Role of Gender in Contraceptive Use among Currently Married Women in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

Abstract

In India there is noticeable regional variation in gender preference and contraceptive use. Preference for son is often assumed to be a significant barrier to fertility reduction. Thus in this context present study tries to explore the association between gender preference and contraceptive use among currently married women in states Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar of India using dataset of National Family Health Survey (NFHS-III), 2005-06 and Family Welfare Year Book 2001. The study reveals about 83 percent women having no sons have desire for more children in UP whereas this value goes up to 87 percent for Bihar. Study also reflects that only 18 and 6 percent women with no living son in UP and Bihar respectively are using any contraception indicating high preference for male child. Therefore it is concluded that the son preference have significant and strong impact on acceptance of any family planning method.

Key words: Son preference, contraceptive use, family planning.