Sex-Consciousness among child desiring women in the context of prevailing Under-five mortality in India

This paper investigates sex-consciousness among child desiring Indian women in context of child mortality levels on the basis of three waves of Indian national family health survey INFHS (1992-2006). All the states in NFHS-I have been classified into four mortality Zones identified by ‘under five mortality’ during 0-4 years prior to survey date. An index for measuring sex-preference based on ideal family size and its sex composition has been used to quantify the relation between sex preference and under five mortality. An analysis of Parity Progression Ratio reveals that with increase in the number of sons women are reluctant to additional children. It has been observed that intensity of preference for son in India as whole has declined over period. Though, in general, longing for ‘more sons than daughter’s quite strong among Indian women, there are some courageous women except Punjab who are positively desirous to have more daughters than sons. The study also reveal that throughout the periods from 1992-2006; urban women, women with a better education and employed women have relatively less desire of sons over daughters. Desire of having at least one son is found to be mind set-up irrespective of the socioeconomic condition of family.