Facts and Reflections of Changing Child Sex Ratio in West Bengal during 2001-2011, India

Abstract

The present study attempts to understand the causes of increasing manifestation of low child sex ratio (CSR) in the districts of West Bengal. Using data from the fourth round of District Level Household and Facility Survey (2012-13) in congruence with Census of India 2011, and employing multivariate binary logit regressions we were able to confirm that differential stopping behaviour, particularly in those regions where total fertility rate (TFR) and CSR fall considerably, appeared to be the process of male-preferring stopping rules in West Bengal. Women start practicing son-targeting fertility behaviour (DSB) as soon as they have achieved their desired number of sons - by adopting contraception at first parity after having a boy or choosing modern methods over natural methods at second parity after having two successive boys – which have led to the contemporary decline in CSR in West Bengal.