International Institute for Population Sciences
Deemed to be University (An Autonomous Organization of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India)

This study utilizes data from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) to investigate the prevalence and patterns of child marriage in Uttar Pradesh, with a specific focus on the rural-urban gap. Employing descriptive statistics, multivariable logistic regression, and the Fairlie decomposition model, our analysis reveals noteworthy findings. Results indicate that child marriage is 9 percentage points more prevalent in rural areas compared to urban counterparts, with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.25 times higher in rural settings. Notably, the practice is prominent among individuals with lower educational attainment, those belonging to the poorest wealth quintile, and scheduled tribes, irrespective of their place of residence. Substantial variations in the rural-urban gap exist across socio-economic backgrounds and districts, with particularly pronounced gaps in Bahraich (41.2 pp), Shrawasti (38.1 pp), Balrampur (37.2 pp), and Lalitpur (22.5 pp). Furthermore, our study explores the association between child marriage and pregnancy loss. Child-married women were found to be 25% more likely to report pregnancy loss compared to their unmarried counterparts. Intriguingly, the association between child marriage and pregnancy loss varied significantly based on place of residence, with a positive likelihood of pregnancy loss more pronounced among child-married women in urban areas. In conclusion, our findings underscore the higher prevalence of child marriage in rural Uttar Pradesh, particularly among socio-economically disadvantaged groups. The considerable rural-urban gap in child marriage, coupled with significant district-level variations, highlights the need for targeted and context-specific policy interventions. Additionally, the observed positive association between child marriage and pregnancy loss, especially in urban settings, emphasizes the urgency of addressing the maternal vulnerabilities associated with this harmful practice.