Women’s Health, Gynecology and Obstetrics

Introduction: Early marriage (<18 years) is a global public health problem, has been deep-rooted in Nepal for centuries. It has severe consequences on maternal/child health.

Method: A community-based cross-sectional explorative study was carried out in Panauti-Municipality, Kavrepalanchowk-District. Fecund (15-49 years) women (n=430) were confidentially interviewed with informed-consent utilizing subject-specific questionnaires. Data analysis was performed by SPSS, Chi-square and logistic regression. Odds ratio and 95% confi dence

interval was calculated by EPIINFO, considering P<0.05 for statistical signifi cance.

Result: Prevalence of early and very early marriages (<15 years) was detected 48.6% and 12.8%, respectively. Sociodemographics, mass-media exposure and women's autonomy have been revealed as crucial players for early marriage. Women with early marriage were less likely (COR: 22.77, 95% CI: 11.93-43.45) to access complete ANC services compared to women with normal marriage. In comparison to normal marriage, the greater likelihood (COR: 19.04) of home-delivery was revealed in early marriage. More than 6 times higher risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes (abortion, stillbirth and neonatal death) were observed in early marriage. Statistical signifi cant 27.68 and 15.12 times higher risk of neonatal death was observed in very early and early marriage than normal marriage. Early married respondents had >3 times higher risks of post-delivery danger signs in themselves and their babies.

Conclusion: Women who marry early-age are prone to early child-bearing, lower access to maternal-healthcare, experience higher pregnancy morbidities, post-delivery danger signs and poor health bearing excessive fi nancial burden on health expenditure. This study alarms policy-makers to intervene existing system, implement improved eff orts to end early marriage

and its consequences.