IMPACT OF EARLY MARRIAGE ON MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG WOMEN OF A PERI URBAN VILLAGE OF NORTH INDIA

Abstract

IMPACT OF EARLY MARRIAGE ON MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG WOMEN OF A PERI URBAN VILLAGE OF NORTH INDIA

Chintu Chaudhary, MD Mohd Najmul Aqib Khan, MD 1 , Ruchi Pandey, MD 2 , Sameena Ahmad, MD 3 4* , Vishal Bankwar, MD 5 , Rambha Pathak, MD 6 , Shubham Girdhar, MD 7

1 Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Al- Falah School of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Dhauj, Faridabad, Haryana, India- 121004, 2 Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Government Institute of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India - 201009 3 Senior Resident, Department of Community Medicine, Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India - 202002 4 Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Haldwani, Uttarakhand, India - 263139 5 Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Jaipur National University Institute for Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Jaipur, India- 302001 6 Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Government Institute of Medical Sciences, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India – 201009 7 Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Al- Falah School of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Dhauj, Faridabad, Haryana, India- 121004, *Corresponding author: Dr. Mohd Najmul Aqib Khan Email: drmnaqib@gmail.com, Phone (or Mobile) No.: +919045056591

ABSTRACT Introduction: Early marriage has long been a problem in developing countries as it not only affects the health of girls but also deprives them of a childhood that they rightfully deserve. Apart from this, marital relationship in case of early marriage is also not as fruitful as compared to late marriages owing to emotional immaturity of the females. Methods: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of early marriage and its association with marital relationship. It was a community based cross-sectional study conducted among 322 married females in field practice areas of JNUIMRC, Jaipur, Rajasthan. Result: The study found that 53.4% of the females had married before the age of 18 years.

Significant association of marital age was observed with education status, socioeconomic status, nature of employment

and education status of the male partner (p<0.05). Also, choosing friends and expressing opinions to elders, as a part

of

autonomy and self-efficacy, respectively, were found to be associated with early marriage (p>0.05). Conclusion:The study established that early marriages are still prevalent in the country. Ongoing efforts through the existing programs in the country need to reach the right audience especially in the rural areas.

Keywords: Early marriage, marital relationship, women autonomy, women self-efficacy