Patterns in age at first marriage and its determinants in India: A historical perspective of last 30 years (1992-2021)

Can a lack of knowledge of the ovulatory cycle result in primary infertility? Evidence from selected South Asian countries

Knowledge of ovulatory cycle (KOC) is a crucial factor for successful conception. Despite sizable number of women suffering from infertility, empirical evidence on the relation between infertility and KOC is rare in South Asia. This study assesses the association between primary infertility and KOC. The data of ever-married women aged 20-49 gathered in the recent rounds of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) for India (2019-2021), Bangladesh (2017-2018), Pakistan (2017-2018) and Nepal (2022) were analyzed. Bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression were conducted through Stata (V.17) with a 5% significance level. Women with no KOC in India [AOR:1.71, C.I.: (1.54, 1.9)] and Bangladesh [AOR:2.6, C.I.: (1.67, 4.06)] had higher odds of primary infertility than their counterparts with correct KOC. The study concludes that correct KOC is a significant predictor of primary infertility in India and Bangladesh and is insignificant in Pakistan and Nepal. Moreover, higher age at marriage and no-visit to healthcare facility were the other significant predictors of primary infertility in all four countries. Women who are struggling to conceive would benefit from education related to the timing and identification of the fertile window, which may be provided through primary healthcare providers.

Generational trends in education and marriage norms in rural India: evidence from the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study

Introduction

Globally in 2024, 1 in 5 women aged 20-24 years worldwide had been married before the age of 18 years. One reason for this persistent prevalence of underage marriage may be the slow change in social norms relating to education levels and women's marriage age. However, we know little about how norms change, and whether they vary by socio-demographic characteristics. We aimed to investigate changes in social norms across generations in rural Maharashtra, India.

Methods

To understand the status quo, we identified education levels and marriage ages typical of contemporary young adults in rural Maharashtra using the National Family Health Survey. To see if norms have shifted across generations, we analysed data on education and marriage age in 659 parent-adolescent dyads from the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (PMNS) in rural Maharashtra. To ascertain if norms might shift in the future, we investigated adolescents' aspirations for their future hypothetical children's education and marriage, and classified adolescents as wanting (a) their children to decide themselves, (b) more education and later marriage age, or (c) the status quo. We assessed whether these aspirations differed by socio-demographic characteristics.

Results

Compared to the status quo and PMNS adults, PMNS adolescents had substantially more education, and girls were marrying slightly later. About 70% of the adolescents wanted their children to themselves decide their schooling. The remainder of both sexes wanted their children to have the same education as them (15 years). Only 10% of adolescent girls and 14% of boys wanted their child to decide their own marriage age. Most adolescents wanted a later marriage age for their children than their own experience. Lower educated and early married girls aspired for greater education for their children. More educated boys aspired for later marriage for their children.

Discussion

Education norms have changed by a larger magnitude than marriage age norms. Adolescents are already attaining their education aspirations, but aspire for later marriage of their children, more so for their hypothetical sons than daughters. Since senior household members remain influential in marriage decisions, it may take time before adolescents' aspirations for their children become a new norm.

Gone and Forgotten? Predictors of Birth History Omissions in India

Background

Fertility histories are subject to measurement errors such as incorrect birth dates, incorrect birth orders, incorrect sex, and omissions. These errors can bias demographic estimates such as fertility rates and child mortality rates.

Objective

We focus on births missing in fertility histories. We estimate the prevalence of such omissions and study their associated factors.

Methods

We leverage a panel survey (the India Human Development Survey) where the same women were interviewed in two waves several years apart. We compare data across waves and identify omitted births. Omissions in the second wave are modeled as a function of several child, mother, household, and survey interviewer variables. Models are fit separately to omissions reported alive or dead in the first wave.

Results

We conservatively estimate the prevalence of omissions at 4%. A large majority of omitted births are those of dead children, especially infants, with children in poorer households at greater risk of being omitted. For children alive in wave 1, female children are much more likely to be omitted in wave 2 compared to male children. Interviewers can detect respondent behaviors associated with omissions.

Conclusions

Omissions in fertility histories are non-ignorable. They do not randomly occur but affect some population sub-groups and some interview contexts more than others.

Contributions

We investigate the understudied but important phenomenon of omitted births in fertility histories. We bring attention to possible biases in demographic estimates. We shed light on the survey process and propose strategies for minimizing the bias through improved survey design.

Clinical Profile, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Ectopic Pregnancy in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Indian Study

Objectives To determine the clinical profile, management and outcomes in patients of ectopic pregnancy (EP) presenting to the hospital. Methods A prospective observational study was done on 75 women with ectopic pregnancy among a total of 1350 women who attended the Gynecology department over a period of 18 months from December 2020 until June 2022. The details of patients such as age, socioeconomic status, referral, symptoms, obstetric history, and signs and symptoms were recorded. Ultrasound was done and the site of ectopic pregnancy was determined. Management of patients was done according to hospital protocol; outcomes were recorded. Results The frequency of EP in the present study was 5.55%. The majority of the cases (60%) were between 20-30 years of age, from the lower middle class (57%), referral cases (63%), and multigravida (i.e. >G4) (31%) cases. Amenorrhea was the most common symptom seen in 73 (97.33%) cases. On ultrasound, the most common finding was tubo-ovarian mass (33.33%). In the majority of patients [28 (37.33%)], the ampullary region in the fallopian tube was the site of EP. History of pelvic inflammatory disease was most common risk factor [26 (19.5%)]. Surgical management was done in 74 cases and one case was managed medically. Salpingectomy alone was done in 47 (62.67%) cases. Rupture ectopic pregnancy was seen in 71 (95%) cases where all cases needed blood transfusion. One patient needed ventilatory support/ICU admission and had mortality. Conclusion We report a frequency of 5.55% for EP. The patients with EP were in the age groups of 20-40 years and belonged primarily to lower socioeconomic class. The most common symptom was amenorrhea. The most common site of ectopic pregnancy was the ampullary region. Rupture ectopic is a common worrisome complication. Early diagnosis of the site and surgical management is the key to better management of ruptured cases.