Child marriage declines in South Asia: study

MARRIAGE rates for girls under the age of 14 in South Asian countries have significantly declined since 1991, according to a meta-analysis.

However, marriage rates among girls aged 16 and 17 have stayed the same, except for an increase of 36% in Bangladesh. US researchers have looked at population data from health surveys from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. They found the marriage prevalence for girls younger than 14 decreased by 35% in India, 45% in Bangladesh, 57% in Nepal and 61% in Pakistan.

Researchers believe this is due to education and urbanisation. However many are still likely to marry, at age 15–16 years.

JAMA 2012; 307:2027-29