The present study was conducted in six ICDS blocks of Jammu district on a sample of 100 anganwadi workers. Multistage stratified random sampling technique was adopted to draw a sample. Results indicated that respondents were aware about the declining sex ratio and their major source of information was media followed by their area surveys. Respondents cited carrying family name and lineage and performing the last rites of parents as the major reason for the preference for a male child where as dowry, cost of marriage and increasing financial pressure were found responsible for non preference of female child and declining sex ratio. Respondents were aware about the long term social and demographic consequences of declining sex ratio like non-availability of brides, increase in rate of crimes against girls.
Declining sex ratio, ICDS, Anganwadi workers, Female foeticide
