Son preference and sex differentials in receipt of key dimensions of children's healthcare: Evidence from Pakistan

• Published in: Population studies Vol. 76; no. 2; pp. 309 - 328
• Main Author: Zaidi, Batool
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 04.05.2022; Population Investigation Committee, London School of Economics and Political Science
• Subjects: Birth order; Boys; child health; Child sex preferences; Children; Childrens health; Daughters; Discrimination; Families & family life; Fertility; gender; Girls; Health care; Health services; Health status; Health surveys; Immunization; Medical treatment; Medicine; Pakistan; Selective abortion; Sex; sibling effects; son preference; Sons; Pakistan; India; son preference; sibling effects; Pakistan; child health; gender
• ISSN: 0032-4728; 1477-4747
• DOI: 10.1080/00324728.2022.2032290

Almost all research on son preference and the consequent sex differentials in child health has focused on India. Pakistan-a country with the second strongest stated desire for sons, no evidence of sex-selective abortion, and relatively high fertility-offers a different context in which to understand unequal health outcomes for boys and girls. I use three rounds of the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey to examine sex differentials in child healthcare receipt across different family contexts. I find evidence of generalized discrimination: all girls, regardless of sibling composition or birth order, are less likely to receive full immunization or medical treatment. I do not find evidence that girls with older sisters face greater discrimination than other girls. For boys, I find some evidence of selective preferential treatment: among larger families, first sons are more likely to receive healthcare than other sons or daughters.