Impact of Early Marriage on Gap in Child Nutrition Outcomes in India: A Decomposition Analysis

Purpose : This study examined the impact of early marriage on children's nutrition in India, especially their height in relation to their age (measured by height-for-age z-scores) for children aged 0–5 years. Method : The study utilized data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) and applied the Oaxaca decomposition method, along with other similar methods by Cotton, Reimer, and Neumark. These methods facilitated a comparison of the differences in child nutrition between women who married early and those who married as adults based on social and economic factors. Findings : The results showed that children of women who married early were shorter for their age than those whose mothers married as adults in every state. The gap was even bigger in richer families. Factors such as belonging to a wealthier household, having an educated mother, and breastfeeding for more than six months helped improve a child’s growth in both groups. On the other hand, children who were born small, used Anganwadi services, or had underweight mothers had worse nutrition. Poor toilet facilities and underweight mothers especially harmed child growth among women who married early. Practical Implications : The study highlighted the importance of stopping early marriages and ensuring that government programs such as ICDS, the Midday Meal Scheme, and Janani Suraksha Yojana effectively reach those in need to fight child malnutrition. Originality : This research was among the first to use these special methods to study how early marriage affects child nutrition, and it gives useful information that can help make better policies.