Impact of Early Marriage on Child Malnutrition in India

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of early marriage on child malnutrition among women aged 15-49 years in India. Using data from NFHS-5 (2019–2021), This analysis indicates that women who got married young at ≤14 years and 15-17 years exhibit disproportionately higher rates of child malnutrition outcomes, including stunting, wasting, and underweight, as contrast to people who get married when they're adults (≥18 years). In logistic regression models, early marriage significantly increases the odds of child stunting and underweight, with women married at ≤14 years and 15-17 years facing higher risks due to inadequate nutritional intake and associated health complications during pregnancy. Conversely, child wasting appears to have an insignificant relationship with early marriage, attributed to factors like body weight and nutrient absorption that are not directly related to maternal age at marriage. Moreover, household wealth and socio-economic factors further influence child malnutrition outcomes. Women in wealthier households, even those married early, experience lower risks of malnutrition. This analysis underscores the urgent need for policies addressing early marriage and improving educational and socio-economic conditions to combat child malnutrition in India. Enhanced maternal health services and nutrition education are critical components for lowering the rate of undernutrition among children of early married women.