Preferences for the sex of children and their influence on reproductive behaviour

Abstract

This report draws on World Fertility Survey (WFS) data from 28 developing countries to analyze preferences for the sex of children and the relationship between family composition and reproductive behavior. Respondents were questioned on their preference for the sex of the next child personal desire to stop childbearing current use of contraception and recent fertility. A stated preference for sons is far from universal in these countries and there tends to be a desire for at least 1 daughter. Strong son preference was noted in Pakistan Nepal Bangladesh Korea Syria and Jordan. Venezuela and Jamaica exhibited a preference for daughters. 8 countries showed moderate son preference and the others indicated no preference. Despite the very strong son preference in the Arab region little or no effect of family composition on contraception or on fertility was observed for Syria or Jordan. However in Nepal and Pakistan a lack of sons generates higher fertility. This effect may increase as birth control becomes more prevalent. Only Korea and Malaysia provide evidence that a desire for sons sustains an appreciably higher level of fertility than would otherwise be the case. A balanced family composition is generally more conducive to contraceptive practice and the desire to stop childbearing but the importance of son preference worldwide may be greater than this survey indicates due to its exclusion of China and India.

Cite this work

No public copy is stored for this record, so only the metadata is cited.

Stored only when both papers are in the corpus — 70 citations exist upstream.