Child Marriage and Reproductive Health Outcomes

Child marriage, defined as a formal or informal union before the age of 18, persists across many low- and middle-income settings despite global legal frameworks and efforts to end the practice. It often arises from economic insecurity, entrenched gender norms and inadequate access to education. Early unions curtail opportunities for girls, exposing them to higher rates of obstetric complications, maternal and neonatal mortality, sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies and mental health challenges. Adolescent mothers are more likely to experience malnutrition, obstructed labour and obstetric fistula. Offspring of child brides face elevated risks of preterm birth and infant mortality. Interventions that delay marriage age typically leverage girls’ education, economic support and legal enforcement, yet progress remains uneven across regions. Understanding the interplay between social drivers and health consequences is essential for designing policies to meet Sustainable Development Goal 5.3, aiming to eliminate child marriage by 2030.

Research from Nature Portfolio

One recent study has examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on early marriages among girls. Analysis of multiple contexts indicates that economic collapse, prolonged school closures and loss of parental support accelerated rates of child marriage in vulnerable communities. The study also documents associated mental health burdens, including increased anxiety and depression among young brides. Mixed trends in higher-income settings suggest a need for tailored strategies in emergency planning, encompassing psychosocial support and educational continuity to mitigate the risk of early unions during crises.

Child Marriage and Reproductive Health Outcomes publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in child marriage and reproductive health outcomes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Child marriage: A formal or informal union in which at least one party is under 18 years of age.

Obstetric fistula: An abnormal opening between the birth canal and bladder or rectum caused by prolonged obstructed labour, leading to chronic incontinence.

Adolescent reproductive health: The physical, mental and social well-being in relation to the reproductive system during adolescence, including menstruation, contraception and pregnancy.

Cross-sectional study: Observational research that analyses data from a population at a single point in time to assess prevalence of outcomes or exposures.

References

1. Prevalence of girl and boy child marriage across states and Union Territories in India, 1993–2021: a repeated cross-sectional study. The Lancet Global Health (2023).
2. Early marriage of girls in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a literature review. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2024).
3. Trends in child marriage, sexual violence, early sexual intercourse and the challenges for policy interventions to meet the sustainable development goals. International Journal for Equity in Health (2023).
4. Prevalence of child marriage and its impact on fertility outcomes in 34 sub-Saharan African countries. BMC Public Health (2019).