Brief

Burkina Faso, more than three in ten children under the age of five are stunted; but for children born of mothers younger than 18, the risk of stunting is higher. Controlling for socio-economic and other characteristics, being born of a mother younger than 18 does not lead to a statistically significant increase in the likelihood of stunting for children under-five, as compared to otherwise similar children born of older mothers.

In Bangladesh, about one in twenty-two children die before the age of five; for children born of mothers younger than 18, the risk is higher. Controlling for socio-economic and other characteristics, being born of a mother younger than 18 does not lead to a statistically significant increase in the risk of under-five mortality as compared to otherwise similar children born of older mothers. 

The relationship between child marriage and fertility could be due in part to the socio-economic and cultural context in which girls who marry early tend to live. But child marriage may also have a direct impact on fertility after controlling for socio-economic and cultural context. Marrying early is often associated with a lack of agency for girls, including in terms of access to family planning that could help delay or reduce births if women so desire.

In Zambia, about one in thirteen children die before the age of five; for children born of mothers younger than 18, the risk is higher. Controlling for socio-economic and other characteristics, being born of a mother younger than 18 increases the likelihood of dying before the age of five by three percentage points in the baseline model, as compared to otherwise similar children born of older mothers.

Poor nutrition weakens children’s immune systems, putting them at a greater risk of falling sick from preventable illnesses such as pneumonia and diarrhea. According to Horton et al. (2008), nearly one-fifth of under-five deaths in the world could be prevented with optimal feeding. Research also suggests that poor nutrition at a young age may have irremediable consequences for brain development, cognitive skills, and ultimately productivity in adult life. Unfortunately, a large share of children in the developing world are malnourished.

Early childbirth contributes to the risk of malnutrition for children, directly and indirectly. This brief has provided estimates of the direct impact of early childbirth on stunting in Uganda using the latest DHS survey. More than three in ten children under the age of five are stunted. For children born of mothers younger than 18, the risk of stunting is higher by nineteen percentage points.

In Uganda, one in eleven children dies before the age of five; for children born of mothers younger than 18, the risk is higher.Controlling for socio-economic and other characteristics, being born of a mother younger than 18 increases the likelihood of dying before the age of five by five percentage points in the baseline model, as compared to otherwise similar children born of older mothers. 

In Burkina Faso, about one in eight children die before the age of five; for children born of mothers younger than 18, the risk is higher.Controlling for socio-economic and other characteristics, being born of a mother younger than 18 increases the likelihood of dying before the age of five by six percentage points in the baseline model, as compared to otherwise similar children born of older mothers.

The relationship between child marriage and fertility can be due in part to the socio-economic and cultural context in which girls who marry early tend to live. But child marriage may also have a direct impact on fertility after controlling for socio-economic and cultural context. Marrying early is often associated with a lack of agency for girls, including in terms of access to family planning that can help delay or reduce births if women so desire.

In Egypt, about three percent of children dies before the age of five; for children born of mothers younger than 18, the risk is higher. Controlling for socio-economic and other characteristics, being born of a mother younger than 18 does not lead to a statistically significant increase in the risk of under-five mortality as compared to otherwise similar children born of older mothers.