Child marriage and teenage pregnancy in Assam: Dhubri district accounts for the highest percentage of child marriage while Cachar tops the chart of teenage pregnancy

National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5, 2019-20 data shows an alarmingly high percentage of child marriage and teenage pregnancy in many districts of Assam.

The percentage of child marriage is the highest in Dhubri district, with 50.8 percent girls married before 18 years in the age group 20-24 years. Dhubri is closely followed by South Salmara- Mancachar (44.7), Darrang (42.8) , Goalpara (41.8) and Barpeta 40.1. Dima Hasao district accounts for the lowest percentage 16.5.

NFHS-5 data also shows that Cachar district topped the list of percentage of women at the age of 15-19 years who were already mothers or pregnant at the time of the survey with 29.9 per cent. Cachar is followed by Dhubri with 22.4 percent, Darrang with 16.1, Kamrup with 15.7 and Darrang with 16.1.

Charaideu recorded the lowest 3.8 percentage of women at the age of 15-19 years who were already mothers or pregnant at the time of the survey.

NFHS-5 data also shows that in districts with high percentage of child marriage and teenage pregnancy, percentage of women with ten or more years of schooling is also quite low. (Details in the following link)

https://nezine.com/info/OGdvdUpobGxvOU5HY2dyOW16SWoydz09/women%E2%80%99s-education-in-assam:-only-29.6-per-cent-women-aged-15-49-years-have-10-or-more-years-of-schooling.html

Table : District-wise percentage of child marriage and teenage pregnncy

Source: National Family Health Survey-5

Women age 20-24 years married before age 18 years, NFHS- 5, 2019-20

Women age 20-24 years married before age 18 years NFHS- 4, 2015-16

Women age 15-19 years who were already mothers or pregnant at the time of the survey, NFHS- 5, 2019-20

Women age 15-19 years who were already mothers or pregnant at the time of the survey, NFHS- 4, 2015-16

NEZINE Bureau