Marriage Rates Research Articles

The effect of trade liberalization on marriage and fertility: evidence from Indian census

Abstract Using a district-level panel constructed from five waves of decennial Indian censuses covering 1971–2011, we examine the medium-term (1991–2001) and long-term (1991–2011) impacts of the 1991 Indian trade liberalization on marriage and fertility rates among young women aged 15–34. We exploit the fact that countrywide tariff reductions varied across industries creating exogenous local labor market shocks based on the initial employment composition of the district. We find heterogeneous results across urban and rural areas. We find that urban areas of the districts that experienced larger tariff cuts experienced relative increases in marriage rates compared to the districts that experienced smaller tariff cuts. Tariff cuts positively affect workforce participation among both young men and women in urban areas. However, there is no impact of tariff cuts on the marriage rate or workforce participation among young population (15–34) in rural areas. In contrast, tariff cuts reduced fertility rates mostly in rural areas.

Regulation of household food needs: Affirmation of socio-cultural resilience in preventing stunting incidents in coastal areas

The problem of stunting is not only related to children’s short height, but also has an impact on high morbidity rates, due to long-term nutritional deficiencies. which hinders motor and mental development in children. The objectives of this research are: 1) to understand household food security, 2) to understand the eating habits of pregnant women and toddlers regarding existing belief systems and traditions, and 3) to understand resilience mechanisms in overcoming food emergencies to prevent stunting. The data collection process uses a mixed methods approach by combining qualitative and quantitative research. The research results show that the determining factor for the incidence of stunting in coastal areas of Indonesia is the lack of household food availability due to subsistence economic life which then has an impact on eating behavior in the household, namely the lack of quality and quantity of the types of food consumed. daily. Apart from that, there is still a lack of understanding by pregnant women regarding the importance of providing complementary breast milk food to toddlers, low literacy of food diversity among toddlers, and low public trust in the importance of immunization. Furthermore, the high rate of early marriage in society and the limited awareness of using clean water is caused by a philosophy that still considers rivers as a source of life, so the water is used for consumption. Apart from that, socio-cultural mechanisms as a strategy to resolve the problem of food shortages have not yet been implemented.

Kin networks and quality of government: a regional analysis

AbstractThis paper examines the relationship between kin-based institutions and quality of government in the regions of Spain, France, and Italy. The results show that the rate of cousin marriage during the twentieth century is a strong predictor of the modern-day quality of government in the regions of these three countries. Regions characterized by a higher prevalence of cousin marriage tend to have on average worse governance outcomes. This finding holds after accounting for country fixed effects and different variables that may be correlated with both consanguinity and regional quality of government, including an extensive array of geographical, historical, and contemporary factors. The observed association between cousin marriage and quality of government persists when I utilize an instrumental variable approach that exploits regional variation in the degree of historical exposure to the marriage laws of the medieval Catholic Church to address potential endogeneity concerns. Furthermore, the paper also provides evidence consistent with the idea that the effect of cousin marriage on the quality of government operates through its impact on a series of cultural traits such as impersonal trust, fairness, and conformity-obedience.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TRENGGALEK REGENT'S 2022 INSTRUCTIONS ON CHILD MARRIAGE PREVENTION STRATEGIESIN TRENGGALEK

The high rate of child marriage in Trenggalek poses a significant threat to children's welfare. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Trenggalek Regent's 2022 Instruction on Strategies for Preventing Child Marriage. The research employs a qualitative approach, collecting primary data through statistical analysis of child marriage rates and interviews with relevant stakeholders. The findings reveal a notable decrease in child marriage rates in 2023 following the implementation of the policy. This suggests that well-designed and sustained policy interventions can effectively address child marriage issues at the local level. The study highlights the importance of ongoing efforts in education, law enforcement, and collaboration among policymakers to safeguard children's welfare. This research contributes to the understanding of effective local strategies in combating child marriage. The study concludes that comprehensive policies, backed by strong stakeholder support, are effective in reducing child marriage rates. Recommendations include strengthening stakeholder collaboration and developing more efficient communication strategies.

The unappreciated centrality of ethnoracially mixed Americans to the nation’s demographic future

The ethnoracial future of the United States has been framed as a demographic binary: Whites vs. people of color. The argument here is that this binary distorts by failing to take into adequate account the rapidly growing group of Americans who have been raised in mixed minority and White families, the great majority of the total mixed population. The members of this group generally have distinctive social characteristics: socioeconomic advantages compared to minorities and social integration into milieus with many Whites, as revealed by relatively high rates of marriage to them. However, their identities often encompass their minority heritage. Accordingly, they straddle the society’s major ethnoracial fracture line, creating an in-between social space and connecting, through kinship and other close social relations, both of its sides. However, their numbers are distorted in public national population data, such as census data and population projections; and they are typically counted as part of the non-White population. The recently announced revision of the race/ethnic data standards for the census offers an opportunity to refashion public data in a way that illuminates the important role this mixed group is likely to play in the nation’s demographic future.

Stop! Marriage at Child Age

Marriage at a young age remains a significant social issue requiring special attention, particularly in Indonesia. This study aims to analyze the implementation of the Child Marriage Prevention Policy in Majalengka Regency, as regulated by Regent Regulation Number 54 of 2021, which focuses on the prevention of child marriages. The research employs a qualitative descriptive method, utilizing primary and secondary data sources through observation, interviews, and documentation. The findings reveal that the rate of child marriages in Majalengka Regency is still increasing, despite the government's efforts to implement preventive measures, including socialization strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of child marriages. One of the main challenges in effectively preventing child marriages is the limited human resources available for implementing the program. This research highlights the need for strengthened resources and better coordination among stakeholders to effectively reduce the prevalence of child marriages in the region. The study also suggests that additional interventions, such as enhanced education and community involvement, are essential to complement the ongoing efforts and address this persistent issue comprehensively.

Violence Against Women and Girls in Zimbabwe: A Review of a Decade of the Empirical Literature.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a complex social problem affecting many women globally. In Zimbabwe, intimate partner violence (IPV) and child marriages remain persistent public health problems with detrimental effects on the health and well-being of women and girls. Statistics show that Zimbabwe has one of the highest rates of IPV and child marriage in sub-Saharan Africa. Given this background, this paper systematically reviewed published research on VAWG in Zimbabwe from 2012 to 2022 to identify research gaps. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, we systematically searched for literature across five electronic databases: Web of Science, Medline, Psych-Info via EBSCO-Host, and Google Scholar. Our initial search yielded 261 articles, of which only 45 met our inclusion criteria. We summarized these studies using thematic analysis and performed a quality assessment using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The findings revealed several gaps, including a limited focus on relational and perpetrator perspectives, insufficient attention to other forms of VAWG such as non-partner sexual violence, rape, and trafficking, and a lack of studies on marginalized groups such as people with disabilities, sex workers, and same-sex couples. In addition, there were no longitudinal studies examining trends and dynamics of VAWG over extended periods or comparing different geographical regions. Few studies also focused on the evaluation of interventions. Although significant progress has been made in addressing VAWG, this review underscores the need for more research to fill these gaps for effective and evidence-based policymaking and response strategies.

Causes of Early Marriage in Banjar Regency, Martapura District, City

The Early marriage is a marriage that occurs at a very young age, based on law 16 of 2019 where early marriage occurs at the age of 19 for men and women. Where children who marry young are often not physically mentally or emotionally mature. However, the facts researched at the Religious Affairs Office (KUA) of Martapura District, a city in Banjar Regency, where there are still many rates of early marriage, in the last 2 years from 2022-2023, even though it has been prohibited in Law 16 of 2019. Early marriage will still be allowed if there is a dispensation letter by the religious court. The purpose of this study is to be able to know. The impact of early marriage at the Religious Affairs Office in Banjar Regency, Martapura Kota District. And the researcher uses a qualitative research approach where the researcher tries to gain an understanding of the phenomenon in the problem being studied and in clarity of the statementor reality about the impact found, namely positive impact and negative impact.

Congenital Epidermolysis Bullosa Epidemiology among Children of Russian Federation

Background. The prevalence of all types of congenital epidermolysis bullosa (СEB) worldwide is approximately 11 cases per 1 million according to the latest data from the American Epidermolysis Bullosa Registry. Data on the prevalence of СEB in Russian Federation is scattered, while data on life expectancy and mortality for this this disease is absent. This article presents medical and epidemiological data on children with СEB in Russian Federation. Objective. The aim of the study is to analyze clinical and epidemiological features of children with СEB in Russian Federation. Methods. We have performed analysis of the clinical and epidemiological features among pediatric population of Russian Federation with СEB using the “Registers of Genetic and Other Rare Diseases” of the “Butterfly Children” charitable foundation. Results. There are 491 children with СEB in Russian Federation as of 2024 according to the national registry data from “Registers of Genetic and Other Rare Diseases” of the “Butterfly Children” charitable foundation. The ratio of boys and girls was 1.08:1, that is relevant to the global data. The prevalence of CEB in children aged from 0 to 17 years in Russian Federation is 15.48 cases per 1,000,000 children as of January 1, 2024. The highest number of children with CEB were revealed in the Republic of Dagestan — 54 (11%) children, which is apparently due to the high rate of consanguineous marriages (50%). Other regions with high prevalence are Moscow Region (n = 28, 5.7%), Moscow (n = 25, 5.1%), Saint Petersburg (n = 26, 5.2%) and Krasnodar Territory (n = 23, 4.6%). Largest age group of children (from 12 to 18 years) includes 146 patients with mean age of 14.32 ± 1.72 years. The most common form of CEB is dystrophic one — 261 patients, the next one is simplex — 191 patients, then junctional form — 31 patient, and Kindler syndrome — 8 patients. The birth rate of children with CEB by year during the period from 2019 to 2023 (per 100,000 children born): 2019 — 1.42, 2020 — 2.09, 2021 — 2.65, 2022 — 2.76 and 2023 — 1.74. The arithmetic mean birth rate of children with CEB over a five-year period was 2.13 cases per 100,000 children born. The registry contains information on 22 deceased patients, average age was 3.06 ± 4.66 (from 0 to 15 years, median 0.54 years). The highest number of fatal outcomes was observed in the Republic of Dagestan (n = 3). Junctional CBE dominates in fatal outcomes among all the CEB types — 59.1% (n = 13 cases, 0.40 ± 0.22 years). The highest mortality was observed in I age group (from 0 to 1 year), which is 65.2% (15 fatal outcomes). Multisystem organ failure resulting from sepsis was the most common cause of death in both types of CEB (junctional and dystrophic). The mortality trend in the junctional form of CEB shows a decline in mortality, while the dystrophic type shows a stable situation during 2021–2023 years — 2 fatal outcomes per year. Junctional CEB has higher mortality rate at early age: survival curve shows sharp decline in the first months of life indicating high mortality in early life. The probability of survival drops to almost 0% in the first 100 days. Higher survival rate is more specific for the dystrophic type of CEB. Conclusion. This study demonstrates the significance and necessity to create and maintain registers for rare (orphan) diseases. Registry maintenance is an effective model for real understanding of the number of patients and value of needed assistance from the government to this category of patients.

Correlation between Geography of Residence, Socio-Culture and Family Structure with Early Marriage In South Bangka

Background: One of four women in the world who had married before 18 years old. Bangka Belitung Islands Province was in the third highest rate of early marriage in Indonesia. This province was mostly a coastal area that had a variety of social cultures. The purpose of the study was to analyze the correlation between the geography of residence, socio-culture, and family structure with early marriage and explore these three factors. Methods: This study used a qualitative study method with 13 informants for qualitative research (5 young women and their parents, village head, Head of Religious Affairs Office, Head of Islamic Community Development Division, Ministry of Religion). Qualitative research was conducted by conducting in-depth interviews with purposive sampling and explained through transcription, coding and categorization processes. Results: Qualitative research found that the geographical factors of residence, socio-culture and family structure influence early marriage. Conclusion: The geography of residence, socio-culture and family structure influenced early marriage. Suggestion: A synergistic effort by providing reproductive health education and sexuality education to children and adolescents. Keywords: Early marriage, geography of residence, socio-cultural, family structure, South Bangka

Analysis of the reasons for the decline in the marriage rate and fertility rate among women

In recent years, there has been a significant decline in marriage and fertility rates around the world, probably because women are more independent and reluctant to get involved in marriage and pregnancy. Therefore, this article delves into three reasons women are reluctant to marry. From the standpoint of gender mismatch in modern society, fewer men meet women’s needs, creating a mismatch between demand and supply. From the perspective of the contemporary working environment, the improvement of women’s intelligence makes women put more experience into work, and marriage and childbirth may ruin women’s careers. At the same time, sexual harassment in the workplace makes women resentful of men and reluctant to get married. From the perspective of social and cultural influences, the traditional conservative ideas of the past still exist in modern society, which has caused an imbalance in the gender division of labor and made women rebellious. Therefore, women may be reluctant to marry because it becomes a prudent issue and needs to be carefully considered before making a decision.

The impact of IQ on marriage rate: an analysis based on different gender perspectives

The institution of marriage is one of the oldest human institutions. Nowadays, it appears that the institution of marriage is experiencing a gradual transformation for the majority, transitioning from a societal “necessity” to a discretional “luxury. Some research indicates that divergent attitudes toward marriage exist between men and women. Men with higher IQs are more likely to marry, while the opposite is true for women. In order to analyze this phenomenon, based on the perspective of evolutionary psychology and cognitive physiology, this paper analyzes the physiological characteristics, cognitive differences, and social culture between men and women and elaborates the reasons for this difference in detail. Finally, some suggestions for future research are put forward.

Is seated voiding associated with lower urinary tract symptoms, health conditions, or marital status? Findings by age group from the 2023 Japan Community Health Survey.

Seated voiding may be an attempt to obviate voiding dysfunction, improve physical stability during voiding, and prevent messy bathroom contamination. Therefore, we hypothesized that seated voiders had a higher prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), deteriorating health conditions, and a higher marriage rate than standing voiders. Of the participants from the 2023 Japan Community Health Survey conducted by the Japanese Continence Society, 2936 men (mean age: 53.6 years old) were divided into sitting and standing groups based on their posture when voiding at home. Characteristics of the two groups were compared, and factors associated with seated voiding stratified by age were investigated using multivariable logistic regression analysis. One-thousand six-hundred and sixty men (57%) voided in the sitting position at home, and the proportion of seated voiding decreased with age. On multivariable analysis, comorbidities other than benign prostatic hyperplasia were associated with the standing group aged 40-59, and storage symptoms were associated with the seated group aged 60 and older. Being married was significantly and consistently associated with seated voiding across all ages. Approximately 60% of Japanese men void in the sitting position at home. There are certain differences in the associations of LUTS and health conditions with voiding position by age, while seated voiding is consistently associated with marital status throughout all ages, which implies that sanitation matters.

Stolen Childhood and Desolate Future: On Child Marriage in the Makawanpur's Chepang Community

Child marriage remains a critical issue not only in Nepal but globally, predominantly affecting South Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In Nepal, the Terai region, rural areas, particularly among economically disadvantaged and Dalit communities, faces alarmingly high rates of child marriage. Main objective of this study is to investigate the causes and consequences of child marriage in the Chepang Community. This phenomenon is driven by poverty, social pressure to maintain ties, and the misconception that it offers protection. ADD Primary data has directly been taken from the Chepang community through interview, and Previous studies, book, articles, bulletin, journal are used as a secondary data. This paper employs qualitative research methods, including semi-structured interviews with twenty households and case studies involving two Chepang women, to explore the causes and consequences of child marriage in the study area. Its consequences are profound, directly impacting girls' health and education. Many girls drop out before completing primary education due to domestic responsibilities like cooking and household chores. Early pregnancies, despite physical immaturity, contribute to high maternal and child mortality rates. The statement effectively highlights the multifaceted issue of child marriage in the Chepang community, touching on key factors such as socio-cultural norms, purity, economic pressures, and educational limitations. It also emphasizes the negative impacts of early marriage on health, education, and economic independence, reinforcing cycles of poverty and gender inequality. The proposed solutions education, legal enforcement, awareness, and promoting gender equality are crucial for addressing this issue. However, a deeper exploration of specific interventions tailored to the Chepang community's context could further strengthen the argument.

Age at marriage and its determinants in Kerala and Bihar

BackgroundMarriage is a significant milestone in one’s life, and the age at which individuals choose to get married can have various implications. By examining the age at marriage and its determinants in different regions, such as Kerala and Bihar, we can gain insights into Socio-demographic factors that influence this decision.MethodsThe National Family Health Survey (2019–2021) data was used. A total of 41,392 ever married women from Kerala (8, 579) and Bihar (32,813) were analysed using bivariate and multiple binary logistic regression approaches to meet the study aim.ResultThe significant association was found between explanatory factors and age at first marriage in Karala and Bihar. In Bihar, educated women from the poorest families had a higher rate of early marriages. Conversely, in Kerala, uneducated women from non-majority religions and larger households (more than 6 members) were more likely to be married before18. After accounting major effects of background characteristics, the adjusted odds ratio showed that In Kerala Muslim religion women have significantly higher odds of getting married before 18 (OR: 3.09, CI 2.67–3.57) then the Hindu women whereas in Bihar Muslim religion women has the significantly lower chance of getting married before turning 18 (OR: 0.87, CI 0.81–0.93) compared to Hindu. In both the states Kerala and Bihar General social group women had the significantly lower odds of getting married below 18 (OR: 0.73, CI 0.57–0.93 and OR: 0.88, CI 0.81–0.96) with respect to SC/ST social group women’s.ConclusionWomen in Bihar usually marry in younger age due to socioeconomic and traditional reasons, whereas in Kerala reverse is true, because of a greater emphasis on education and a more progressive social outlook. These regional variations reflect different cultural norms and socioeconomic environments, shape different marriage age patterns between the two regions.

Genetic testing perspectives in Pakistani population: a survey on knowledge, attitudes, awareness, and concerns.

A higher rate of consanguineous marriages is associated with the increasing prevalence of genetic disorders, imposing a significant burden on families, public health, and healthcare systems. Genetic testing facilitates the earlier detection of disease and personalized treatment approaches. Therefore, this study aims to assess knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and concerns regarding genetic testing in the Pakistani population. Participants (n = 494) were asked about factors that influence attitudes toward undergoing genetic testing. Furthermore, the study also investigates the concerns and reservations held by the Pakistani population regarding genetic testing. Participants indicated that consanguineous marriages lead to an increased risk of hereditary disorders and agreed that knowledge of genetic diseases can improve the quality of life. Almost 80% of the respondents know the term, and the majority of them know about genetic testing. 87.7% of respondents agreed to genetic screening before marriage, and 39.9% were willing to undergo genetic testing. More knowledge was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of accepting genetic testing, indicating potential acceptance if integrated into standard procedures. Those with a family history of genetic disorders were more positive in accepting genetic testing. The level of understanding regarding genetic testing also influences the concerns. Cultural or religious beliefs may also affect the decision to accept genetic testing. The survey reveals diverse opinions and knowledge levels regarding genetic testing in Pakistan. While there was generally positive interest, concerns about privacy, accuracy, and cultural factors should be addressed. Education and awareness campaigns could help improve understanding and acceptance.

Interpersonal trust in a couple as a sociocultural value

The relevance of the research is the need to identify the features of reducing the value of interpersonal trust in a couple, which leads to a decrease in marriage rates among the Russian population.The problem of the research lies in the presence of deviations in interpersonal trust between men and women and the lack of scientifically based information about the attitude of subjects to trust as a sociocultural value, which prevents the development of effective measures to eliminate deviations in the intergender relationships of partners.The aim of the research is to identify the features of interpersonal trust in a couple as a traditional socio-cultural value.The research methods. The paper uses data from a sociological study conducted in 2024 in the Belgorod region by means of a questionnaire survey. With a quota sample, 1,155 respondents were interviewed.The Results. The study revealed that, for both men and women, the main reason for establishing trust was the presence of identity, individual similarity, common life goals, common interests, and the same rules of behavior. It was found that the majority of respondents trusted their partner much more than other people. The comparative analysis made it possible to talk about the relationships between the level of trust and the duration of the couple's existence. Thus, the lowest level of trust was typical for the young couples formed less than 6 months ago. And the highest level of trust was observed between subjects who had been together for more than 20 years. The correlation analysis led to the conclusion that the highest level of interpersonal trust was manifested in official married couples, and not in cohabitation and not in guest interaction.The Key findings. It has been concluded that following positive traditions and preserving sociocultural values in the interactions of representatives of different sexes is not presented as a cultural and historical relic, but, on the contrary, as a potential for further successful development of the institution of the family. It has been determined that interpersonal trust in a couple between is presented as a socio-cultural value, which largely determines the quality and stability of relationships and interactions between the subjects.

The effect of extreme weather events on the frequency of child marriage: A systematic review of the evidence

AbstractChild marriage is considered a human rights violation, and its elimination is an explicit target of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, there is growing concern that climate change may be threatening efforts to eliminate child marriage. We conducted a systematic review to synthesise quantitative research on the relationship between climate change and child marriage and assess the risk of bias across these studies. We identified 18 studies from an interdisciplinary range of databases. Several studies found that child marriage was correlated with droughts and floods. However, because of the high risk of bias across studies, differences in the vulnerability of the populations studied, and differences in the definitions of extreme weather used, we are unable to draw broad conclusions about whether extreme weather events increase or decrease the rate of child marriage. We discuss common biases across studies and provide suggestions for improving the strength of evidence on this topic.

Incidence and Influencing Factors of Avoidable Mortality in South Korea from 2013-2022: Analysis of Cause-of-Death Statistics.

This study aimed to identify trends in avoidable mortality (AVM) in 16 provincial and metropolitan regions of South Korea and determine the factors influencing AVM. First, the AVM rate (AVMR) was calculated using the Statistics Korea cause-of-death and population data by age and region from 2013 to 2022. Second, a health determinants model was built, and we identified the factors influencing AVM using generalized estimating equations analysis. Although the AVMR per 100,000 people displayed a steadily decreasing trend from 2013 to 2020, it began to increase in 2021. Meanwhile, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk, Chungnam, Chungbuk, and Gangwon Provinces showed a higher AVMR than the national average. The analysis revealed that each 1-unit increase in the older adult population, smoking, perceived stress, or nonlocal medical utilization was associated with an increase in the AVMR. Conversely, 1-unit increases in the male-to-female ratio, marriage rate, positive self-rated health, local medical utilization, doctor population, influenza vaccination rate, cancer screening rate, or financial independence were associated with decrease in the AVMR. This study established that the AVMR, which had been continuously decreasing across the 16 regions, shifted to an increasing trend in 2021. We also identified several factors influencing AVM. Further studies are needed to confirm the reasons for this shift in the AVMR and explore the factors that influence AVM across Korea's 16 provincial and metropolitan regions.

Marriage entry, divorce and reconciliation: The unintended consequence of the home purchase restriction policy in China

This study investigates the unintended socioeconomic consequences of housing market regulations, focusing on the home purchase restriction (HPR) policy implemented in cities across China. While the primary aim of the HPR policy is to curb property prices by limiting the number of properties a household can purchase, its broader impact on family formation, particularly marriage and divorce patterns, remains underexplored. Applying Becker’s economic theory of marriage, which views marital decisions as rational choices influenced by socioeconomic factors, this study examines how the HPR policy affects family formation and dissolution across different city tiers and age groups in China. Our analysis reveals several key findings. First, the HPR policy effectively contributed to a decrease in house prices, aligning with its primary objective. However, it also led to delayed marriages among younger age groups, especially in first-tier cities, where housing affordability is a significant concern. Second, the policy inadvertently encouraged strategic divorces, allowing couples to circumvent purchase restrictions and acquire additional properties. This loophole undermines the policy’s effectiveness in reducing housing demand and stabilizing prices. These results highlight the complex interplay between housing market regulations and family demographics, emphasizing the need for policymakers to consider the broader societal impacts of non-family-oriented policies. As China, like many other societies, faces challenges related to the second demographic transition—such as declining marriage and fertility rates—the findings of this study serve as a cautionary tale. Housing policies, while effective in addressing market concerns, can have significant and sometimes counterproductive effects on family stability and formation, potentially exacerbating the demographic trends a society aims to mitigate.