Gender Preferences for Off Springs and its Association with Socio-Demographic Factors Among Married Women in a Slum Area of Jaipur City: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: The preference for a male child is still very common in India. Strong desire for a son and discrimination against the female child are resulting for skewed sex ratio in India. The present study was planned with objective to assess the gender preference its association with socio-demographic factors among married women of reproductive age group in an urban slum of Jaipur city.Materials and Methods: A community based cross sectional study was carried out in an urban slum (Kathputlinagar) of Jaipur, Rajasthan from June 2016 to August 2017. Total 1230 married women of age group 15 to 49 years were interviewed using a predesigned semi structured questionnaire to collect information regarding gender preference and its associated factors. Results: 53.3% women had preference for male child. Religion and socioeconomic status had significant association with male gender preference while age, and occupation were not significantly associated with gender preference. Total number of living children and gender composition of living children was significantly associated with gender preference. Conclusion: Preference to male child over female child had been observed and associated factors were Religion, socioeconomic status, total number of living children and gender composition of living children.