Marriage related decision making among young people: what influences their involvement and why should young people be involved. Evidence from community-based survey in rural and urban Pune district, India

Mallika Alexander, KEM Hospital Research Centre
Laila Garda, KEM Hospital Research Centre

Involvement in spouse selection process has future implications on conjugal relations, gender roles in marriage and decision making between partners. Paper examines youth's involvement, its correlates and how it impacts their lives, from data of 3000, young married youth aged 15 to 24 years. Data emphasize that youth continue to be married earlier than legal age with over 90% being arranged. 20% men and 15% women have been consulted, approved their partner and even met prior to marriage. Logistic regression analysis highlights factors that influence this autonomy: education, earning before marriage confer autonomy for both boys and girls. Gender equitable marital relationship, communication and interaction with their spouses, discussion and practice of family planning were independently associated with girls' marital decision making autonomy. Findings reiterate the need for more research on how being involved in their own marital process shape their future marital life and reproductive health of the couple.