Child Marriage

Child marriage undermines current U.S. development efforts in health, nutrition and education programs. This brief offers recommendations of how U.S. policy can end this harmful practice.

The Knot Ready study was conducted in India from 2005 through 2008. ICRW researchers analyzed child marriage trends in the sub-continent over the past 15 years and assessed the effectiveness of programs and policies aimed at delaying marriage.

Decision makers want to know which strategies are most cost-effective for improving adolescent reproductive health and what resources are required to implement or scale up successful programs. Yet little is known about these programs' costs, and few researchers are building cost-analysis into their program designs. This report summarizes the results of a multi-partner study of youth reproductive health interventions in rural and urban areas of India from 1996 to 2006. The research program demonstrated that it is possible to create effective programs to improve adolescents' health in a relatively short time. This report draws on lessons learned on how to strengthen community and government efforts to improve youth reproductive and sexual health.

An accompanying briefing kit provides short summaries of specific projects and outcomes.

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Reproductive Health: Evidence from Three Adolescent Reproductive Health Programs in India
Understanding Costs to Improve Youth Reproductive and Sexual Health: Results from a Study in Rural Maharashtra, India
Understanding Costs to Improve Youth Reproductive and Sexual Health: Results from a Study in Rural Tamil Nadu
Understanding Costs to Improve Youth Reproductive and Sexual Health: Evidence on Replicating a Tested Model in Delhi, India
Influence of Men and Boys on Youth Reproductive and Sexual Health: Lessons from Intervention Studies in India
Influence of Men and Boys on Youth Reproductive and Sexual Health: Husbands' Involvement in Maternal Care in Rural Maharashtra, India
Community Mobilization and Youth Reproductive and Sexual Health: Findings from Intervention Studies in India
Addressing Gender-Based Constraints in Youth Reproductive Health: Findings from Intervention Studies in India
Addressing Gender-Based Constraints in Youth Reproductive Health: Experiences and Behaviors about Infertility among Young Couples in Rural Maharashtra, India
Delaying Age at Marriage in Rural Maharashtra, India
Reducing Anemia and Changing Dietary Behaviors among Adolescent Girls in Maharashtra, India
Building Life Skills to Improve Adolescent Girls' Reproductive and Sexual health, Tigri, Delhi
Replicating an Adolescent Girls' Reproductive and Sexual Health Program in Naglamachi, Delhi
Reproductive and Sexual Health Education, Care and Counseling for Married Adolescents in Rural Maharashtra, India
Reducing Reproductive Tract Infections among Married Youth in Rural Tamil Nadu, India
Role of Mothers-in-Law in Young Women's Reproductive Health: Evidence from Intervention Research in Rural Maharashtra, India
Social Mobilization or Government Services: What Influences Married Adolescents' Reproductive Health in Rural Maharashtra, India?

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Child marriage is a harmful traditional practice that perpetuates an unrelenting cycle of gender inequality, sickness and poverty. ICRW outlines successful community interventions that reduce child marriage rates.

These factsheets discuss the harmful practice of child marriage and how it adversely affects the health, education and livelihoods of millions of adolescent girls. Also included are promising community-based approaches to reducing child marriage.

Download by section:
Child Marriage and Domestic Violence
Child Marriage and Education
Child Marriage and Health
Child Marriage and Poverty
Child Marriage, Laws and Civil Society Action
Child Marriage By the Numbers
Child Marriage Around the World
Success on the Ground: Reducing Child Marriage

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