Early marriage, women’s poor reproductive health, and child well-being are essential areas of concern, especially in developing countries like India. Data from the third wave of the National Family Health Survey was used to examine the effects of early marriage on women’s reproductive health status and their children’s well-being. Bivariate analyses, multiple linear regression, and logistic regression were used for studies.
The results organized after analysis show that an early age at marriage had detrimental effects on women’s reproductive health status. Women married at an early age were exposed to frequent childbearing, unplanned motherhood, and abortions, which negatively affected their nutritional status. Children born to mothers with poor reproductive health had lower chances of survival and a higher likelihood of anthropometric failure (i.e., stunting, wasting, and underweight).
The study concluded that the programs should delay adolescents’ entry into wedlock and motherhood through information, education, and communication. More emphasis needs to be put on meeting the reproductive needs of poor adolescent mothers and improving their children’s nutritional status to break the vicious circle of inadequate reproductive health and poverty.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/37/3/136
