Examining the Mediating Role of Early Motherhood: Linking Early Marriage to Maternal and Child Health Indicators

Mayank Singh, Kle University
Alex Carvalho, lecturer
Priyanka Patel, Tulane University Newcomb Institute

Early marriage often leads to early motherhood, which is closely associated with adverse health outcomes for both the mother and child. This study aims to examine the mediating role of early motherhood in linking early marriage to various maternal and child health indicators in India, using data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). The study utilized data from the NFHS-5. The sample included ever-married women aged 20–29 years. The Karlson Holm and Breen (KHB) method was employed to assess the mediating role of early motherhood in the relationship between early marriage and health outcomes. The findings reveal that early marriage significantly increases the risk of adverse health outcomes, including higher rates of stunting, underweight, and anemia among children, and poorer maternal health indicators such as anemia and lower access to healthcare. Early motherhood was found to partially mediate the relationship between early marriage and these health outcomes, highlighting its role in perpetuating the cycle of poor health among young mothers and their children. The study underscores the critical need for interventions that address both early marriage and early motherhood to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Keywords: Health and Morbidity, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

See extended abstract.