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Health Economics Jan 2022Same-sex marriage legalization (SSML) is a typical anti-discrimination policy to remove institutional discrimination against sexual minorities by providing them with...
Same-sex marriage legalization (SSML) is a typical anti-discrimination policy to remove institutional discrimination against sexual minorities by providing them with marriage equality. We examine how this legalization in the Netherlands affected mental health. Conducting a difference-in-differences analysis with heterosexual individuals as a reference group, we find that SSML significantly improved mental health of sexual minorities and substantially reduced the sexual orientation gap of mental health. The beneficial effects were present for both married and non-married sexual minorities. This phenomenon suggests that part of the health gains were related to mechanisms beyond marriage itself.
Topics: Female; Humans; Male; Marriage; Mental Health; Netherlands; Sexual Behavior; Sexual and Gender Minorities
PubMed: 34628683
DOI: 10.1002/hec.4441 -
PloS One 2022Considering the persistent poor maternal and child health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), this study undertook a comparative analysis of the timing and adequacy of...
CONTEXT
Considering the persistent poor maternal and child health outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), this study undertook a comparative analysis of the timing and adequacy of antenatal care uptake between women (aged 20-24 years) who married before age 18 and those who married at age 18 or above.
METHOD
Data came from Demographic and Health Surveys of 20 SSA countries. We performed binary logistic regression analysis on pooled data of women aged 20-24 (n = 33,630).
RESULTS
Overall, the percentage of child brides in selected countries was 57.1%, with the lowest prevalence found in Rwanda (19.1%) and the highest rate in Chad (80.9%). Central and West African countries had the highest prevalence of child marriage compared to other sub-regions. Bivariate results indicate that a lower proportion of child brides (50.0%) had 4+ ANC visits compared to the adult brides (60.9%) and a lower percentage of them (34.0%) initiated ANC visits early compared to the adult brides (37.5%). After controlling for country of residence and selected socio-economic and demographic characteristics, multivariable results established significantly lower odds of having an adequate/prescribed number of ANC visits among women who married before age 15 (OR: 0.63, CI: 0.57-0.67, p<0.001), and women who married at ages 15-17 (OR: 0.81, CI: 0.75-0.84, p<0.001) compared to those who married at age 18+. Similar results were established between age at first marriage and timing of first ANC visit. Other interesting results emerged that young women who married earlier than age 18 and those who married at age 18+ differ significantly by several socio-economic and demographic characteristics.
CONCLUSION
Efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes in SSA must give attention to address the underutilization and late start of antenatal care uptake among child brides.
Topics: Adolescent; Africa South of the Sahara; Age Factors; Family; Female; Humans; Marriage; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Pregnancy; Prenatal Care; Prevalence; Socioeconomic Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 35025949
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262688 -
Reproductive Health Jul 2021Over the past 25 years, tremendous progress has been made in increasing the evidence on child marriage and putting it to good use to reduce the prevalence of child...
Over the past 25 years, tremendous progress has been made in increasing the evidence on child marriage and putting it to good use to reduce the prevalence of child marriage and provide support to married girls. However, there is still much to be done to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target 5.3 of ending child marriage by 2030, and to meet the needs of the 12 million girls who are still married before age 18 each year. To guide and stimulate future efforts, the UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO-World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, the World Health Organization, the UNICEF-UNFPA Global Programme to End Child Marriage, and Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage convened an expert group meeting in 2019 to: (1) review the progress made in building the evidence base on child marriage since the publication of research priorities in this area in 2015, (2) identify an updated set of research priorities for the next ten years, and (3) discuss how best to support research coordination, translation, and uptake. This article provides a summary of the progress made in this area since 2015 and lists an updated set of research gaps and their rationale in four key areas: (1) prevalence, trends, determinants, and correlates of child marriage; (2) consequences of child marriage; (3) intervention effectiveness studies to prevent child marriage and support married girls; and (4) implementation research studies to prevent child marriage and support married girls. It also highlights a number of calls-to-action around research coordination and knowledge translation to support the emerging and evolving needs of the field.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Family; Female; Humans; Marriage; World Health Organization
PubMed: 34284797
DOI: 10.1186/s12978-021-01176-x -
Psychiatria Danubina Sep 2020It seems important to understand how was the life of young people during the Antiquity, in the Greek cities and in Rome. Furthermore, it can be useful to find if there... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
It seems important to understand how was the life of young people during the Antiquity, in the Greek cities and in Rome. Furthermore, it can be useful to find if there is a stage that marks the transition to adulthood. Finally, as the Romans are considerate to be great codifiers of laws, it seems important to study the Roman law to understand the legal conception of adolescence at this period.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
A literature review has been done about studies published between 1962 and 2015. Those publications were found in some historical databases (as Persée, Cairns, J-Stor, OpenEdition) and in academic libraries.
RESULTS
In the Greek cities, the adolescent, at 18 years old, has to do a military service called the ephebia. At the end of this formation, the young man, aged of 20 years old, comes back to his city. However, he has to continue his (intellectual) training until about his 30 years old. Generally, at this age, a man marries a young girl and becomes a respected adult. In the Roman law, there is no conception of legal age for the majority: the young people stay under the authority of the pater familias (father of the family) until the death of the father. If the father is dead: the boy becomes a pupil and has a specific juridical status until his 25 years. Two important stages exist for the young Romans: wearing the toga virilis (toga of manhood) and the wedding.
CONCLUSIONS
There is an evolution in the perception of the adolescence during the Antiquity: for the Greeks, the adolescence ends at 20 years old with an important stage, the ephebia. In the Roman law, there is no legal age because everyone lives under the authority of the pater familias.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Greece; History, Ancient; Humans; Male; Marriage; Psychology, Adolescent; Young Adult
PubMed: 32890383
DOI: No ID Found -
Reproductive Health Jul 2021It is necessary to invest in married adolescent girls' health because of their roles in promoting the community and health of the next generation. Meanwhile, there are...
BACKGROUND
It is necessary to invest in married adolescent girls' health because of their roles in promoting the community and health of the next generation. Meanwhile, there are many concerns about their sexual and reproductive health. The International Conference on Population and Development emphasized the importance of access to adolescent girls to reproductive health services and counseling. In Iran, about 24% of registered marriages are to girls under 19, while their sexual and reproductive health needs have neglected. Therefore, this study aimed to identify married adolescent girls' reproductive and sexual needs.
METHODS/DESIGN
Data were obtained through in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews with 36 participants, including 11 women who got married at 10 to 21 years of age, two mothers whose daughters were married in adolescence, and 23 healthcare providers and policymakers. The participants were selected through purposive sampling with maximum variation. Data collection continued until data saturation. The interviews were analyzed by qualitative content analysis. Similar codes were merged, and sub-categorization was performed, whereby similar categories were combined until the main categories that emerged.
RESULTS
The results revealed five main categories: preparing for marriage, enhancing awareness and decision-making power on sexual and reproductive health issues, developing adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive services, providing tailored pregnancy and childbirth services, and preparing adolescents for motherhood.
CONCLUSION
Adolescents step into marital life without the required life skills or physical and mental preparedness. They often become pregnant due to social pressures and lack of access to contraception. Therefore, in countries like Iran, where there is a high frequency of early marriage, families, education, and the health system should prepare the necessary foundation to support these adolescents and provide tailored and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services.
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Humans; Iran; Marriage; Pregnancy; Qualitative Research; Reproductive Health; Sexual Behavior
PubMed: 34315487
DOI: 10.1186/s12978-021-01208-6 -
Studies in Family Planning Sep 2020Despite an extensive literature on the psychological rewards of marriage and children in high-income countries, research on these relationships in low-income countries...
Despite an extensive literature on the psychological rewards of marriage and children in high-income countries, research on these relationships in low-income countries remains limited. This paper draws on data from 4,133 adult women and men interviewed in the Malawi Longitudinal Study of Families and Health to examine how marital status, categorized as never, formerly, monogamously, and polygynously married, and number of children are associated with psychological well-being. With respect to marital status, we find that women in polygynous unions fare worse than monogamously married women and this detrimental effect is stronger for women than for men. Formerly married men and women of reproductive age experience the worst psychological outcomes, although this association wanes with age. In contrast, the benefits of having children is only evident among older Malawian women. These findings offer novel insights into the patterns of nearly universal marriage and high fertility that characterize Malawi and much of sub-Saharan Africa.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Family; Family Characteristics; Female; Hospitals, Psychiatric; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Malawi; Male; Marriage; Middle Aged; Parity; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Young Adult
PubMed: 32720321
DOI: 10.1111/sifp.12133 -
Current Opinion in Psychology Feb 2022Partners in intimate relationships, because they have each other to rely on, have generally been considered safe from the negative consequences of social isolation.... (Review)
Review
Partners in intimate relationships, because they have each other to rely on, have generally been considered safe from the negative consequences of social isolation. Here, we question this assumption, suggesting instead that social isolation may pose a threat to couples by depriving them of the tangible and emotional support that couples are likely to need, especially when confronted by stress. After briefly reviewing theoretical frameworks relevant to this idea, this article summarizes existing research documenting (1) associations between network ties and relationship outcomes, (2) mediators of these associations, for example, support and approval, and (3) moderators of these associations, for example, relationship qualities and cultural differences. We conclude by describing a research agenda to address methodological limitations in existing research and the policy implications of this line of work.
Topics: Humans; Marriage; Sexual Partners; Social Isolation
PubMed: 34271282
DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.06.002 -
Human Heredity 2014Why has the apparently high rate of cousin marriage among Bradford Pakistanis been sustained, 50 years since Pakistani migration to Britain began? (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND/AIM
Why has the apparently high rate of cousin marriage among Bradford Pakistanis been sustained, 50 years since Pakistani migration to Britain began?
METHODS
A review of the anthropological literature on Pakistani migration and settlement, British Pakistani marriage patterns and the phenomenon of transnational marriage.
RESULTS
British Pakistanis are diverse in regional origins and social class characteristics, with many Bradford Pakistanis originating from the Mirpur district and northern Punjab. British Pakistani marriages often involve a partner from Pakistan who joins a spouse in the UK. Transnational marriage of first cousins offers relatives in Pakistan opportunities for a 'better' life in the West and are important for British Pakistanis for economic, social, cultural and emotional reasons. These processes are also differentially influenced by region of origin and class characteristics in Pakistan as well as by education, employment and locality in Britain. The pattern observed in Bradford may not be applicable nationally.
CONCLUSION
Further research examining marital decisions over several generations in families differing by social class, region of origin in Pakistan and locality in Britain is necessary to contextualise the findings from Bradford.
Topics: Consanguinity; Culture; Emigration and Immigration; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Marriage; Pakistan; Social Class; United Kingdom
PubMed: 25060267
DOI: 10.1159/000358011 -
Reproductive Health Jun 2022Child marriage has powerful implications for a young woman's reproductive health, education, and personal development as well as the development of communities and...
BACKGROUND
Child marriage has powerful implications for a young woman's reproductive health, education, and personal development as well as the development of communities and nations. Child marriage frequently marks the beginning of a young woman's sexual activity and early childbearing. As a country where child marriage is common, Ethiopia has placed additional emphasis on addressing child marriage over the past years.
METHODS
Using data from Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys for 2005, 2011 and 2016, this paper explores trends in child marriage over the last decade in various locations and regions of Ethiopia.
RESULTS
Between 2005 and 2016, the percentage of young Ethiopian women married before age 18 declined from 49 to 40%, a reduction of 18% from 2005 levels. The percentage of women married before age 15 experienced even greater reductions, declining by 26% in the same period. The greatest reductions in child marriage took place in the Addis Ababa, Amhara, and Tigray regions. Over the period, estimates for Oromia and Somali suggest that child marriage has increased in these regions. Notwithstanding recent declines, Afar, Beneshangul-Gumuz, Somali, and Oromia are regions where nearly half or more of all girls are married before age 18.
CONCLUSIONS
Nationally, Ethiopia has experienced impressive declines in child marriage over the last decade. However, progress has also been uneven. Trends in the last decade have resulted in a geographical shift in where child marriage is most prevalent. In particular, locations that are challenging in terms of access, including the most remote and hard to reach, pose persistent challenges to those attempting to eradicate the practice. Intensifying efforts in rural areas and underserved regions can facilitate further declines in child marriage in Ethiopia.
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Ethiopia; Female; Humans; Marriage; Prevalence; Sexual Behavior
PubMed: 35698195
DOI: 10.1186/s12978-021-01234-4 -
BMC Public Health Mar 2024Currently, there are many different findings on the relationship between physical activity and depression, and there may be differences between genders. This study...
BACKGROUND
Currently, there are many different findings on the relationship between physical activity and depression, and there may be differences between genders. This study therefore focused on gender differences to understand the relationship between physical activity behaviour and the risk of depression in married individuals.
METHODS
15607 married people in the China Family Panel Studies 2020 (CFPS 2020) were used to understand the relationship between physical activity and depression risk in different populations, and the chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and binary logistic regression were used to explore the relationship between physical activity and depression risk in the married population.
RESULTS
527 (6.64%) women were at high risk of depression and 365 (4.76%) men were at high risk of depression; physical activity was associated with the risk of depression in the married population, but after incorporating demographic and relevant cognitive variables, physical activity was negatively associated with the risk of depression in women (OR = 0.94, P < 0.01) but not statistically significant with the risk of depression in men (OR = 0.96, P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Physical activity was directly related to the risk of depression in married women, but not in married men.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Depression; Marriage; Exercise; Motor Activity; Research Design
PubMed: 38491473
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18339-7