Marriage behavior response to prime-age adult mortality: evidence from Malawi.
This article examines the effect of AIDS-related mortality of the prime-age adult population on marriage behavior among women in Malawi. A rise in prime-age adult mortality increases risks associated with the search for a marriage partner in the marriage market. A possible behavioral change in the marriage market in response to an increase in prime-age adult mortality is to marry earlier to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS risks. We test this hypothesis by using micro data from Malawi, where prime-age adult mortality has drastically increased. In the analysis, we estimate the probability of prime-age adult mortality that sample women have observed during their adolescent period by utilizing retrospective information on deaths of their siblings. Empirical analysis shows that excess prime-age adult mortality in the local marriage market lowers the marriage age for females and shortens the interval between the first sex and first marriage.
Ueyama
Mika
M
Japan International Cooperation Agency Research Institute 10-5, Ichigaya Honmura-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8433, Japan. Ueyama.Mika@jica.go.jp
Yamauchi
Futoshi
F
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi / Q000453:epidemiology; D008393:Marriage / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D035781:Siblings; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult