"The study examines the impact of son preference on the pace of
fertility among women of different educational levels in the 14 indian states
of Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Purjab,
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa,
Tamil Nadu and West Bengal with reference to the _findings of the NFHS 2
survey H998-99). In the northern western states there appears to be an
increased preference for at least one son in i992-99 as compared to the
southern/eastern states. in contrast to their counterparts in the southern
stares, educated women in the northern/western states demonstrate a
greater inclination toward continuing childbearing for a son on the basis of
having ann: daughters. San preference continues to affect fertility at lower
parities and could slow down _fertility decline especially in the populous
northern/western safes.
"
