviation from the expected ratio of males to females at birth. Between the early 1980s and the middle 1990s contraceptive use and recourse to abortion increased in Matlab while fertility declined. Method use rose with parity in the project area. (Adequate data were not available for the comparison area). At low parities method use increased with the number of sons; among women with 3 or more children however it stabilized or decreased among those who had at least 2 sons. In the absence of sex preference contraceptive use in the project area would have risen by 9% in 1983 by 8% in 1988 and by 6% in 1993. The abortion ratio increased with parity; within parities it was generally lowest for women with no sons and was often highest for those with at least 2 sons and a daughter. In the absence of sex preference the abortion ratio would have increased by 27% in 1982-86 by 36% in 1987-91 and by 55% in 1992-95 in the project area and by 36% 37% and 38% respectively in the comparison area. The percentage of women giving birth declined as parity rose and within parities was highest for women without sons. Among women with more than 2 children fertility was lowest for those who had sons and a daughter. In the absence of sex preference fertility would have decreased by 9% in 1984-86 by 10% in 1989-91 and by 12% in 1994-95 in the project area and by 7% 8% and 9% respectively in the comparison area. There was no evidence of sex-selective abortion in Matlab. Sex preference does not have a strong effect on contraceptive use in Matlab. Its absence however would probably increase recourse to abortion which is used to limit fertility once couples have the number of sons they desire. The effect of sex preference on childbearing is becoming stronger as fertility declines because couples must achieve their desired number of sons within a smaller overall number of children. (authors)

Does Sex Preference Affect Contraceptive Use in Bangladesh?

Using the data derived from the three national surveys, this article attempts to find the effect of sex preference on the use of contraception. The findings showed that in the absence of sex preference, there would have been an increase in the contraceptive prevalence rate indicating that sex preference is still prevalent in Bangladesh. But this effect has been weakened with increase in contraceptive prevalence rate. Analysis of variance suggests that son preference is an important determinant of contraceptive use.

The Effect of Sex Preference on Contraceptive Use and Fertility in Rural South India

The aim of this study is to examine the influence of sex preference on contraceptive use in the southern state of Karnataka in India. Two sets of data are used in the analysis. One set is cross-sectional data collected during 1985-90 among all currently married women aged 15-44 years in rural areas representing more and less developed regions of Chickmagalore Belgaum Bijapur Dharwad and Gulbarga districts. The other data set comprises data from family planning evaluation surveys conducted during 1982-89 in rural areas of Belgaum Bellary Bijapur North Kannada and Shimoga districts among a sample of sterilization and IUD users. Analysis focuses on the trends in the number of living children by sex among users and nonusers. Trends are described for the sex distribution of all children and the sex of the last child at initiation of contraceptive use. Analysis focuses on the sex of a desired child among nonusers. The methods of Arnold are used to estimate contraceptive prevalence in the absence of sex preference. The extent of influence of sex preference on contraceptive use is calculated as the difference between actual and adjusted contraceptive prevalence rates. Contraceptive prevalence was estimated to be 62% in Chickmagalore (1985) 39% in Bijapur (1987) 37% in Dharwad (1989) 46% in Belgaum (1990) and 33% in Gulbarga (1990). Reversible method use was very low (under 3%) in all districts. Findings reveal that acceptors had more male children in all districts. Among nonusers the mean number of female living children in all districts was equal to or slightly higher than the mean number of male children. Cross-sectional data reveal that variation among the number of female children was greater than variation among the number of male children among acceptors. The reverse was true among nonacceptors. The analysis of sex ratios among last children reveals that more contraceptive users had a male as a last child. It is suggested that the number of living children among sterilization acceptors was lower among acceptors in some districts. It is concluded that in the absence of sex preference contraceptive prevalence would be higher in all districts. Son preference is found to have a greater impact on usage in areas of low prevalence.

Effects of family sex composition on fertility preference and behaviour in rural Bangladesh.

The effects of family sex composition on fertility preferences and behaviour during the period 1977-88 are examined using longitudinal data from Matlab, Bangladesh. The sex composition of living children was found to be systematically related to fertility preferences and behaviour, with a higher number of sons at each family size associated with a higher percentage of women wanting no more children, a higher percentage currently using contraception, and lower subsequent fertility. However, the highest percentage wanting no more children, using contraception and having lowest subsequent fertility was found among women who already had one daughter as well as at least one son. The effects of sex preference on fertility preferences and behaviour were measured using an index developed by Arnold (1985). The results suggest that while sex preference remained largely unchanged during the study period, its effect on contraceptive use declined and its impact on actual fertility remained modest and fairly stable.