The effect of maternal child marriage on morbidity and mortality of children under 5 in India: Cross sectional study of a nationally representative sample

Authors

Anita Raj
Niranjan Saggurti, Population Council
Michael Winter
Alan Labonte
Michele R. Decker
Donta Balaiah
Jay G. Silverman

Document Type

Article (peer-reviewed)

Publication Date

2010

Abstract

Objective: To assess associations between maternal child marriage (marriage before age 18) and morbidity and mortality of infants and children under 5 in India. Design: Cross-sectional analyses of nationally representative household sample. Generalised estimating equation models constructed to assess associations. Adjusted models included maternal and child demographics and maternal body mass index as covariates. Setting: India. Population: Women aged 15-49 years (n=124 385); data collected in 2005-6 through National Family Health Survey-3. Data about child morbidity and mortality reported by participants. Analyses restricted to births in past five years reported by ever married women aged 15-24 years (n=19 302 births to 13 396 mothers). Main outcome measures: In under 5s: mortality related infectious diseases in the past two weeks (acute respiratory infection, diarrhoea); malnutrition (stunting, wasting, underweight); infant (age

Recommended Citation

Raj, Anita, Niranjan Saggurti, Michael Winter, Alan Labonte, Michele R. Decker, Balaiah Donta, and Jay G. Silverman. 2010. "The effect of maternal child marriage on morbidity and mortality of children under 5 in India: Cross sectional study of a nationally representative sample," British Medical Journal 340: 353.

DOI

10.1136/bmj.b4258

Language

English