This review navigates the intricate interplay among fertility, son preference, and socio-cultural dynamics in India and similar contexts. It analyses recent studies to illuminate how socio-cultural norms and economic factors shape fertility choices, emphasizing son preference's lasting impact on reproductive behaviours. Additionally, it investigates how son preference contributes to gender disparities in reproductive health outcomes and demographic stability. The review stresses the importance of multifaceted interventions, such as policy reforms, community involvement, and socio-cultural transformations, to mitigate the drivers of son preference and advance gender equality and reproductive rights across diverse contexts.

Fertility, socio-cultural dynamics, developing countries, gender disparities, interventions