The article examines the effects of religious/ethnic differences, and other background variables such as the measure of women's autonomy, on reproductive behavior. The study is based on the data collected in early 1997 from three religious/ethnic groups - Moslems, Mahato, and Tharu. The study reveals that Moslem women have lower levels of autonomy, greater desires for additional children, and are less likely to be using contraception than either Mahato or Tharu women. Multivariate analyses reveal the persistence of these religious/ethnic variations, thereby suggesting that women's autonomy differences cannot explain differences in reproductive behavior. (Rajeev Ranjan Singh 2006-10-28)