Abstract

Child marriage is associated with negative health trajectories among women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Marital disruptions in LMICs are also associated with adverse socioeconomic and health outcomes in women. Yet, little is known about the compounded health effects of experiencing both child marriage and marital disruptions. Using nationally representative data from India among women aged 18–49 years, we examined the effects of marital age (i.e., marriage before or after 18 years) and martial disruptions (i.e., widowed/divorced/separated) on the odds of having hypertension. Findings suggest that together, marital disruptions and child marriage increase the risk of hypertension. Specifically, women married as children and who experienced marital disruptions were 1.2 (95% CI: 1.2–1.3) times more likely to have hypertension compared to women who married as adults and currently in marriage. Additionally, among women married as children, those who experienced martial disruptions had a higher risk (AOR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0–1.2) of hypertension compared to their currently married peers. These results suggest public health strategies must consider contextual effects of being widowed/divorced/separated among women who were married as children. Simultaneously, prevention initiatives should be strengthened to reduce the incidence of child marriage in LMICs and associated downstream health consequences.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.