Child Marriage Among Girls in India

Prevalence, Trends and Socio-Economic Correlates

Dados Bibliográficos

ID14955010
AutoresPintu Paul (0000-0002-6727-6082, Jawaharlal Nehru University, autor correspondente)
Ano2020
Volume14
Fascículo2
Páginas304-319
Data de publicação2020-08-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoIndian Journal of Human Development (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0973-7030 • E-ISSN: 2456-480X
EditoraSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0973703020950263
OpenAlexW3082831024
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas24
Referências citadas36

This article examines prevalence of child marriage among girls in India, its trends and socio-economic correlates. It is based on data extracted from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). This analysis shows that the prevalence of marriage among female children has considerably declined between 1992–1993 (NFHS-1) and 2015–2016 (NFHS-4). Its incidence by age cohorts also shows a significant reduction during the recent period. However, child marriage is persistent among uneducated, poor and rural women. The results of multivariate logistic regression reveal that the educational attainment and wealth status of the household are the most significant correlates of female child marriage in India. Girls and young women with secondary and higher educational levels are less likely to be married before 18 years compared to the uneducated ones. Further, females living in poverty are associated with increased odds of child marriage compared to those from wealthier economic status. The findings suggest that increasing opportunities for girls’ education and providing financial assistance to the poor families would eliminate the practice of child marriage among Indian women

Child marriage · Economic growth · Educational attainment · Fertility · Logistic regression · Odds · Population · Poverty · Socioeconomic status · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Demography · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine