Table 3 Distribution of young married women aged 15–24 years by selected background characteristics: Rural Nepal, 2009
Background characteristics | Number | % |
|---|---|---|
Age of women | 79 | 6.1 |
15–17 years | 398 | 30.7 |
18–20 years | 819 | 63.2 |
21–24 years | ||
Median age at marriage(years) | 17.0 | |
Duration of marriage | ||
Less than one year | 127 | 9.8 |
1–2 years | 318 | 24.5 |
3–4 years | 320 | 24.7 |
5 years and above | 521 | 41.0 |
Mean duration of marriage | 4.0 | |
Type of marriage | ||
Arranged | 908 | 70.1 |
Love marriage | 388 | 29.9 |
Number of living children | ||
0 | 352 | 27.2 |
1 | 502 | 38.7 |
2 | 326 | 25.2 |
3 or more | 116 | 8.9 |
Caste/Ethnicity | ||
Brahmin/Chhetri | 324 | 25.0 |
Tamang | 324 | 25.0 |
Tharu | 324 | 25.0 |
Muslim | 324 | 25.0 |
Woman’s level of education | ||
Illiterate | 371 | 28.6 |
Literate up primary | 664 | 51.2 |
Secondary | 212 | 16.4 |
Higher secondary and above | 49 | 3.8 |
Woman’s occupation | ||
Do not earn/housewife | 1019 | 78.6 |
Agriculture/poultry/daily wages | 220 | 17.0 |
Other employment (Service/small business) | 57 | 4.4 |
Women’s autonomy | ||
High | 488 | 37.7 |
Moderate | 484 | 37.3 |
Low | 324 | 25.0 |
Household wealth index | ||
Poorest | 250 | 19.3 |
Poor | 265 | 24.5 |
Middle | 259 | 20.0 |
Rich | 261 | 20.1 |
Richest | 261 | 20.1 |
Membership in community groups | ||
Yes | 480 | 37.0 |
No | 816 | 63.0 |
Media exposure | ||
No/rare | 742 | 57.3 |
Frequent | 554 | 42.7 |
Husband’s education | ||
Illiterate | 180 | 13.9 |
Literate up to primary | 695 | 53.6 |
Secondary | 282 | 21.8 |
Higher secondary and above | 139 | 10.7 |
Total | 1296 | 100.0 |