Child marriage, defined as a union involving individuals below the age of 18, is acknowledged as a violation of human rights and continues to be a significant concern across various cultures and regions. Estimates suggest that approximately 700 million women globally were married before reaching the age of 18. Without intervention, an additional 150 million girls are projected to marry underage by 2030. Despite numerous low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) implementing legal bans on child marriage, achieving complete eradication remains a challenging objective. This issue is crucial as it is included among the targets of the fifth Sustainable Development Goal, which aims to mitigate long-term economic burdens and negative health and developmental outcomes associated with child marriage.
Impact of Legal Marriage Age on Women and Children
Research demonstrates that an increase in the legal marriage age is linked to improved educational and economic outcomes for women, alongside better health and educational conditions for their children. Nevertheless, child marriage rates continue to be high in several countries, necessitating exploration into the economic and sociocultural factors contributing to this problem. One direct policy approach adopted by governments to combat child marriage is the establishment of age-of-marriage laws. While existing research has assessed the impacts of these laws on women, a significant gap remains in understanding their effects on the health of future generations.
Study Overview
A study led by researchers including LE Duc Dung, Associate Prof. Teresa Molina, Prof. Yoko Ibuka, and Prof. Rei Goto aims to investigate the intergenerational health impacts of child marriage bans that set a legal minimum marriage age of 18, particularly their influence on child mortality rates among the offspring of women affected by such legislation. Prior research has indicated that these bans can improve women’s socioeconomic conditions and delay marriage in certain contexts. However, uncertainties persist regarding their effectiveness in enhancing child health, especially given the inconsistent enforcement of age laws, which may lead to informal unions rather than formal marriages. Additionally, legal bans might discourage child brides from seeking essential prenatal and postnatal care due to concerns about legal consequences.
Research Methodology
In this analysis, the researchers leveraged the MACHEquity Child Marriage Policy Database, which includes data on child marriage bans enacted between 1995 and 2012. This dataset was integrated with Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for women aged 15-49 in LMICs, providing a foundation for research findings. Ultimately, the analysis encompassed 17 countries that enacted legal prohibitions on marriage before the age of 18 during the specified timeframe.
To assess the causal impacts of the bans, the study applied two sources of variation: differences in pre-ban marriage ages across subnational regions and cohort differences regarding exposure to these bans. A region-specific measure of treatment intensity was calculated to identify areas with high prevalence rates of child marriage and early marriages. This treatment intensity was then combined with cohort data detailing exposure to marriage bans.
Findings and Implications
Results indicated that child marriage bans are associated with significant reductions in both infant and under-five mortality rates. Specifically, a one standard deviation increase in treatment intensity correlated with a decline of approximately 0.95 percentage points in infant mortality rates and about 1.97 percentage points in under-five mortality rates—corresponding to relative reductions of 14.2% and 19.7%, respectively, compared to the average of pre-ban cohorts. These substantial effects were particularly prominent in low-income countries and among lower-wealth households, and results were consistently supported across various methodological evaluations.
The mechanisms contributing to these outcomes suggest that such bans may lower child mortality primarily by postponing both marriage and first childbirth. This delay allows women to enter marriage and motherhood at a more mature age, enhancing their ability to secure health investments for their families. Additionally, the analysis noted a decrease in the percentage of mothers giving birth before turning 18, aligning with established concerns regarding the biological and psychological readiness of teenagers for pregnancy, where inadequate antenatal and postnatal care have been identified as factors influencing child health outcomes.
Conclusion
In summary, this study highlights the importance of evaluating comprehensive policies not only for their immediate goals but also for their potential long-term effects. Previous economic research in developing regions has shown that educational reforms and health initiatives can produce widespread benefits, impacting health and mortality across generations. This investigation into child marriage bans contributes to the growing literature supporting their effectiveness as a policy measure aimed at improving health outcomes for future generations.
Source: Waseda University
