Spatial heterogeneity in son preference across India’s 640 districts: An application of small-area estimation

Son preference is culturally rooted across generations in India. While the social and economic implications of son preference are widely acknowledged, there is little evidence on spatial heterogeneity, especially at the district level. To derive estimates of son preference for the 640 districts of I...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Demographic research 2022-12, Vol.47, p.793-842
Main Authors: Singh, Abhishek, Upadhyay, Ashish Kumar, Kumar, Kaushalendra, Singh, Ashish, Johnson, Fiifi Amoako, Padmadas, Sabu S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abortion
Analysis
Arnold, Kim
census
Census districts
Censuses
Child sex preferences
Children & youth
Daughters
Demographic aspects
Dowry
Estimates
Families & family life
Health surveys
Heterogeneity
Housing
india
Intervention
Marriage
model-based small-area estimation
national family health surveys (nfhs)
Residential preferences
Robustness
Small-area analysis
Son preference
Spatial analysis
Spatial heterogeneity
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Summary:Son preference is culturally rooted across generations in India. While the social and economic implications of son preference are widely acknowledged, there is little evidence on spatial heterogeneity, especially at the district level. To derive estimates of son preference for the 640 districts of India and examine spatial heterogeneity in son preference across the districts of India. We apply model-based Small-Area Estimation (SAE) techniques, linking data from the 2015-2016 Indian National Family Health Survey and the 2011 Indian Population and Housing Census to generate district-level estimates of son preference. The diagnostic measures confirm that the model-based estimates are robust enough to provide reliable estimates of son preference at the district level. Son preference is highest in the districts across northern and central Indian states, followed by districts in Gujarat and Maharashtra, and lowest in the southern districts in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. There is considerable heterogeneity in son preference across Indian districts, often masked by state-level average estimates. Our findings warrant urgent policy interventions targeting specific districts in India to tackle the ongoing son-preference attitudes and practices.
ISSN:1435-9871
2363-7064
1435-9871
DOI:10.4054/DemRes.2022.47.26