Age at Marriage

Abstract

Age at marriage' is not only a crucial but also a decisive variable in limiting family size and fertility level. There is an inverse correlation between age at marriage and fertility level. If age at marriage increases, fertility level would decline. In order to examine this relationship, the present study has collected data from households of Yerava tribe in Kodagu district of Karnataka. A sample of 10 tribal colonies was selected on the basis of a stratified sampling procedure. A total of 250 households were selected on the principle of randomness. A pre-tested schedule was used to collect data from an adult member of each household. The data have been used to examine the prevailing age at marriage and opinion about the marriageable age among the people of Yerava tribe. It has been found that a majority of them are aware of the legally prescribed minimum age for marriage. However, Yeravas prefer to marry their sons and daughters as they reach adulthood. It has been found that the legally prescribed minimum age at marriage predominantly prevails among Yeravas.

Profiling Maternal and Child Health Care in the Tribal Communities of Telangana State: An Anthropological Enquiry

“…Several studies have identified the negative impact that early age at marriage and early childbearing have on maternal and child health (Marphatia et al 2017;Prabhuswamy, 2015;Santhya et al, 2010). The age at marriage, more particularly for girls, was found to be very low among the tribal communities.…”