Improving estimates of the links between child marriage and poor fertility outcomes in India

Over 44.5% of Indian women aged 20 and 24 years are estimated to have had child marriages. These women are at high risk for maternal morbidity and mortality. Most recently, Raj (2009) reported estimates of the effects of child marriage on poor fertility outcomes in India. However, this study had several methodological problems. Since large resources are currently being devoted to these issues, it is important to have accurate information. Hence, we improve the methods of Raj (2009). We find there is less consistency in the differences between adult and child marriages for fertility related outcomes than is reported in Raj (2009). We also find that the differences may be largely functions of marriage duration and not of only having had a child marriage. We identify two policy initiatives for improving outcomes for young adult women in child marriages, and these are reducing sterilization and increasing contraception usage.