Determinants and Regional Variations in Age at First Marriage in India: Results from Multilevel and Spatial Analysis

Nuptiality practices, particularly the age of first marriage (AAFM), are important determinants of fertility patterns, reproductive health and social relations. Wide inter and intra-country variations in AAFM are observed, with AAFM being low in South Asian countries like India. Studies have identified poverty and lack of education to be determinants of AAFM; it is also low within socially disadvantaged socio-religious groups and in northern states. Such studies, however, generally do not consider the role of community-level factors, ignore the time-variant nature of education and economic status (using current values of such variables instead of their values at the time of marriage) and fail to incorporate the effect of both spill overs from contiguous areas and inter-generational transmission of nuptial practices. This study uses a multilevel regression model to analyse the effect of individual, household and community-level factors on the AAFM using data from the nationally representative National Family Health Survey data. It is supplemented by spatial statistics. Results reveal that respondents from Hindu and disadvantaged social groups, with less educated partners, and residing (after marriage) in areas with low AAFM, lower adult sex ratio, high wealth index scores and with neighbouring areas preferring young brides are at risk of early marriage. This paper suggests that targeting such vulnerable groups and geographic clusters through the promotion of education and awareness programmes is important.