ABSTRACT
Between 1991 and 2001, the decline of females in the juvenile sex ratio was sharpest in some districts in Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat and Maharashtra. This has led to the belief that sex-selective abortions are becoming widely prevalent and are increasing in these areas. This chapter focuses on a research study to explore these issues and attempts to answer at least some of these questions by collecting primary data— both qualitative and quantitative—from women in Haryana and Gujarat, as well as from a few providers of abortion services in Gujarat. The main objectives and concerns that guided the research were: to determine the woman’s role in the decision-making process; to examine the issue of son preference; and to study the availability of abortion services and the role of service providers. Son preference was very evident among all social groups in both Gujarat and Haryana, even though the desired number of children had come down to two or three.
