Factors and Consequences of Early Marriage among Women in Community, Chitwan

Child marriage in Nepal is considered a major barrier to the nation's social and economic development as well as a major women's health concern. The objective was to find out prevalence, factors and consequences of early marriage among women of Tharu and Bote community. Comparative descriptive research design was adopted and a total 144 married Tharu and Bote women were selected by quota sampling technique in Kalika municipality-5, Chitwan from 28 August to 4 September, 2018. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive (Frequency, percentage, median & quartile) and inferential statistics (Chi-square) was used to analyze data. Majority of married Tharu (72.2%) and Bote (90.3%) women had early marriage (Md: 17.50 years, IQR: 20-15) & (Md: 16 years, IQR: 25-18) respectively. Married Tharu (68.1%) and Bote (80.6%) women had early pregnancy (Md: 18, IQR: 20-16) & (Md: 17, IQR: 19-15.50) respectively. There was significant association between early marriage and illiterate (p=0.029), adult and basic education (p=0.001), business, daily wages, student and unemployed (p=0.026), not aware about legal age of marriage (pless than0.001), not aware about consequences of early marriage (p=0.001), father's educational status: illiterate (p=0.015), parental income not sufficient to manage in home (p=0.050), husband having adult and basic education (pless than0.001), husband's occupation: daily wages (p=0.043), at the time of marriage in Tharu women. There was significant association between early marriage and not aware about legal age of marriage (pless than0.001), not aware about consequences of early marriage (p=0.015) at time of marriage in Bote women.