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Child Marriage Among Girls in India: Prevalence, Trends and Socio-Economic Correlates

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  • Pintu Paul

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Pintu Paul, 2020. "Child Marriage Among Girls in India: Prevalence, Trends and Socio-Economic Correlates," Indian Journal of Human Development, , vol. 14(2), pages 304-319, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:inddev:v:14:y:2020:i:2:p:304-319
    DOI: 10.1177/0973703020950263
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    1. Kazutaka Sekine & Marian Ellen Hodgkin, 2017. "Effect of child marriage on girls' school dropout in Nepal: Analysis of data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2014," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Jennifer Parsons & Jeffrey Edmeades & Aslihan Kes & Suzanne Petroni & Maggie Sexton & Quentin Wodon, 2015. "Economic Impacts of Child Marriage: A Review of the Literature," The Review of Faith & International Affairs, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(3), pages 12-22, September.
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    5. Ambrus, Attila & Field, Erica, 2008. "Early Marriage, Age of Menarche, and Female Schooling Attainment in Bangladesh," Scholarly Articles 3200264, Harvard University Department of Economics.
    6. Paul, Pintu, 2019. "Effects of education and poverty on the prevalence of girl child marriage in India: A district–level analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 16-21.
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    Cited by:

    1. Prakash C. Bhattarai & Deepak R. Paudel & Tikaram Poudel & Suresh Gautam & Prakash K. Paudel & Milan Shrestha & Janes I. Ginting & Dhruba R. Ghimire, 2022. "Prevalence of Early Marriage and Its Underlying Causes in Nepal: A Mixed Methods Study," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-16, April.
    2. Kumari, Nutan & Shekhar, Chander, 2023. "Trend and determinants of early marriage in Rajasthan: Evidence from the national family health survey," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).

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