Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of marriage among adolescent mothers in Canada, 1989-2018.

Publisher: Springer Nature Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 0372714 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1920-7476 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00084263 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Can J Public Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: Switzerland : Springer Nature
Original Publication: Ottawa : Canadian Public Health Association

Marriage* ; Adolescent Mothers*; Adolescent ; Female ; Humans ; Canada/epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Maternal Age ; Mothers

Objectives: Female marriage before age 18 is a global health issue related to gender inequality, but it is understudied in Canada. This study examined marriage trends among mothers aged < 18 versus older mothers and the sociodemographic correlates of marriage among adolescent mothers aged < 18 and older adolescent mothers.
Methods: Using the Canadian Vital Statistics - Birth Database, marriage prevalence was estimated by maternal age groups (< 18-year, 18-19-year, 20-24-year, and 25-49-year) between 1989-1990 and 2017-2018 (n = 10,399,250). Multivariable logistic regression was then used to examine the sociodemographic characteristics associated with marriage within adolescent maternal age group (< 18-year, 18-19-year, and 20-24-year) among births registered between 2000 and 2018.
Results: From 1989-1990 to 2017-2018, marriage prevalence declined 80.5%, 60.2%, 47.3%, and 16.0% in the < 18-year, 18-19-year, 20-24-year, and 25-49-year groups, respectively. Within the < 18-year, 18-19-year, and 20-24-year adolescent maternal age groups, older maternal age, larger parental age gap, foreign-born parents, rurality, and earlier birth period were associated with higher adjusted odds of marriage. Higher maternal neighbourhood income was associated with marriage among births to mothers aged 18-19 and 20-24 years but not among those to mothers aged < 18 years.
Conclusion: Marriage prevalence declined among mothers of all ages, but the shifts away from marriage appear stronger among younger mothers. The sociodemographic correlates of marriage are generally similar among mothers below age 18 and slightly older adolescent mothers.
(© 2022. The Author(s).)

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Keywords: Child marriage; Foreign-born status; Neighbourhood income; Parental age gap; Teen birth
Local Abstract: [Publisher, French] RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Le mariage des filles de moins de 18 ans est un problème de santé mondial lié aux inégalités entre les sexes, mais il est insuffisamment étudié au Canada. Notre étude porte sur les tendances du mariage chez les mères de < 18 ans comparativement aux mères plus âgées et sur les corrélats sociodémographiques du mariage chez les mères adolescentes de < 18 ans et les mères adolescentes plus âgées. MéTHODE: À l’aide de la Base canadienne de données de l’état civil – Naissance, nous avons estimé la prévalence des mariages selon le groupe d’âge maternel (< 18 ans, 18-19 ans, 20-24 ans et 25-49 ans) entre 1989-1990 et 2017-2018 (n = 10 399 250). Au moyen d’une analyse de régression logistique multivariée, nous avons ensuite examiné les caractéristiques sociodémographiques associées au mariage dans les groupes d’âge des mères adolescentes (< 18 ans, 18-19 ans et 20-24 ans) pour les naissances enregistrées entre 2000 et 2018. RéSULTATS: De 1989-1990 à 2017-2018, la prévalence des mariages a baissé de 80,5 %, 60,2 %, 47,3 % et 16,0 % dans les groupes de < 18 ans, de 18-19 ans, de 20-24 ans et de 25-49 ans, respectivement. Dans les groupes d’âge des mères adolescentes de < 18 ans, de 18-19 ans et de 20-24 ans, un âge maternel plus avancé, une plus grande différence d’âge des parents, la naissance des parents à l’étranger, la ruralité et la période de naissance plus précoce étaient associées à une probabilité de mariage ajustée plus élevée. Le revenu maternel plus élevé selon le quartier était associé au mariage pour les naissances de mères de 18-19 et de 20-24 ans, mais pas chez les mères de < 18 ans. CONCLUSION: La prévalence du mariage a baissé chez les mères de tout âge, mais l’abandon du mariage semble plus prononcé chez les mères plus jeunes. Les corrélats sociodémographiques du mariage sont généralement semblables chez les mères de moins de 18 ans et les mères adolescentes légèrement plus âgées.

Date Created: 20221223 Date Completed: 20230505 Latest Revision: 20230925

20230925

PMC10156887

10.17269/s41997-022-00728-3

36562916